The Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability: Profile of Florida’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers


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Report No. 11-03, January 2011

The Florida Legislature's Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability ("OPPAGA") published a January 2011 report entitled:  "Profile of Florida’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers."  A hyperlink to the report and summary are below, along with other pertinent information:

  • OPPAGA produced this profile of Florida’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers as a descriptive resource for policy makers and stakeholders. The profile provides uniform information about each waiver including eligibility criteria, services provided, persons served, expenditures, and the state agency responsible for operating the waiver program.

  • Medicaid HCBS waivers are authorized by Section 2176 of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 and incorporated into Title XIX of the Social Security Act as Section 1915(c). States can use this authority to offer a broad array of services not otherwise available through Medicaid that are intended to prevent or delay institutional placement. Florida’s HCBS waivers vary on a number of dimensions. Some waivers are limited to persons with specific disease states or physical conditions (such as persons with cystic fibrosis); others serve broader groups (such as persons who are elderly and/or have disabilities). Waivers also differ with respect to the number and types of services provided, payment method, and whether waiver services are available statewide or limited to a few counties. In Fiscal Year 2010-11, the Legislature appropriated $1.36 billion to state agencies to serve beneficiaries in these 14 waivers. Of this amount, the Legislature appropriated $7.9 million for transitioning individuals from nursing home care to the community.
What were our earlier findings?

Report No. 10-10 Profile of Florida's Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers,published in January 2010.

Report No. 09-32 Florida's Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waivers,published in July 2009.

Which Government Program Summaries contain related information?

Medicaid Long-Term Care Waivers
Nursing Home Pre-Admission Screening (CARES)
Medicaid Health Care Services
Department of Elder Affairs
Agency for Health Care Administration
Department of Children and Families
Adult Protective Services
Department of Health
Agency for Persons with Disabilities


What other OPPAGA-related materials are available?
  • Report No. 10-33 The State Could Consider Several Options to Maximize Its Use of Funds for Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services,published in March 2010.

  • Report No. 10-23 The Alzheimer’s Disease Waiver Program Does Not Delay Nursing Home Entry More Effectively Than Other Waivers and Costs the State More Per Participant Than Most Waivers That Serve Similar Persons,published in February 2010.
The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) is an office of the Legislature. OPPAGA provides data, evaluative research, and objective analyses to assist legislative budget and policy deliberations. OPPAGA conducts research as directed by state law, the presiding officers, or the Joint Legislative Auditing Committee.


For information about Florida’s Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services and affordable, quality home health care in South Florida, contact Brian Gauthier at A Family Member Home Care (954) 986-5090 or http://www.afamilymemberhomecare.com/.

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