The STORIES, Information, Issues and Media
Lake County, FL
A loving wife tried everything to navigate the complicated Medicaid home and community-based service program to keep her husband at home after his diagnosis of early-onset dementia.
St. Cloud, FL
While Lia’s appeal for additional personal care services was pending, she lost ALL of those services! Her home health agency blindsided Lia and her family by informing them that the agency would no longer be providing personal care.
St. Cloud, FL
Medicaid Long-term Care: A Managed Care Plan's Ongoing Failure to Provide Needed Home Health Services
Miami, FL
When you’re a caregiver, business owner and part-time teacher, 24 hours a day is never enough.
Orlando, FL
Thelma quit a good job to care for her elderly mother, Hortense, who needs care 24/7. Although the pay for being her mom’s full time care giver was only $10.76 an hour, the Medicaid managed care plan said she would be paid for 41 hours/week. Instead, the plan keeps cutting Thelma’s service hours.
Jacksonville, FL
After a stroke, Shirley cannot even get out of bed without the use of a special lift, which requires trained aides to operate. And while Medicaid home health aides take care of her during the week, moving her from her bed to a wheel chair, her managed care plan stopped sending aides on the weekend. She has been forced to spend entire weekends in her bed.
Jacksonville, FL
As someone who lost the use of her legs, Alene, an independent retiree, relies on Medicaid home health aides. But the Covid-19 crisis has taken its toll on the availability of home health aides, and she has been forced to spend many days--especially weekend days--alone.
Miami-Dade County, FL
Qudsia shares her experience with Medicaid in Florida, and how it provides health coverage for her elderly mother and three children.
Miami-Dade County, FL
Stafford shares his experience with Medicaid in Florida, and how it helps him afford his medications.
6/8/2021
The Florida Health Justice Project (FHJP) sent the state Medicaid Agency a second comment letter urging the state to use the new federal funds available for HCBS to address the problems Alene, Shirley, Hortense and Thelma are dealing with. Also, as in the first comment letter, FHJP urged the state to provide an opportunity for stakeholder engagement and to be transparent.
9/16/2021
The Florida Medicaid Agency recently sought approval for a 5 year extension of their current program that provides home and community based services (HCBS) to seniors and persons with disabilities as an alternative to nursing home care. The Florida Health Justice Project (FHJP) sent the state Medicaid Agency a comment letter flagging concerns with the state’s renewal request and citing the barriers to care facing Alene, Shirley, and Hortense.
A web portal containing a detailed overview video and related resource materials about Florida Medicaid’s Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program. Produced in three languages - English, Spanish and Haitian Creole - this project helps extremely vulnerable low-income seniors and persons with disabilities struggling to stay at home and out of a nursing home navigate the HCBS program, a complicated and critical benefit --especially during COVID.
The guide provides a roadmap to the complex Medicaid program providing home and community-based services for frail elderly and disabled Floridians who want to stay out of a nursing home after they can no longer handle the routines of daily living.
Share Your Story
Let your voice be heard! Please contact us:
- If you are a senior or someone living with a disability, and you rely on Medicaid, including Medicaid home and community services (HCBS). Sharing your story will help support this important program.
- or -
- If you are a senior or someone living with a disability and you are unable to get needed medical services, including home health HCBS services needed to stay in your home and out of a nursing home. Sharing your story can help educate the public, the media and policymakers about the need to support this important program.
Sharing your story --in your words and your voice-- is essential.
Share Your Story | Soapboxx Video
In partnership with the National Health Law Program (NHeLP), we are using the Soapboxx video recording app to create short testimonials about how Medicaid has impacted you or a family member.
Using your cell phone, tablet or computer, create a 20-90 second video about your experience with Medicaid. It's simple, easy and quick to do.
Sharing your story on video will serve as a powerful advocacy tool to help educate the public, the media and policymakers in understanding how important Medicaid is for Floridians and their families.
Learn How To Record Your Video
We are grateful to the National Health Law Program (NHeLP) for their support of the
"Medicaid | The Lived Experience" STORIES Project.
