Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) released his Focus on Florida’s Future Budget recommendations for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The proposed budget comes in at $114.4 billion, which is a $4.6 billion decrease compared to the state’s FY 2023-24 budget. Governor DeSantis’ Focus on Florida’s Future Budget supports more than $1.1 billion in tax relief and the renewal of four traditional sales tax holidays as well as more than $153 million from the nationwide Opioid Settlement Agreement to continue support for the Office of Opioid Recovery, an accredited Graduate Medical Education program to increase the number of psychiatric residents and for other initiatives that support education, treatment and prevention for individuals with substance use disorders. The full budget highlights are available online.
Also in Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) has filed six (6) new Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supply Services Coverage Policies for adoption in the Florida Administrative Code (F.A.C.). These new policies took effect on January 10. Please visit the Agency’s website at Adopted Rules – Main Page (myflorida.com) for details on the new Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supply Services Coverage Policies.
Finally in Florida, the Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) has been working on modifying the way diabetic supplies are provided to Floridians served through the State’s Medicaid program by transitioning reimbursement for diabetic supplies from the durable medical equipment (DME) fee schedule to the pharmacy point of sale system. The Agency plans to release the Preferred Product List as referenced in proposed rule 59G-4.002, along with a resource toolkit to assist providers with billing for diabetic supplies through the pharmacy point of sale system. Until further direction is given, the Agency will continue to reimburse DME providers for all currently available diabetic supplies listed on the Durable Medical Equipment and Medical Supply Services Provider Fee Schedule using the existing reimbursement process.
All interested parties should continue to check the Agency’s Pharmacy Policy webpage periodically and read all Agency alerts that are sent out regarding these changes. Interested Parties may also email the Agency at PharmacyPolicy@ahca.myflorida.com with any questions.
For more information, contact NACDS’ Leigh Knotts at 803-243-7207.