AARP Florida advocates to closely watch implementation of Medicaid reform

Tallahassee, Fla.  – AARP Florida State Director Jeff Johnson issued this statement Monday in reaction to news that federal health officials have approved a Florida request to require thousands of frail older Medicaid recipients to get long-term care through managed-care organizations :

“Florida embarks now on  a reform that is crucial to the lives and care of tens of thousands of frail and vulnerable Floridians.  Under a Medicaid plan approved today, Medicaid recipients aged 65+ will be required to enroll in  managed-care organizations this year to receive long-term care, such as nursing-home care or home- and community-based care.

“Florida elected officials have said they are pushing this reform effort forward because they want to assure the highest quality of care for frail and vulnerable Floridians under Medicaid.  AARP Florida will hold them to their word.”

“AARP Florida and its members will be watchdogs for this reform and will seek to holdstate officials accountable for how these plans are implemented, for the transparency of the state’s actions, and for the quality of care and consumer protections provided by managed-care plans that are funded by state and federal dollars under this experiment.”

“We are determined to hold the state agencies, the managed-care organizations and the provider service networks to strict compliance with laws and regulations.  The wellbeing of the ‘frailest of the frail’ is at stake.”