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HB0531 • 2026

Managed Care Plans

Managed Care Plans

Healthcare Technology
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Barnaby ; Basabe
Last action
2026-03-13
Official status
House - Died in Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee
Effective date
2026-07-01

Plain English Breakdown

The bill summary does not provide specific details on grievance resolution procedures or cost implications, leaving some aspects open-ended.

Managed Care Plans for Medicaid

This bill changes the rules for managed care plans in Florida's Medicaid program to stop them from reviewing certain medical necessity claims and requires coverage for specific equipment from chosen providers within their network.

What This Bill Does

  • Stops managed care plans from checking if previously approved medical items or services are really needed after they have already given permission.
  • Requires managed care plans to cover durable medical equipment and complex rehabilitation technology from a provider the patient chooses, as long as it is within their network of providers.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who are part of Florida's Medicaid managed care program
  • Managed care plans that work with Medicaid in Florida

Terms To Know

Medicaid
A government health insurance program for people with low income or certain disabilities.
Provider network
The group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that a managed care plan has agreements with to provide services.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This bill only affects Florida's Medicaid program.
  • It does not say how much it will cost or where the money will come from.
  • The rules about choosing providers and filing complaints are left for the AHCA to decide later.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-13 House

    • Died in Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

  2. 2026-01-13 House

    • 1st Reading (Original Filed Version)

  3. 2025-12-03 House

    • Referred to Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee • Referred to Health & Human Services Committee • Now in Health Care Facilities & Systems Subcommittee

  4. 2025-11-24 House

    • Filed

Official Summary Text

Managed Care Plans; Revises Medicaid managed care contract requirements to prohibit managed care plans from reviewing certain prior authorization claims for medical necessity; requires that managed care plans provide coverage for durable medical equipment & complex rehabilitation technology from qualified provider, from within provider network, of enrollee's choosing; requires AHCA to adopt certain rules.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
HB 531 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb531-00
Page 1 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

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to managed care plans; amending s. 2
409.967, F.S.; revising Medicaid managed care contract 3
requirements to prohibit managed care plans from 4
reviewing certain prior authorization claims for 5
medical necessity; requiring that managed care plans 6
provide coverage for durable medical equipment and 7
complex rehabilitation technology from a qualified 8
provider, from within the provider network, of the 9
enrollee's choosing; requiring the Agency for Health 10
Care Administration to adopt certain rules; providing 11
an effective date. 12
13
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 14
15
Section 1. Paragraphs (p) and (q) are added to subsection 16
(2) of section 409.967, Florida Statutes, to read: 17
409.967 Managed care plan accountability.— 18
(2) The agency shall establish such contract requirements 19
as are necessary for the operation of the statewide managed care 20
program. In addition to any other provisions the agency may deem 21
necessary, the contract must require: 22
(p) Prior authorization reviews.—For any claims in which a 23
Medicaid managed care plan has given prior authorization, 24
prepayment or postpayment review may not include review for 25

HB 531 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb531-00
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

medical necessity for the previously approved equipment, 26
supplies, or services. 27
(q) Durable medical equipment.—Managed care plans, or 28
their subcontractors, shall provide coverage for durable medical 29
equipment or complex rehabilitation technology from any 30
qualified durable medical equipment or complex rehabilitation 31
technology provider within the provider network which the 32
enrollee chooses. The agency shall adopt rules to implement this 33
paragraph, including, but not limited to: 34
1. Authorizing enrollees to choose the provider, within 35
the provider network, from which they can receive eligible 36
durable medical equipment or complex rehabilitation technology. 37
2. Providing a procedure within the grievance resolution 38
process adopted under paragraph (h) for enrollees to file a 39
complaint if they believe they were not granted authority to 40
choose their provider from within the provider network, as 41
authorized under this paragraph. 42
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026. 43