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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
CONTACT: Melanie Mowry Etters |
APD Continues Waiver Enrollment
TALLAHASSEE —Using the $36 million included in the Florida Families First budget to serve individuals on the waiting list, the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) has begun its second enrollment sending 692 individuals with critical needs letters offering enrollment into the Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid waiver. These new enrollees join 754 people who were offered waiver services on July 1.
Additionally, the agency expects to enroll 190 foster children with developmental disabilities into the waiver this year that are in the adoption or reunification process. Dollars have been reserved to provide waiver services to these children when the adoption or reunification is completed.
Governor Rick Scott recommended and the Florida Legislature supported including $36 million in the Florida Families First budget to serve people currently on the APD waiver waiting list. APD hosted two stakeholder meetings to develop the criteria to enroll those with the greatest needs with the new funding.
APD Director Barbara Palmer said, "I am excited to have a second enrollment to move people off the waiting list, and for these 692 to begin receiving waiver services in their communities. I appreciate Governor Scott and members of the Legislature for this needed funding for the waiting list and their support of our agency. We are truly changing lives for the better.”
After the individual accepts the waiver enrollment, they must select a waiver support coordinator who will work with them to develop a list of needed services that will be funded by the waiver. The APD customer will also select which waiver providers they want to deliver their services.
APD supports people with developmental disabilities to live, learn, and work in their communities. The agency annually serves more than 50,000 Floridians with autism, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, and Prader-Willi syndrome. For more information about the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, visit APDcares.org or call toll-free 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273).