Florida 2003 | advancingstates.org

<H3>Florida</H3>   <H4>Task Force</H4> Florida has developed a unified Olmstead Coalition that includes state agencies, consumers and other key stakeholders. The coalition, created in April 2001, is made up of agency stakeholders around the state who are in positions to recommend and create policy to affect change. The coalition-currently called the Real Choice Partnership (RCP) Coalition-is not responsible for writing a state Olmstead plan, but it meets monthly to review the activities and progress of the state's RCP Project grant that it received from the federal government (see Next Steps below for more information). In addition, the governor signed Executive Order 01-161 in the summer of 2001 creating the Americans with Disabilities Act Working Group (ADAWG) and the Florida Clearinghouse on Disability Information to bring all Florida citizens full access to information resources, services and opportunities to participate in all aspects of community. The purpose of ADAWG is to encourage a cooperative effort of compliance with the ADA between state and local governments, educators, businesses and people with disabilities. The ADAWG's areas of focus are on employment, public accommodations, transportation, state and local government services, telecommunications, and court decisions and legislation affecting people with disabilities. The Clearinghouse-accessed through a statewide toll-free number-provides a comprehensive, "one-stop" central point of contact to access information and referral services for people with disabilities, families, agencies and providers. <H4> Implementation</H4> Legislation Several new laws were enacted in 2002 related to Olmstead. 211 Network - Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration was charged with the responsibility of establishing a statewide 211 Network for information and referral to health and human services. Implementation is contingent upon legislative appropriation. However, the legislature did not fund this mandate beyond 2003. New Office of Long-Term Care Policy - The 2002 Legislature established the Office of Long-Term Care Policy within the Department of Elder Affairs to address the long-term care needs of Florida's elderly citizens. Adult Day Health Care - The 2002 Florida Legislature authorized an adult day health care pilot program designed to divert individuals who are financially eligible and meet level of care for nursing home placement. The Agency for Health Care Administration will implement the pilot program in no more than two counties. Funding for this program is provided in the General Appropriations Act, and the program currently is under development with the Department of Elder Affairs. Geriatric Falls Prevention - The 2002 Florida Legislature authorized the Agency for Health Care Administration to implement a demonstration project to reduce geriatric falls among the community-based Medicaid recipients. Approximately $3 million was appropriated for this demonstration project. Expansion of Consumer Directed Care - The 2002 Florida Legislature authorized Florida to seek a federal waiver and expand its current consumer-directed care program to a permanent, statewide program. The current program provides individuals who are receiving services from a home and community-based services waiver the opportunity to exchange their traditional waiver service for a cash option. The Agency for Health Care Administration is the lead agency for implementation of the Florida Consumer Directed Care Act. The Independence Plus waiver was awarded in February 2003. Nursing Home Transitions - The 2001 Florida Legislature created a provision to identify individuals in nursing facilities who were at Intermediate II level of care (the highest functioning level) and help them make the transition them to the Assisted Living for the Elderly Waiver. Under budget authority in FY 2002, 319 individuals were moved from nursing facilities to the Assisted Living for the Elderly Waiver. Successes Although Florida does not have an Olmstead plan, the state is addressing Olmstead activities through special projects such as Florida's Developmental Disabilities Redesign and the newly awarded Independence Plus Waiver to allow more people with disabilities to control their care in their communities instead of institutions. The Redesign is working to receive funding from the Legislature to eliminate the Developmental Services Home and Community-Based Services Waiver waiting list as well as achieve the principles of self-determination through policy changes. The state is working on other initiatives, such as Medicaid Buy-In for Workers with Disabilities, a recent federal approval to expand the inpatient psychiatric programs for children's waiver, and a recent state plan amendment for assistive care services for disabled populations. By June 2003, the website-www.abilityforum.com-will be a one-stop, multi-purpose site that will provide access to information about all disabilities, services available and choices to be made by people with disabilities in Florida. It will also provide legislative updates that directly impact policies related to those with disabilities. Lawsuits For an update on lawsuits in Florida and other states, see Status Report: Litigation Concerning Medicaid Services for Persons with Developmental and Other Disabilities by Gary A. Smith at <A HREF=\"http://www.hsri.org/index.asp?id=news\">http://www.hsri.org/index.asp?id=news</A> <H4> Next Steps</H4> The state of Florida received a $2 million RCP Systems Change Grant. The money is being used to assist children and adults of any age who have a disability or long-term illness, who currently rely on long-term support systems, who may be at risk due to insufficient community supports, and/or who may be inappropriately placed in a restrictive setting. In addition, the Project is implementing three pilot projects to increase community capacity for the transition of people who wish to move into the community from long-term care facilities. RCP Project staff are working closely with Florida's housing community to identify gaps and address issues related to accessible and affordable housing. The state also received funding from the U.S. Department of Labor under the Olmstead initiative to examine some of the One-Stop Centers for employment and their physical and programmatic accessibility compliance.