On Thursday, June 8, the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) announced the availability of an additional one-time, non-waiver retention payment opportunity for Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) providers. Attached to this post is the AHCA bulletin announcing the new funding opportunity.

A total of $181 million has been made available to Medicaid managed care organizations (MCOs) for distribution to eligible provider types (PT) within 30 days of receipt. Eligible providers are current, active Medicaid providers in good standing with Florida Medicaid that billed claims and were reimbursed by Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) health plans for the following provider fee schedules with the timeframe of July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022.

• Assistive Care Services (PT 14) 
• Community Behavioral Health (PT 05) 
• Durable Medicaid Equipment (A, E, K, B, and T codes only; PT 90) 
• Home Health Visit Services (PT 65) 
• Personal Care Services (PT 65) 
• Private Duty Nursing Services (PT 65)

This one-time funding opportunity does not require an application or reporting from eligible providers. Payments will be calculated based on a 19% rate increase applied to non-waiver HCBS claims for allowable services as listed above. These additional funds are subject to the state's spending deadline of June 30, 2023. For more information, click here to view AHCA's frequently asked questions webpage.

• Related News: Some Home and Community-Based Medicaid Providers Set to Get Pay Increases (Florida Politics, 6/9/23)

In a letter to AHCA dated May 12, 2023, HCAF requested an extension of the deadline for Medicaid providers to expend funds attributable to the increased Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for HCBS, as authorized by the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Although ARPA's initial spending deadline was March 31, 2024, the federal government extended it to March 31, 2025. The state, however, maintains its original spending deadline of June 30, 2023. HCAF is awaiting AHCA's response to this request.