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The Florida Senate

SB 2518 — Health Care

by Appropriations Committee

This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.

Prepared by: Appropriations Committee (AP)

The bill conforms statutes to the funding decisions related to Health Care in the 2021-2022 General Appropriations Act.

The bill:

  • Continues the personal needs allowance of residents of State Veterans’ Nursing Homes at $130 per month.
  • Reduces the collection threshold for the Medicaid nursing home lease bond alternative from $25 million to $10 million.
  • Requires nursing homes and their home offices to annually submit to the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) financial data using a uniform system of financial reporting.
  • Provides definitions for the terms Florida Nursing Home Uniform Reporting System and Home Office.
  • Extends Medicaid eligibility for postpartum women from 60 days to 12 months.
  • Continues the policy of retroactive Medicaid eligibility for non-pregnant adults to the first day of the month in which an application for Medicaid is submitted.
  • Removes the nursing home Medicaid reimbursement rate freeze established on July 1, 2011, thereby allowing for the recurring rate increase provided in Fiscal Year 2020-2021, and continues the rate freeze for County Health Department’s reimbursement rates to the July 1, 2011 level.
  • Requires the Letters of Agreement for the Low Income Pool program to be received by the AHCA by October 1 and the funds outlined in the Letters of Agreement to be received by October 31.
  • Requires essential providers to contract with managed care plans to be eligible to receive supplemental payments, thereby making certain that those who receive supplemental payments treat Medicaid patients.
  • Updates the years of audited data used to determine disproportionate share payments to hospitals, teaching hospitals, and specialty hospitals for children.
  • Redesignates the West Florida Regional Medical Center memory disorder clinic to the Medical Center Clinic in Pensacola.
  • Requires the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation to validate and calculate a refund amount for Title XXI providers who achieve a Medical Loss Ratio below 85 percent and to deposit any refunds into the General Revenue Fund, unallocated.
  • Provides for technical corrections to statutory cross references.
  • Authorizes the AHCA, upon federal approval, to contract with an organization that meets all specified requirements to be a site for the Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) program and provide comprehensive long-term care services to up to:
  • 200 enrollees who reside in Escambia, Okaloosa, and Santa Rosa counties;
  • 100 enrollees who reside in Northwest Miami-Dade County;
  • 500 enrollees who reside in Hillsborough, Pasco, and Hernando counties;
  • 300 enrollees who reside in Broward County;
  • 300 enrollees who reside in Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau, and St. Johns counties. Enrollees in Alachua and Putnam Counties are also eligible, subject to a contract amendment with the AHCA; and
  • 500 enrollees who reside in Seminole, Volusia, or Flagler counties.
  • Authorizes the consolidation of 150 enrollee slots for Orange and Osceola counties and Lake and Sumter counties and 150 enrollee slots for Seminole County to provide services to up to 300 enrollees who reside in Orange, Osceola, Lake, Sumter, or Seminole counties.
  • Authorizes the AHCA, upon federal approval, to contract with one public hospital operating in the northern two-thirds of Broward County to provide comprehensive services to up to 200 enrollees residing in the northern two-thirds of Broward County.

These provisions were approved by the Governor and take effect July 1, 2021.

Vote: Senate 40-0; House 117-0