This Veterans Day, we honor our country’s servicemen and women and the sacrifices they and their families make, both great and small.
One of the major sacrifices military families make is moving frequently. This is particularly challenging for those receiving important Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) through Medicaid. Transferring to a new state can mean losing these services, requiring them to apply all over again. In many states, this also means they will be put on a waiting list, a list they may have already been on in previous states.
However, five years ago, Florida became the first state in the country to enact a law that makes it easier for military families who are transferred to Florida to continue receiving Medicaid waiver services. This law allows for an expedited application process and helps ease some of the burdens that come with relocation.
Here is a brief overview of the requirements to qualify and apply for APD services under this law:
- Applicants must have a parent or guardian who is an active-duty service member at the time of the transfer.
- The applicant must have one of the following seven developmental disabilities: autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome, Prader-Willi syndrome, or spina bifida, or they must be a child age 3-5 who is at high risk of a developmental disability.
- They must also be receiving Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) in another state.
- Families who satisfy these requirements should fill out an application as soon as they receive the order to transfer and before moving to Florida in order to take advantage of this expedited process.
- A copy of the transfer order must be submitted with the application. This process will be finalized once the applicant has moved to Florida.
To learn more, check out this informational flyer.
Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities 