1. How many people on the waitlist will receive services this year?
This year APD estimates that 6,000 people will be enrolled into the Medicaid waiver program. Due to special Legislative direction by the 2005 Legislature, approximately 3,000 people with developmental disabilities will be enrolled in services from program savings generated from increased accountability measures to serve people from the waiting list.
2. Some consumers and families report they contacted APD and received their actual number on the waitlist. However, on the form letter sent to the same people notifying them of an opportunity to enroll in the waiver program the letter states they were in the top 1,250 people on the list. This is confusing and possibly causing misunderstanding among some.
A form letter was developed for the APD area offices to use when offering enrollment to individuals on the waitlist. Unfortunately, after the first batch of letters were mailed some area offices did not change the “top 1250” part of the letter as additional letters were mailed out. To date we have mailed letters to over 6,000 people on the waitlist.
We apologize for this mistake, the number you receive from Tallahassee is your “official” waitlist number. At any point in time, throughout the year, there may be fluctuations on the list. The wait list is a statewide list managed by the APD Central Office in Tallahassee and any additions, deletions or changes to the list are centrally made
3. Do I have a choice of which Medicaid waiver program (Family and Supported Living or the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver) I will receive services from during the 2005-2006 fiscal year?
Yes you do have a choice. However, to receive services in the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver you must meet certain criteria set by the 2005 Legislature. During the enrollment process, APD staff will determine if you meet one of the following criteria set by the Legislature for the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver.
- Need residential waiver services in a licensed facility, or
- Need nursing services that are not otherwise available through the Medicaid State Plan, or,
- Need supported living services not available through the Family and Supported Living waiver.
Only people who meet one or more of these criteria will be enrolled on the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver in FY 2005-2006.
4. If I don’t meet the prioritization for the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver can I receive services in the Family and Supported Living waiver program?
Yes. You will be offered the Family and Supported Living waiver which now includes 11 services (including behavioral services) and is available to both children and adults.
5. What is the Family and Supported Living (FSL) Waiver Program?
The Family and Supported Living Waiver (FSL) Waiver provides home and community based services to eligible children and adults with developmental disabilities. This waiver began in July 2004 and is specifically designed for individuals who choose to live in their own home, family home or in a supported living situation.
The total annual budget per person may not exceed $14,282.
The FSL waiver currently provides for services that include:
- Adult Day Training
- Consumable Medical Supplies
- Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
- In-home Support
- Personal Emergency Response System
- Respite Services
- Support Coordination
- Supported Employment
- Supported Living Coaching
- Transportation
- Behavioral Services (federal approval pending)
6. If I choose the Family and Supported Living waiver, can I remain on the waitlist for the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver?
Yes. If you enroll in the FSL waiver you maymaintain your position on the waitlist.
7. Will additional services be added to the Family and Supported Living waiver this year?
Yes, behavior services (behavior analysis, behavior assistant and behavior assessments) have been added for FY 2005-2006.
8. Is additional funding available when supports for adults in the Family and Supported Living waiver exceed $14,282?
The service supports on the FSL waiver are capped at $14,282 per cost plan year. However, an individual enrolled on the FSL waiver who lives in supported living may also receive in home subsidies/supported living stipends from general revenue funding.
9. If you are on the FSL waiver and there is an emergency can additional services be obtained?
Additional services may be obtained as long as they are covered by the FSL waiver and do not exceed the budget cap of $14,282. If a crisis situation occurs for an individual, they may also apply for crisis enrollment in the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Services waiver.
10. What is the Triage process used to screen for the criteria set by the Legislature for the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services waiver?
The triage process is a series of questions asked by APD staff to determine if you meet the criteria set by the Legislature as described above. An APD staff person will contact you by phone to arrange this process.
11. What is meant by Residential Facility in the triage criteria?
A residential facility is a licensed facility such as a group home, foster home or Assisted Living Facility.
12. Explain eligibility for the Medicaid State Plan (particularly Nursing Services) and what other services are included in this plan?
The state Medicaid plan is the document that defines how each state will operate its Medicaid program. Each state submits its own plan to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for approval. The state plan addresses the areas of state program administration, Medicaid eligibility criteria, service coverage, and provider reimbursement.
More information regarding the Medicaid State Plan can be found on the Agency for Health Care Administration – Medicaid website at http://www.fdhc.state.fl.us/Medicaid/index.shtml.
Children under age 21 receive nursing services through the Medicaid State Plan. If an adult needs nursing services that are above what is covered on the Medicaid State Plan, then the person would meet the nursing criteria for the DD/HCBS waiver. |