Medicaid Waiver Guide – Florida

What is Florida Medicaid?

Florida currently has three waivers that are open to children. All are HCBS 1915(c) Medicaid waivers, and all waive parental income. For an overview of the programs, see this page. Two of these waivers are extremely small programs specifically for Familial Dysautonomia and Degenerative Spinocerebellar Disease, though the latter has been expanded somewhat to other diagnoses. With the exception of these programs, Florida has no programs for children with physical disabilities or medical technology. These children may, however, qualify for the iBudget waiver, which targets people with developmental disabilities. Note that this waiver historically has a very long waiting list.

Types of Waiver Programs

Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides life skills development level 3 – adult day training, life skills development level 4 – prevocational services, residential habilitation, respite, support coordination, adult dental services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, respiratory therapy, skilled nursing, specialized medical equipment and supplies, specialized mental health counseling, speech therapy, transportation, behavior analysis services, behavior assistant services, dietitian services, environmental accessibility adaptations, life skills development level 1 – companion, life skills development level 2 – supported employment, personal emergency response system, personal supports, private duty nursing, residential nursing, special medical home care, and supported living coaching services to individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, or intellectual disabilities ages 3 or older who meet an ICF/IID level of care.  This waiver operates with a concurrent 1915(j) authority.
• Online State Information: iBudget Waiver or Comprehensive iBudget info.
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Contact the Agency for Persons with Disabilities by phone toll-free at 1-866-273-2273 or contact your regional office. See this application information page for more details.

Familial Dysautonomia Waiver

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides respite, support coordination, adult dental services, durable medical equipment, behavioral services, consumable medical supplies, non-residential support services for individuals who are medically fragile, ages 3 – 64 years.
• Online State Information: Familial Dysautonomia Waiver
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Contact the Agency for Health Care Administration by phone toll-free at (888) 419-3456, or by mail at: Agency for Health Care Administration, 2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop 20, Tallahassee, FL 32308.

Model Waiver

• Description from medicaid.gov: Provides respite, environmental accessibility adaptations, transition case management for medically fragile individuals, ages 0 – 20.
• Online State Information: Model Waiver
• Official Federal Information
• How to Apply: Contact the CMAT program at (850) 245-4200.

Other online resources for Florida:

• Florida Navigator is a website that can help you explore the various state programs and agencies that you may be able to receive services from.
• This brochure provides some information on iBudget and phone numbers to call by county
• Family Network on Disabilities does parent training, information sharing, and support.
• The ARC of Florida can help you with a bunch of things related to disability like advocacy, employment, and education.

Telephone Resources

(850) 488-4257 — Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities should be able to help answer questions you may have.

Ordering Goally with a Medicaid Waiver

Talk with your case manager to see if the waiver program you have will cover Goally. If so, have your case manager email us at: [email protected] to place an order on your behalf.