The 2023 legislative session in Florida has officially come to a close and, thanks to the hard work of our Hearts for Home Care advocates and our coalition partners, the Florida Legislature took action to support home care this session!
On June 15, the 2023-2024 budget was signed into law, including language that repealed an AHCA requirement that Medicaid providers be Medicare-certified. This rule was unnecessary, burdensome, and had the potential to further intensify the access-to-care crisis impacting Private Duty Nursing (PDN) providers.
While much work remains ahead of us to address our home care workforce crisis in Florida, it’s important that we take a few moments to thank key lawmakers who took action to support our industry this session.
Take just one minute today to sign this petition thanking our key supporters in the Florida legislature!
If you have any questions, please contact advocacy@heartsforhomecare.com.
As a constituent and a passionate advocate for increasing access to home and community-based services (HCBS), I want to thank you and your colleagues in the Florida Legislature for your strong support this legislative session.
This session, home care advocates from across the state came to Tallahassee asking for your support of two critical home care priorities, including 1) increased investment in Medicaid Private Duty Nursing and 2) addressing an AHCA rule that would have unintended consequences for PDN providers and those we serve.
Because of your support, language was added to the 2023-2024 budget that successfully addressed this AHCA rule, which had originally required that all Medicaid providers be Medicare certified, despite not providing any Medicare services. This rule would have further restricted access to care for medically fragile children and adults living with disabilities who rely on in-home nursing to remain a part of their communities – your action this session was critical!
On behalf of all Floridians who receive care through the Private Duty Nursing program, their families, and home care workers all across the state, THANK YOU for your support and action this session!
We look forward to continuing to work with you to improve access to critical home care services next session.