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News Release

HHS APPROVES FLORIDA PLAN TO ALLOW
MORE CONSUMER DIRECTED CARE

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson today approved a Florida plan to allow more consumers to direct their own Medicaid home- and community-based care services instead of an agency directing services for them.

Florida currently has demonstration programs underway in parts of the state for some beneficiaries, but today's announcement will allow consumers all across Florida to have control over the planning and purchase of long-term supports and services using a cash allowance. The new program evolved from Florida's participation as one of three states in the national Cash and Counseling Demonstration, which found high quality and satisfaction in consumer-directed approaches.

"This Florida plan will allow participants and their families to play an essential role in deciding how to plan, obtain and sustain community-based services," Secretary Thompson said. "We are committed to giving states greater flexibility in designing programs like Florida's to help persons of all ages with disabilities live fuller, more independent lives."

Florida's request was made under the new Independence Plus Medicaid initiative to help states develop programs for family- and individually-directed community services using either a demonstration waiver or a home- and community-based services waiver.

State officials expect over 2,000 people to take advantage of the new self-directed care option. Eligible groups include the frail elderly and adults and children with disabilities. Consumers and their families will be involved in planning all aspects of service delivery, including but not limited to the hiring, direction and appraisal of service providers. A "support broker" and a financial management service will assist families and individuals with the self-directed process including payroll tasks.

The Independence Plus programs assist states to achieve the goals established in President Bush's New Freedom Initiative. When he launched the New Freedom Initiative, President Bush said it is intended "to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to live close to their families and friends, to live more independently, to engage in productive employment and to promote community life." Programs approved under the initiative will delay institutional or other high cost out-of-home placement by strengthening supports to families or individuals, facilitate cost-effective decision making by families, and aid states in meeting their legal obligations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Supreme Court's Olmstead ruling which encourages appropriate community placement for persons with disabilities.

"Allowing persons with disabilities and their families to engage in 'self-direction' is a high priority for the Bush Administration and my agency," said Tom Scully, administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the agency that oversees federal health insurance programs.

As former governors, President Bush and Secretary Thompson have made it a priority to make it simpler for states to submit Medicaid and State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) waiver requests and to initiate new programs such as Independence Plus. Since January 2001, HHS has approved waivers and plan amendments that have expanded eligibility to more than 2 million people and enhanced benefits for more than 6 million people.

Additional information regarding federal support of self-direction options can be obtained at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/independenceplus.

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Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.

Last Revised: May 30, 2003