Record Rate Increases for Direct Support Professionals

By Director Barbara Palmer

Governor DeSantis signed Florida’s Freedom First Budget recently to continue his commitment to helping individuals with developmental disabilities. For the first time ever, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) will have a record high budget totaling over $2 billion for Fiscal Year 2022-23, providing record provider rate increases to give Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) the raises they have earned.

Included in the APD budget are provider rate increases for critically needed DSPs. The rate increases, which are effective today, July 1, are appropriated to increase wages to $15 an hour or more, beginning October 1. Behavioral Services are increasing to closely align with Medicaid State Plan service rates beginning in July.

Providers will see substantial rate increases including:

73 percent for Companion services;
45 percent for Respite services;
41 percent for Personal Supports services;
25 percent for Residential Habilitation services; and
23 percent for Adult Day Training services.

APD is excited to announce these record high rates for our vital service providers. We appreciate Governor DeSantis’ and the Legislature’s commitment to supporting people with disabilities and their service providers. These rate increases for our valued Direct Support Professionals will help them with the recent increases in the cost of living, and reward them for their excellent care to Floridians with disabilities.

To see the complete budget, click here.