FloridaProposal would help people with disabilities navigate Medicaid
If adopted, the proposal would offer people with disabilities help navigating Medicaid and community services, and move state funding when they switch programs.
What it does
People with disabilities could get help navigating Medicaid and finding community services. A qualified Florida nonprofit would run the program.
When a person chooses to move between the disability services pilot and Medicaid's home and community-based waiver, state funding would move between agencies with them.
Argument forPeople with disabilities could get help with Medicaid steps and referrals to community services, which may make it easier to find support to stay at home.
Argument againstRequiring a nonprofit to have 20 years of experience could leave fewer organizations able to run the program and serve people seeking help.
More detail
If adopted, the proposal would provide information, referrals, and help with the steps to seek Medicaid and community services. It would serve people whose lasting physical or mental limits restrict daily activities and make independent living difficult without community services. A nonprofit would have to run the program. It must be incorporated in Florida, have at least 20 years of experience serving people with disabilities, and offer phone and online access. The proposed effective date is July 1, 2026.
If adopted, the proposal would transfer state Medicaid funding between two agencies when a person moves between the disability services pilot and the home and community-based waiver. This would apply to people in the Medicaid waiver program under chapter 393 or the developmental disabilities pilot who choose to move to the other program. The transfer would reflect the person's state share of costs for the remaining months of that fiscal year, based on the pilot plan's monthly rate. The agencies would reconcile the transferred amounts every three months; funding would cover the remaining months of the fiscal year.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 28Added to Conference Report CalendarLatest
- May 12Conference Committee appointed: Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget: Senator Hooper, Chair; Senators Berman, Boyd, Brodeur, Gruters, Passidomo, and Rouson, At Large; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/Agriculture & Natural Resources: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Nathan, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government/State Administration: Senator Brodeur, Chair; Senators Arrington, Berman, DiCeglie, Grall, Massullo, McClain, Nathan, Pizzo, Rodriguez, Sharief, and Truenow; Appropriations Conference Committee on Criminal and Civil Justice/Justice: Senator Garcia, Chair; Senators Martin, Osgood, Polsky, Simon, Smith, Wright, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Health and Human Services/Health Care: Senator Trumbull, Chair; Senators Brodeur, Burton, Davis, Garcia, Harrell, Rodriguez, Rouson, and Sharief; Appropriations Conference Committee on Higher Education/Higher Education: Senator Harrell, Chair; Senators Bracy Davis, Bradley, Burgess, Calatayud, Davis, and Leek; Appropriations Conference Committee on Pre-K – 12 Education/Pre-K – 12: Senator Burgess, Chair; Senators Bradley, Calatayud, Gaetz, Jones, Massullo, Nathan, Osgood, Pizzo, Simon, and Yarborough; Appropriations Conference Committee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development/Transportation & Economic Development: Senator DiCeglie, Chair; Senators Arrington, Avila, Bernard, Bracy Davis, Grall, Leek, Martin, Mayfield, McClain, Polsky, Smith, Truenow, and Wright.
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded Passage, Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 12Bill placed in Conference (Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget)
- May 12Conference Committee appointed
- May 12Bill placed in Conference (Appropriations Conference Committee/Budget)
- May 12In Messages
- May 12The Senate having refused to pass the bill as passed by the House, acceded to the request for a conference
- May 12Passed as amended; YEAS 32 NAYS 0Passed Senate
- May 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- May 12Amendment(s) adopted (953056)
- May 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 12Substituted for SB 2518-E
- May 12Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
- May 12Withdrawn from AppropriationsMajor
- May 12Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- May 12ReceivedMinor
- May 12In Messages
- May 12Requests that the Senate pass the bill as passed by the House or agree to include the bill in the Budget Conference
- May 12Passed; YEAS 106, NAYS 0Passed House
- May 12Read 3rd timeMinor
- May 12Added to Third Reading Calendar
- May 12Read 2nd timeMinor
- May 12Added to Second Reading Calendar
- May 12Read 1st time
- May 5Bill referred to House Calendar
- May 5FiledIntroduced
HealthcareDisability Rights