Medicaid is critical for low-income Florida seniors, particularly those who can no longer live independently and need help at home. Unfortunately, seniors and people with disabilities often have difficulty getting the long-term services and supports they need to remain living at home and in the community.  

The Florida Health Justice Project and Legal Services of Greater Miami Inc., with technical support from Justice in Aging, have created a new guide for advocates to help seniors access home and community-based services through Florida Medicaid’s long-term care waiver. Florida Medicaid covers “home and community-based services” that are not typically available through Medicare or private insurance, such as personal-care aides and private-duty nursing, for over 100,000 Floridians. However, more than 50,000 low-income Floridians are currently on a waiting list for these services. 

The Advocate's Guide to the Florida Long Term-Care Medicaid Waiver is a roadmap to navigating eligibility and access to long-term services and supports that enable seniors to age at home and in the community rather than in nursing facilities. The guide provides an overview of the authority governing Florida's Medicaid long-term care waiver and addresses basic questions including:  

• who is eligible for the long-term care waiver  
• how to apply  
• what to do if an application is denied or delayed  
• how the waiting list works  
• what to do if eligibility is terminated  
• what services are covered and how the “care plan” is developed  
• how managed care works  
• what to do if services are denied, delayed, terminated or reduced  

This Guide is an essential resource for advocates to navigate one of the most complex aspects of Florida Medicaid. Thanks to the Florida Justice Technology Center (FJTC), advocates can access or download the Guide online.