General Appropriations Act 2024-2025 HB 5001 – General Appropriations Act 2024-2025, and HB 5003 – Implementing the 2024-2025 General Appropriations Act, by House Appropriations Committee. Once signed by the Governor these bills will be effective July 1, 2024 (unless otherwise stated). The Florida Legislature passed a $117.4 billion budget for the 2024-2025 year, which includes a $1.5 billion tax package. This year’s budget reflects an increase of approximately $4 million by the
Legislature (prior to Governor’s vetoes) from the 2023-2024 budget. Significant Provisions from the General Appropriations Act Include: Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long Term Care (SMMC LTC)
Budget
The program funds LTC services to low-income disabled and older adults who need nursing home level of care. SMMC LTC may include, among other things adult day care, assisted living, caregiving training, hospice services, medical equipment, respite care and various therapies. The SMMC LTC program has a limited number of slots for eligible service recipients – as of February 2024, there are 46,563 Medicaid applicants on SMMC LTC waiting lists. Applicants remain on waiting lists for years before receiving services. Assistive Care Services (ACS) ACS, a Medicaid-based, state administered program will receive $1.26 million in recurring funds to increase rates paid for services. ACS provides care for eligible low-income residents of qualifying assisted living facilities and adult family-care homes experiencing certain functional limitations. ACS includes, but is not limited to, assistance with activities of daily living, medication administration, and health support. Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) play a crucial role in supporting low-income persons, including Medicaid beneficiaries, in Florida. By offering services in their own homes or communities, HCBS helps these individuals maintain independence, receive necessary care, and avoid institutionalization. HCBS includes programs such as Community Care for the Elderly, Home Care for the Elderly and Alzheimer’s Respite Care. As of February 2024, HCBS has a waitlist of more than 117,000 Floridians. Community Care for the Elderly (CCE) CCE, a non-Medicaid program, will receive an increase of $6 million in recurring funds. CCE provides community-based services to help functionally impaired elders, aged 60-plus, live in the least restrictive and most cost-effective environments to forestall or prevent nursing home placement. CCE services include adult day care, case management, assistance with chores, companionship, consumable medical supplies, counseling, emergency alert response, emergency home repair, home delivered meals, home health aide, homemaking, in-home nursing, information and referrals, legal assistance, material aid, medical therapeutic services, personal care, respite care, shopping assistance, transportation and other community-based services. As of February 2024, CCE has a waitlist of more than 83,600 Floridians. Home Care for the Elderly (HCE) HCE will receive an increase of $5 million recurring in funds. HCE provides care in family-type living arrangements for non-Medicaid individuals, aged 60-plus, who have incomes and assets meeting the Institutional Care Program (ICP) standard and who are at great of nursing home placement. As of February 2024, HCE has a waitlist of more than 20,000 Floridians.
Budget policy at the federal, state, and local levels should promote economic growth and stability. – AARP Public Policy Institute
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