Parity for Nonnursing Services Under Long-term Managed Care Plans

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's title and summary were adjusted to match the official source material more closely.

Parity for Nonnursing Services Under Long-term Managed Care Plans

This bill requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to pay licensed providers at least as much as unlicensed providers for nonnursing services under Medicaid's long-term managed care program, and adjusts rates annually.

What This Bill Does

• Requires the Agency for Health Care Administration to reimburse licensed providers at the same rate or higher than unlicensed providers for nonnursing services starting January 1, 2027.
• Licensed providers include home health agencies and nurse registries; unlicensed providers can be family caregivers.
• The agency must adjust rates annually to cover inflation and overhead costs.
• Within 30 days of the bill becoming law, the agency needs to request any Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment necessary to implement these rate changes.

Who It Names or Affects

• Licensed providers who offer nonnursing services under Medicaid's long-term managed care program
• Unlicensed providers like family caregivers who provide similar services

Terms To Know

Medicaid

A government health insurance program for people with low income or disabilities.

Long-term managed care plan

A type of Medicaid program that provides long-term services and support to help people live at home instead of in a nursing home.

Limits and Unknowns

• The bill does not specify the exact rates or how much more licensed providers will be paid compared to unlicensed providers.
• It is unclear if there are any limits on which nonnursing services qualify for this rate parity.

Official Summary Text

Parity for Nonnursing Services Under Long-term Managed Care Plans; Beginning on specified date, requiring AHCA to reimburse nonnursing services provided by licensed providers at same rate or higher than rate it reimburses unlicensed providers for such services under Medicaid long-term managed care program; requires agency annually to adjust rate for licensed providers; requires agency, within specified timeframe, to seek any Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment necessary to implement rate changes.

Current Bill Text

HB 219 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb219-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to parity for nonnursing services 2
under long-term managed care plans; beginning on a 3
specified date, requiring the Agency for Health Care 4
Administration to reimburse nonnursing services 5
provided by licensed providers at the same rate or 6
higher than the rate it reimburses unlicensed 7
providers for such services under the Medicaid long-8
term managed care program; requiring the agency 9
annually to adjust the rate for licensed providers; 10
requiring the agency, within a specified timeframe, to 11
seek any Medicaid waiver or state plan amendment 12
necessary to implement the rate changes; providing an 13
effective date. 14
15
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16
17
Section 1. (1) Beginning January 1, 2027, the Agency for 18
Health Care Administration shall reimburse licensed providers 19
who provide nonnursing services, such as home health agencies 20
and nurse registries, participating in the Medicaid long-term 21
managed care program at a rate that is at least the same rate or 22
higher than the rate it reimburses unlicensed providers for such 23
services, such as family caregivers. The agency shall annually 24
adjust the rate for licensed providers to accommodate inflation 25

HB 219 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb219-00
Page 2 of 2
F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

and overhead costs. 26
(2) Within 30 days after the effective date of this act, 27
the agency shall request any Medicaid waiver or state plan 28
amendment necessary to implement these rate changes. 29
Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 30