Independent Living Systems (ILS) is making strides to improve both the provider and patient experience by further integrating Medicaid and Medicare services for dual-eligible Floridians. In this edition of “What They’re Watching,” ILS President David Rogers discusses some of the efforts ILS is pursuing to ensure more integrated and seamless care for this population.    … Read more

Florida’s rising Medicaid enrollment is pushing stakeholders to collaborate and adapt in the face of two major changes. First, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) is set to release its new Statewide Medicaid Managed Care procurement contract in September. All states must also prepare for the Medicaid eligibility redetermination process once the federal public … Read more

The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) released a request for information (RFI) late last week in preparation of the upcoming Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) re-procurement process later this year.      “The Agency is seeking information from entities and stakeholders with direct experience in the managed health and long-term care industries regarding best … Read more

The Florida Institute for Health Innovation (FIHI), a health policy and research nonprofit, is currently recruiting participants for a series of Medicaid focus groups in late April. FIHI is collaborating with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and Mathematica on these compensated focus groups for the project “Assessing RWJF’s Efforts to Promote Marketplace and Medicaid … Read more

Florida is one of the states that will be hit hardest next year if increased premium tax credits (PTCs) from the American Rescue Plan (ARP) are not renewed, according to a new report from the Urban Institute and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. Without action from the state, millions of Floridians currently enrolled in marketplace health … Read more

On Thursday, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) announced that it will move forward with the adoption of proposed rule 59A-4.1081 which formally establishes the requirements of the Personal Care Attendant (PCA) Training Program as directed in HB 485, passed during the 2021 Legislative Session. This announcement comes after Governor Ron DeSantis approved three … Read more

Four insightful health care leaders offered an on-the-ground look at Florida’s health care system at our 2022 Federal State of Reform Health Policy Conference earlier this month. Highly-discussed topics included behavioral health, community-based care, and moving towards value-based payment models.  Joining the conversation was Beth Kidder, managing principal at Health Management Associates, Jennifer Sweet, CEO … Read more

A change in the way Medicaid enrollees receive dental benefits is currently making its way through the Florida House of Representatives. House Bill 7047 would carve dental benefits back into the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program rather than through its current stand-alone program.  Proponents of the bill, such as Florida Association for Health Plans … Read more

A bill currently moving through the Florida House of Representatives will make changes to five major components of the state’s Medicaid program, which covers nearly five million Floridians. House Bill 7047’s revisions would impact the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) program as the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) conducts its next procurement in 2022-2023. … Read more

Florida’s safety net programs are key to caring for some of the state’s most vulnerable communities. However, as some state flexibilities implemented during the pandemic begin to expire, advocates such as the Florida Policy Institute (FPI) are concerned about leaving some families without adequate care or resources.     FPI, which tracks a number of … Read more