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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 1, 2013
  CONTACT: Melanie Mowry Etters
Communication Director
850-414-7551

iBudget Nearing Completion

TALLAHASSEE—Today, individuals with developmental disabilities in Broward and Palm Beach counties will begin using a new way to manage their services and the dollars used to pay for them. It is called iBudget Florida.

These 3,800 customers will use the iBudget Florida Medicaid waiver to direct and receive Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS). The HCBS waiver is funded by state and federal tax dollars to help people with developmental disabilities remain and participate in their local communities.

These customers join 19,457 other customers who are already enjoying the benefits of iBudget Florida in managing their waiver dollars. More than six months of preparation and training has occurred with customers, families, waiver support coordinators, and providers prior to the implementation.

iBudget Florida is a different way to deliver Medicaid waiver services. It has been approved by both the Florida Legislature and the federal government. iBudget provides greater ability to choose services that matter most to customers given their unique situations. It gives greater flexibility for customers to respond to their changing needs.

The final iBudget implementation will be in Dade and Monroe counties on July 1. In addition, Consumer-Directed Care Plus (CDC+) participants will start using iBudget Florida on July 1.

Many families in North Florida have been using iBudget for more than a year and are happy with how iBudget Florida has given them increased flexibility and improved their self-direction. APD has posted interviews with families on iBudgetFlorida.org. Visit http://apdcares.org/ibudget/videos.htm to view the testimonials.

iBudget Florida is designed to make the funding process fair and equitable for all Medicaid waiver customers. It has increased opportunities for customers to direct their own care. This system also provides for financial predictability within the waiver.

Some other customer benefits of iBudget Florida are:
· Ability to reallocate funds not spent on services in one month for future service needs within a fiscal year
· Access to dental services that were not available in the tier four waiver
· Greater control to change services or providers to fit the person’s needs
· Support coordinators able to use iBudget technology to reduce paperwork requirements and communicate efficiently with providers and APD, and
· Greater opportunity for APD to use new funds to serve people on the Medicaid waiver waiting list.

APD annually serves more than 50,000 Floridians with the developmental disabilities of autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities, spina bifida, and Prader-Willi syndrome. For more information on iBudget Florida, visit iBudgetFlorida.org. To learn more about the agency, call 1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273) or visit APDcares.org.