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Florida Budgets Changes for Medicaid LTC

Fri, 05/04/2001 - 12:00am — Karen Stevenson
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The Florida Legislature is considering budget changes for Medicaid long term care programs. Among the changes requested by the Agency for Health Care Administration is a new program incorporating competitive bidding or capitation into the program used to reimburse nursing homes for Medicaid services, which is projected to provide $23 million in savings. Other reductions in spending include the elimination of the "Intermediate" category of nursing home service and the transfer of residents in this program to assisted living facilities, and an additional $23 million to buy more community services to allow elder Floridians to stay in their own homes.

To reduce the spiraling cost of the Medicaid budget, eligibility for Medicaid for people age 65 or older would be limited to those with incomes of no more than 87.5% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, down from the current cap at 100% of the poverty level. The state would also no longer pay the Medicare Part B deductibles and coinsurance for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and they plan to create a restricted drug formulary to limit the prescription medications which would be covered by Medicaid.

The Florida Legislature is considering budget changes for Medicaid long term care programs. Among the changes requested by the Agency for Health Care Administration is a new program incorporating competitive bidding or capitation into the program used to reimburse nursing homes for Medicaid services, which is projected to provide $23 million in savings. Other reductions in spending include the elimination of the "Intermediate" category of nursing home service and the transfer of residents in this program to assisted living facilities, and an additional $23 million to buy more community services to allow elder Floridians to stay in their own homes.

To reduce the spiraling cost of the Medicaid budget, eligibility for Medicaid for people age 65 or older would be limited to those with incomes of no more than 87.5% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, down from the current cap at 100% of the poverty level. The state would also no longer pay the Medicare Part B deductibles and coinsurance for people who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid, and they plan to create a restricted drug formulary to limit the prescription medications which would be covered by Medicaid.