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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
July 1, 2011		                     CONTACT:
Melanie Mowry Etters
Communications Director
(850) 488-4257

APD Changes Coming

TALLAHASSEE — The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) will implement a four percent provider rate reduction today, July 1, as required by the Florida Legislature. The new Medicaid waiver service rates are posted on APD's website—APDcares.org.

Additionally, the law requires a cost plan freeze for all waiver recipients. No one may increase their waiver services unless they are in a crisis situation. The Florida Legislature has mandated that APD bring its Medicaid waiver expenditures within is appropriation. The Legislature approved $810 million for the Home and Community-based Services (HCBS) waiver for the 2011-12 state fiscal year that begins on July 1. APD customers received $930 million worth of services during the 2010-11 fiscal year.

Lawmakers are requiring that APD submit a plan by September 1 on how it will reduce expenditures. The Legislature added a requirement in law that waiver support coordinators and service providers must assist the agency with bringing service levels within appropriations.

Also beginning today, the Medicaid waiver will no longer provide personal care assistance (PCA) to children under 21 years old. That service is now provided by the Medicaid State Plan operated by the Agency for Health Care Administration. Customers of Consumer Directed Care Plus (CDC+) will continue PCA services as usual.

The HCBS waiver provides supports to about 30,000 Floridians with developmental disabilities so they may participate in their local community.

Starting today, the agency will add Down syndrome to its list of developmental disabilities that it serves, although most people with Down syndrome already qualified for services through the waiver. APD annually serves more than 50,000 Floridians with developmental disabilities of autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, spina bifida, and Prader-Willi syndrome.
For more information on the agency, call 1-866-APD-CARES or visit APDcares.org.