The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) today announced the process for implementing the $15 minimum wage requirement for Medicaid workers effective October 1, 2022.

The Florida Medicaid Provider Minimum Wage Requirements portal contains a wide range of information for Medicaid providers, including frequently asked questions, the electronic supplemental wage agreement (see below), and a form for submitting questions about the mandate.

To distribute the $600 million in funding appropriated for the Medicaid minimum wage requirement, AHCA has been directed to increase managed care rates and certain Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) fee schedules, including:

• Home Health Visit Services
• Personal Care Services
• Private Duty Nursing Services

All fee schedules will be updated by October 1, 2022, and retroactively effective to July 1, 2022. Managed care providers should note FAQ #11:

 Are the managed care plans also required to pay an enhanced rate associated with the Medicaid provider minimum wage requirement?

Yes. Capitated rates paid to the plans for the contract year beginning on October 1, 2022, will include funds that were appropriated in the 22/23 General Appropriations Act to increase Medicaid managed care rates for Florida Medicaid Managed Medical Assistance (MMA) and Long-Term Care (LTC) Plans for the sole purpose of raising wages of employees of Medicaid providers including 1099 employees who provide services under the Florida Medicaid Program to at least $15.00 per hour.

In accordance with the state budget, AHCA is also required to enter into a supplemental wage agreement with each impacted Medicaid provider to ensure compliance with the minimum wage requirements. The deadline to submit the supplemental wage agreement is October 1, 2022. Providers who fail to sign the agreement will be subject to audits and recoupment of funds associated with the minimum wage requirement. AHCA intends to publish the supplemental wage agreement today on the portal.

Click here to access the Florida Medicaid Provider Minimum Wage Requirements portal. It is highly recommended that Medicaid providers bookmark this page and regularly refer back to it for updated schedules, announcements, and FAQs. Please let us know if you submit a question through the portal so that we can track submissions and ensure timely responses.

If you have any questions, please send us a message or call (850) 222-8967.