Legislative Advocacy Milestones
Advocacy and financial support are essential for influencing policy decisions that impact Florida's home care industry. The Home Care Political Action Committee (PAC) serves as a vital platform for consolidating resources and directing them towards candidates who advocate for home care interests in Tallahassee.
As a voluntary, non-profit, and non-partisan entity, the PAC operates independently of HCAF membership dues and is regulated by the Florida Division of Elections. Contributions to the PAC not only enhance the political influence of the home care industry but also ensure that policymakers prioritize initiatives promoting quality care and caregiver support.
The PAC has achieved significant legislative victories, including securing Medicaid reimbursement rate increases and expanding access to home- and community-based services. It has also advocated for regulatory reforms that offer greater operational flexibility for home care agencies. From securing funding to alleviate waiting lists to defeating legislation that could hinder caregiver employment, the PAC consistently advocates for policies benefiting both providers and patients.
Furthermore, the PAC has played a pivotal role in shaping telehealth regulations, addressing workforce shortages, and safeguarding liability protections for home care agencies. Through its legislative advocacy efforts, the PAC remains steadfast in championing the interests of home care providers.
With continued support, the PAC will drive positive change and foster a favorable legislative environment for the home care industry in Florida. Join us in the PAC's fundraising campaign, aiming to raise $50,000 for the 2024 election. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the future of home care.
Click here to learn more and contribute online.
2013
- Secured a 10% Medicaid reimbursement increase for home health and private duty nursing (PDN) services ($9.3 million).
- Achieved unanimous passage of SB 1094, reducing mandatory fines for non-filing of quarterly reports by home health agencies with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA). The bill slashed fines from $5,000 to $200 per day and exempted providers that do not bill Medicare or Medicaid from reporting.
2014
- Fostered a 5% Medicaid reimbursement rate increase for PDN services ($5.5 million).
- Secured a $12.6 million appropriation to reduce the Long-Term Care (LTC) waiver program waiting list by approximately 823 individuals, expanding access to home- and community-based services (HCBS).
- Successfully advocated for HB 1179, exempting non-Medicare/Medicaid-participating home health agencies that do not offer skilled care from accreditation requirements.
2015
- Championed HB 441, eliminating mandatory quarterly reports to AHCA for home health agencies. The state collected over $4 million throughout the report's existence.
- Advocated for SB 904, allowing agencies to operate additional offices within health service districts, enhancing flexibility without added licensing requirements.
2016
- Secured a 5% Medicaid reimbursement rate increase for PDN services ($7.7 million).
- Enabled a $7.2 million allocation to reduce the LTC waiver program waiting list by approximately 570 individuals.
- Successfully supported HB 1061, joining the Nurse Licensure Compact to streamline nursing services across multiple states.
2017
- Unanimously passed HB 6021, repealing a state law that prohibited home health agencies with a controlling interest from being located in the same county and within 10 miles of each other. This change enables agencies to provide services to a wider range of patient populations and payers without added costs.
2018
- Defeated legislation (SB 1362/HB 835) that would have expanded on the Palm Beach County caregiver ordinance, which requires caregivers to register through a public searchable database, acquire an ID badge, submit to a Level 2 background check, and pay a fee for employment.
2019
- Pioneered the enactment of HB 23, establishing timely telehealth regulations ahead of the impending COVID-19 outbreak.
2020
- Effectively championed HB 607, empowering direct care workers by broadening their scope of practice. This groundbreaking legislation enables registered nurses to delegate tasks to home health aides and certified nursing assistants, promoting skill growth and tackling the health care workforce shortage. Remarkably, HB 607 was passed by the legislature amid the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic by the World Health Organization. This underscores the critical timing of the legislation, which has resulted in tangible improvements in access to care, reduced health care costs, and enhanced patient outcomes.
- Secured $30.2 million to reduce the Agency for Persons with Disabilities waiver waiting list.
2021
- Effectively opposed SB 634/HB 309, averting increased Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) training requirements for long-term care providers. Under the bill, workers were subject to an additional hour of training, and direct care workers faced three (3) initial hours of training and four (4) hours of training annually.
2022
- In a collaborative effort with health care organizations, HCAF's advocacy secured over $600 million for Medicaid rate increases, elevating the minimum wage for direct care workers to $15.
- Championed HB 469, enhancing the scope of practice for direct care workers.
- Successfully lobbied for passage of SB 7014 to extend COVID-19 liability protections for health care providers.
- Defeated legislation (SB 1572/HB 1507) that again sought to increase ADRD training requirements for long-term care providers.
2023
- Passed SB 2510 to revise the Medicaid provider enrollment policy, sparing certain providers from unnecessary requirements, and reducing costs and bureaucracy. After dedicated negotiations, successfully passed HB 299, instituting balanced ADRD training requirements for long-term care providers, provided online at no cost.
- Championed HB 391, establishing the Home Health Aide for Medically Fragile Children Program, bridging workforce gaps and offering training opportunities.
- Secured a $79.6 million appropriation to reduce the Home and Community-Based Services (iBudget) waiver waiting list and $5 million to expand services through the Community Care for the Elderly and Home Care for the Elderly programs.
2024
- Championed HB 935 to expand Medicaid coverage to include home health services prescribed by non-physician practitioners, including advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants. This legislation aligns Florida with the federal CARES Act, providing lasting authorization for non-physician practitioners to certify Medicare and Medicaid home health care services. Remarkably, both bills garnered unanimous approval across all committees and both legislative chambers, underscoring strong bipartisan support.
- Secured a $29 million Medicaid PDN reimbursement rate increase.
- Secured a $195.8 million appropriation to implement a uniform iBudget waiver provider rate increase.
- Secured $19 million allocation to bolster the Linking Industry to Nursing Education (LINE) program, with an additional $5 million earmarked for expanding its scope to encompass private nursing education programs. The program's primary objective is to augment the ranks of certified nursing assistants and licensed practical nurses by disbursing state-funded grants to nursing education programs.
- Passed legislation (SB 7016) mandating Florida's participation in the audiology and speech-language pathology and the physical therapy licensure compacts.