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CS/CS/SB 1156 — Home Health Aide for Medically Fragile Children Program
by Fiscal Policy Committee; Health Policy Committee; and Senators Harrell and Sharief
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Health Policy Committee (HP)
The bill amends laws relating to the Home Health Aide for Medically Fragile Children (HHAMFC) program. Specifically, the bill:
- Specifies that the HHAMFC must complete an approved training program and the employing home health agency must provide validation of the HHAMFC prior to the aide providing services to an eligible relative. The employing home health agency must also provide training on HIV/AIDS and ensure that the HHAMFC holds and maintains a certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
- Specifies that the training program must consist of at least 76 total hours of training with at least 40 hours of home health aide training, 20 hours of skills training tailored to the needs of the child, 16 hours of clinical training related to the child’s needs, and training on HIV infections and CPR.
- Increases the Medicaid utilization cap from eight hours per day to 12 hours per day.
- Provides that the $25 per hour Medicaid reimbursement rate is a minimum rate.
- Requires the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to seek federal approval to allow providers to receive reimbursement under the program and to disregard the income earned by a HHAMFC from the program when calculating eligibility for Medicaid.
- Requires Medicaid managed care plans to provide the AHCA with data necessary to assess the rate and extent of hospitalizations for children attended by HHAMFCs compared with those attended by a registered nurse or licensed practical nurse.
- Requires home health agencies to report an adverse incident within 48 hours of the incident, defines the term “adverse incident,” and requires the AHCA to include data on adverse incidents occurring under the care of a HHAMFC in its required annual assessment of the HHAMFC program.
- Requires the AHCA to make all necessary requests and submissions to obtain federal approval and initiate any necessary rulemaking within 60 days of the act becoming law.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.
Vote: Senate 37-0; House 113-0