Legislative Update: The budget and all legislation that passed will soon go to the Governor. There must be a 72-hour review period before any budget vote. By Tuesday, March 8, the last touches will be on the budget. This is in the State Constitution and often called a “cooling-off” period. This ensures legislators know what’s in the budget before they vote. As of this morning the main budget issues we have been following are:
  • There is an agreement to increase the hourly wage of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) to $15/hr. There is proviso still being debated that implements the rate increase.       
  • There is an agreement to serve additional clients in the Home and Community Based Services Waiver Waiting List in the amount of $59,615,290.  
  • There is an agreement for increased money for the Behavioral Services Rate. With state and federal it is an increase of $14,229,925. Both chambers have proviso ensuring that providers use increases for the wages of DSPs.
  • At the very end of session, there is a “Sprinkle List.” This is money allocated for special projects for legislative leaders or spending that didn’t make it through the budget process. 
  • Lastly, the budget goes to the Governor where he has the final word by agreeing tothe budget or vetoing items that he feels is not in the best interest of the state.  
Two important bills will make it to the Governor’s desk. These are SB 236 (Jones) which will increase eligibility for services of ESE students identified as having a developmental delay by modifying the definition of “exception student” from age 5 to age 9, or through the completion of grade 2, whichever comes first; and HB 235 (Plasencia) which will prohibit the use of mechanical restraints by school personnel except for school resource officers, school safety officers, school guardians, or school security guards, who may use mechanical restraint in the exercise of their duties to restrain students in grades 6 through 12.

The Arc of Florida Dental Program Update:  Through The Arc of Florida, the state funds certain dental needs of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities when there is no other payer. Although the program succeeds on all contract measure deliverables, we understand there is still a large unmet need. The backlog of dental needs due to Covid reached a critical state in February and the funding has been obligated. Although those with “approved” treatment plans will continue to be completed, no new clients or unapproved treatment plans can be accepted from now until the new fiscal year, July 1, 2022. The majority of clients need sedation for treatment, such as IVs, deep sedation, or hospital sedation. A record number of applications were received. Delays in treatment due to Covid is the underlying cause. Hospitals cancelled dental procedures with sedation during Covid, regular cases became more severe cases resulting in increased costs, dentists became backlogged and some retired causing delays, and delayed treatment made cases much more difficult and expensive.

For those individuals with developmental and intellectual disabilities who have pain or infections, they should contact their managed care plan. According to the plan at: Dental Services it states the following on the AHCA website, “..[M]edicaid reimburses for acute emergency dental procedures to alleviate pain or infection, dentures and denture-related procedures for recipients 21 years and older including: Comprehensive oral evaluation; Denture-related procedures; Full dentures and partial dentures; Incision and drainage of an abscess; Radiographs necessary to make a diagnosis; Problem-focused oral evaluation. This service is part of the minimum covered services for all Managed Medical Assistance plans serving Medicaid enrollees.” If your needs qualify for the services the plan allows but have been turned down and you have not received services you can send an electronic complaint to Florida State Medicaid Managed Care. Application forms for the next year fiscal year will be posted on June 28 and be will accepted on July 1, 2022. We are currently updating the form. 

Reenergizing our Grass Roots Advocacy: Advocacy Committee and Rules Committee Coming soon. Finally, the Arc of Florida Advocacy Chair is creating a survey to go out to self-advocates, family members, and other stakeholders to define the focus on this year’s advocacy and create an Advocacy Committee. In addition, the Arc of Florida is creating a Rules committee so we can advocate by addressing rules and policy as they come up. There will be an education component for advocates prior to taking on topics that need advocacy.