SB 440                                           First Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       
       2018440e1
       
    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 Department of Veterans’ Affairs; specifying the
    5         purpose of the program; authorizing the department,
    6         the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the
    7         Department of Children and Families to jointly
    8         negotiate with federal agencies in order to seek
    9         federal funding for the program; providing that
   10         eligible participants may enroll in the program;
   11         prohibiting the use of state funds to support the
   12         program; providing that the act does not affect a
   13         person’s eligibility for the state Medicaid program;
   14         prohibiting the department from implementing the
   15         program without legislative approval; providing an
   16         effective date.
   17          
   18  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   19  
   20         Section 1. Section 292.17, Florida Statutes, is created to
   21  read:
   22         292.17 Florida Veterans Care program created; purpose and
   23  authorization.—The Florida Veterans Care program is created
   24  within the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. The purpose of the
   25  program is to leverage the expertise, structure, or operations
   26  of existing state programs to provide Florida veterans and their
   27  families with access to quality alternatives to the federal
   28  veterans’ health care system. The department, the Agency for
   29  Health Care Administration, and the Department of Children and
   30  Families are authorized to jointly negotiate with the applicable
   31  federal agencies to seek approval for a waiver, a state plan
   32  amendment, or other federal authorization for federal funding
   33  for the Florida Veterans Care program. The Florida Veterans Care
   34  program may include medical, behavioral health, or long-term
   35  care services, as negotiated. Participants deemed eligible by
   36  the federal Veterans Health Administration or the United States
   37  Department of Veterans Affairs may voluntarily enroll in any of
   38  the programs of the Florida Veterans Care program based on their
   39  eligibility. State funds may not be used to provide medical,
   40  behavioral health, or long-term care services under the program
   41  or to administer the program. This section does not affect a
   42  person’s eligibility for services under the state Medicaid
   43  program. Notwithstanding s. 292.05(7), the department may not
   44  implement this section without prior legislative approval.
   45         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.