Today, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) announced that it is soliciting comments from health care providers regarding any issues or concerns with existing Managed Care Plan providers under the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Program. This is your opportunity as a health care provider directly impacted by the Medicaid Managed Care Plans to voice any problems, concerns, or suggestions. This announcement is part of AHCA’s ongoing re-procurement under the Statewide Medicaid Managed Care program. AHCA will consider your comments in the process of making awards to Managed Care Organizations and Provider Service Networks in each Region of the State. This process was mandated under a legislative amendment that requires AHCA to solicit comments.
BACKGROUND ON STATEWIDE MEDICAID MANAGED CARE PROGRAM
The State of Florida has offered Medicaid services since 1970. Medicaid is funded by both the state and federal government to provide health care coverage for eligible children, seniors, disabled adults, and pregnant women. The annual budget for the program is more than $38 billion and makes up the largest part of the total Florida budget. The 2011 Florida Legislature originally adopted the legislation (now Part IV of Chapter 409, Florida Statutes) to create and establish the Florida Medicaid program as a statewide, integrated managed care program for all covered Medicaid services, including long-term care services. This program is referred to as Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) and includes three programs: Managed Medical Assistance (MMA), Long-term Care (LTC), and Dental. The 2022 Florida Legislature passed Senate Bill 1950 (amending part IV of Chapter 409, Florida Statutes) to reallocate Medicaid regions, direct the Agency to conduct a single statewide procurement for the SMMC program, and ensure a minimum number of managed care plans per Medicaid region. More than 4.4 million Floridians are enrolled in Florida’s SMMC program.
COMMENTS TO BE CONSIDERED IN SELECTING NEW MEDICAID MANAGED CARE PLANS AND PROVIDER SERVICE NETWORKS
Based on the 2022 legislative amendment, AHCA is not required to consider comments from health care providers that operate in an area covered by on the existing Plans. The Invitation to Negotiate provides:
“ a. Pursuant to Section 409.966(3)(a)8., Florida Statutes, the Agency will consider comments in writing by any enrolled or registered Medicaid provider relating to a respondent that has submitted a response to this solicitation in the same region in which the provider is located and rendering services. b. The Agency will publish a list of respondents and instructions for how providers may submit comments to this solicitation within two (2) business days of the public opening at: https://ahca.myflorida.com/procurements. c. The Agency will utilize an online survey tool for the collection of the provider comments. The online survey tool will remain open and active for a period of ten (10) business days. d. Providers must submit comments to the Agency through the published survey tool by the date/time indicated in Section A., Overview, Sub[1]Section 6., Solicitation Timeline and as outlined on the Agency’s website.
Today’s Announcement provides that comments must be submitted no later than November 9, 2023 by 5 PM. Comments are submitted through an on-line survey tool. For additional information, or assistance in submitting comments, please contact us.