Federal officials have approved a three-year extension of a program that requires almost all Florida Medicaid beneficiaries to enroll in managed-care plans.
The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, in a letter Thursday, formally approved the extension of what is known as a Medicaid “waiver.” The move was expected, as federal officials indicated in April they would approve the extension, which will last through June 30, 2017.
Florida lawmakers in 2011 approved a controversial plan to use a statewide managed-care system in Medicaid. The state Agency for Health Care Administration in recent months has phased in the new system, which took effect Friday in the final 13 counties.
Thursday’s approval also extended for one year a program known as the “Low Income Pool,” which funnels extra money to hospitals and other health providers that serve large numbers of low-income and uninsured patients.
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