Florida Senate - 2018                                     SB 440
       
       
        
       By Senator Garcia
       
       
       
       
       
       36-00682-18                                            2018440__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Florida Veterans Care program;
    3         creating s. 292.17, F.S.; creating the program within
    4         the Agency for Health Care Administration; specifying
    5         the purpose of the program; authorizing the agency, in
    6         consultation with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs,
    7         to negotiate with federal agencies in order to seek
    8         federal funding for the program; providing that
    9         eligible participants may enroll in the program to
   10         receive certain benefits; prohibiting the use of state
   11         funds to support the program; providing that the act
   12         does not affect a person’s eligibility for the state
   13         Medicaid program; prohibiting the agency and the
   14         department from implementing the program without
   15         legislative approval; providing an effective date.
   16          
   17  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   18  
   19         Section 1. Section 292.17, Florida Statutes, is created to
   20  read:
   21         292.17 Florida Veterans Care program created; purpose and
   22  authorization.—The Florida Veterans Care program is created
   23  within the Agency for Health Care Administration. The purpose of
   24  the program is to leverage the structure and operations of the
   25  Medicaid managed care program established under part IV of
   26  chapter 409 to provide Florida veterans and their families with
   27  access to a quality alternative to the federal veterans’ health
   28  care system. The agency, in consultation with the Department of
   29  Veterans’ Affairs, is authorized to negotiate with applicable
   30  federal agencies and to seek approval for a waiver, a state plan
   31  amendment, or other federal authorization for federal funding
   32  for the Florida Veterans Care program. Participants deemed
   33  eligible by the federal Veterans Health Administration or the
   34  United States Department of Veterans Affairs may voluntarily
   35  enroll in the Florida Veterans Care program to receive all
   36  necessary managed medical and long-term care services that meet
   37  or exceed the authorized benefits provided under ss. 409.973 and
   38  409.98, respectively, including home and community-based
   39  services, from plans selected through the competitive bid
   40  process described under part IV of chapter 409. State funds may
   41  not be used to provide medical or long-term care services under
   42  the program or to administer the program. This section does not
   43  affect a person’s eligibility for services under the state
   44  Medicaid program. Notwithstanding s. 292.05(7), the agency and
   45  the department may not implement this section without prior
   46  legislative approval.
   47         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.