9865887, 59GER11-06 - Florida Administrative Rules, Law, Code, Register

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Notice: 9865887

Notice of Emergency Rule

Department:

AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION

Division:

Medicaid

Overview

RULE:

59GER11-06	Repeal of 59GER11-01 Developmental Disabilities Waiver Provider Rate Table
59GER11-07	Repeal of 59GER11-02 Developmental Disabilities Waiver Services Procedure Codes
59GER11-08	Repeal of 59GER11-03 Developmental Disabilities Waiver Residential Habilitation Services in a Licensed Facility Provider Rate Table
59GER11-09	Repeal of 59GER11-04 Family and Supported Living Waiver Provider Rate Table
59GER11-10	Repeal of 59GER11-05 Family and Supported Living Waiver Services Procedure Codes

SPECIFIC REASONS FOR FINDING AN IMMEDIATE DANGER TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY OR WELFARE:

The Secretary of the Agency for Health Care Administration, after consultation with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities, hereby issues the following statement of facts and reasons, in support of adopting Emergency Rules 59GER11-06, 07, 08, 09, 10 which repeal Emergency Rules 59GER11-01, 02, 03, 04, and 05, respectively.
1. The Agency for Health Care Administration (“AHCA”) is the “single state agency” responsible for the administration of the Florida Medicaid program. § 409.902, Fla. Stat.; 42 U.S.C. § 1396a(a)(5). As the single state agency, AHCA has the authority to make rules, regulations, and policies that it follows in administering the state’s Medicaid program. § 409.919, Fla. Stat.; 42 U.S.C. § 431.10(b)(2). No other state agency has the “authority to change or disapprove any administrative decision of [AHCA], or otherwise substitute its judgment for that of the Medicaid agency with respect to application of policies, rules, and regulations issued by the Medicaid agency.” 42 C.F.R. § 431.10(e)(3).
2. The Agency for Persons with Disabilities (“APD”) is responsible for the administration of the Developmental Disabilities Home and Community Based Medicaid Waiver programs (the “waiver”). § 393.0661, Fla. Stat. APD’s waiver serves over 30,000 people with developmental disabilities, which Florida law defines as persons diagnosed with intellectual disability (formerly known as mental retardation), cerebral palsy, autism, spina bifida, or Prader-Willi syndrome. § 393.063(9), Fla. Stat.
3. On March 31, 2011, AHCA filed emergency rules 59ER11-01, 02, 03, 04 and 05 (“the emergency rules”). The emergency rules reduced waiver provider reimbursement rates.
4. The underlying emergency justifying the emergency rules was a $174 million budget deficit at APD.
5. The emergency rules were one part of a larger plan to address the budget shortfall.
6. On April 14, 2011, the Legislature agreed to appropriate funds to address the budget shortfall that prompted the emergency rules. This fact, once carried through, will eliminate the emergency that justified the emergency rules and obviate the need for the emergency rules.
7. Accordingly, AHCA is repealing the emergency rules effective April 16, 2011.
8. Billing for services rendered from April 1, 2011 up to and including April 15, 2011 will be reimbursed according to the rates promulgated by the emergency rules. The emergency rules will not apply to billings for services rendered after April 15, 2011.
9. The emergency rules were one part of a larger plan to address APD’s budget deficit. This repeal of the emergency rules is a repeal only of the provider rate reductions in the emergency rules. Other portions of the larger plan that were not covered by the emergency rules remain in place.

REASON FOR CONCLUDING THAT THE PROCEDURE IS FAIR UNDER THE CIRCUMSTANCES:

1. Emergency Rules 59GER11-06, 07, 08, 09, 10, effective April 16, 2011, will repeal Emergency Rules 59GER11-01, 02, 03, 04, and 05, respectively.
2. On March 31, 2011, AHCA filed emergency rules 59ER11-01, 02, 03, 04 and 05 (“the emergency rules”).
3. One requirement of emergency rulemaking is that the Agency take only that action necessary to cure the underlying emergency.
4. On April 14, 2011, Legislature agreed to appropriate funds to cure the underlying emergency justifying the emergency rules.
5. The procedure is fair under the circumstances because the Agency is taking only those actions necessary to cure the underlying emergency that justified the emergency rules. The emergency rules 59ER11-01, 02, 03, 04 and 05 will be effective only for the duration of the emergency, from April 1, 2011 through April 15, 2011.

SUMMARY:

Emergency Rules 59GER11-06, 07, 08, 09, 10 repeal Emergency Rules: 59GER11-01, Developmental Disabilities Waiver Provider Rate Table; 59GER11-02, Developmental Disabilities Waiver Services Procedure Codes; 59GER11-03, Developmental Disabilities Waiver Residential Habilitation Services in a Licensed Facility Provider Rate Table; 59GER11-04, Family and Supported Living Waiver Provider Rate Table; and 59GER11-05, Family and Supported Living Waiver Services Procedure Codes, respectively.

THE PERSON TO BE CONTACTED REGARDING THE EMERGENCY RULE IS:

Leigh Meadows, Medicaid Services, 2727 Mahan Drive, Mail Stop 20, Tallahassee, Florida 32308-5407, telephone: (850)412-4258, e-mail: leigh.meadows@ahca.myflorida.com

PRINT PUBLISH DATE:

4/29/2011 Vol. 37/17

OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE:

Joint Administrative Procedures Committee
Florida Administrative Law Central Online Network (F.A.L.C.O.N.)

RELATED COURT CASES:

Division of Administrative Hearings

FEDERAL eRULEMAKING
WEB PORTAL:

Regulations.gov

HOW TO LINK TO
THIS NOTICE:

http://flrules.org/gateway/ruleno.asp?id=59GER11-06&PDate=4/29/2011&Section=4

REFERENCE MATERIALS:

No reference(s).

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