Florida Senate - 2026                                      SB 38
       
       
        
       By Senator Sharief
       
       
       
       
       
       35-00009-26                                             202638__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to parity for nonnursing services
    3         under long-term managed care plans; beginning on a
    4         specified date, requiring the Agency for Health Care
    5         Administration to reimburse nonnursing services
    6         provided by licensed providers at the same rate or
    7         higher than the rate it reimburses unlicensed
    8         providers for such services under the Medicaid long
    9         term managed care program; requiring the agency
   10         annually to adjust the rate for licensed providers;
   11         requiring the agency, within a specified timeframe, to
   12         seek any Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment
   13         necessary to implement the rate changes; providing an
   14         effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. (1) Beginning January 1, 2027, the Agency for
   19  Health Care Administration shall reimburse licensed providers
   20  who provide nonnursing services, such as home health agencies
   21  and nurse registries, participating in the Medicaid long-term
   22  managed care program at a rate that is at least the same rate or
   23  higher than the rate it reimburses unlicensed providers for such
   24  services, such as family caregivers. The agency shall annually
   25  adjust the rate for licensed providers to accommodate inflation
   26  and overhead costs.
   27         (2) Within 30 days after the effective date of this act,
   28  the agency shall request any Medicaid waiver or state plan
   29  amendment necessary to implement these rate changes.
   30         Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.