2020 Voting Record

Implementing Bill to General Appropriations Act: Retroactive Medicaid Eligibility (RME): House Bill 5001 retains the RME reimbursement restriction for non-pregnant adults 21 years of age and older. HB 5003 requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to submit to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, by March 1, 2021, the Medicaid Managed Care waiver independent evaluation regarding the impact of the waiver of Medicaid retroactive eligibility on beneficiaries and providers.

Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE): The state will seek federal approval to serve an additional 203 slots in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, St. Johns, Martin, Palm Beach, and Miami-Dade Counties at a cost of $6,277,703. PACE was created to provide clients their medical and long-term care needs managed through a single provider while continuing to live safely in their communities. The Department of Elderly Affairs (DOEA) and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) cooperatively administer PACE. Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative (ADI): ADI services will receive an increase of $2,839,911 to serve an additional 243 individuals on the statewide waitlist. ADI provides services to individuals with Alzheimer’s disease or other memory disorders and to their families. ADI respite services for families include in home and adult day care, emergency and extended care (up to 30 days) services. Also, the ADI provides support services that include: case management, specialized medical equipment and supplies, caregiver counseling and support groups, and caregiver training. Public Guardianship Program: The Public Guardianship program will receive an increase of $7,782,810. The Office of Public and Professional Guardians, housed within the Department of Elder Affairs, oversees services for persons who have no willing family members or friends to serve as their guardians and who have inadequate incomes or assets to afford private guardians. Affordable Housing: For the first time since 2007, the legislature fully funded affordable housing at $370,000,000. Three different programs that address affordable housing needs received money. A total of $225 million goes to the Local Government Housing Trust Fund for the State Housing Initiatives Partnership (SHIP) program, which funds housing programs in all 67 counties. SHIP funds are for repairs of existing housing to allow seniors to age in place or to provide retrofitting for persons with special needs. A total of $115 million goes to the State Housing Trust Funds for Florida Housing Finance Corporation programs such as the State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) program. Finally, $300 million goes to HHRP (hurricane SHIP). ** While the funding for SHIP was vetoed from the budget, the Governor’s decision to direct $250 million in CARES Act funding for rental and mortgage assistance shows the Governor continues to prioritize affordable housing in the state. The total for housing assistance is now higher than originally allocated. The veto of SHIP funding means those funds stay in the Local Government Housing Trust Fund and will not revert to general revenue. The hope is that because the CARES funding must be tied to COVID-19 it will be used by the end of the year and the SHIP money can be re allocated.**

Nursing Home Rate Increase: Beginning July 1, 2020, each nursing home shall get an equal percentage unit cost- of-living increase. The unit cost increase to the cost-based rate or to the prospective payment rate, whichever is greater, is permanent through September 30, 2023.

Canadian Prescription Drug Importation Program: The program will receive $10,000,000 in recurring funds to assist AHCA with the administration of the program.

2019 Prescription Drug Price Fighter Award AARP State President, Volunteer Leaders, and Staff present Representative Thomas Leek with the award.

16

Budget

Budget

17

Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator