Florida SB 1016: Patriotic Organizations

Bill Text

1016 
Medical Assistance Eligibility for Working Persons with Disabilities 
2026-01-28T05:38:14Z 
Creating the Working People with Disabilities program within the Agency for Health Care Administration; specifying income and asset requirements for eligibility in the program; requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide a written notice of specified information to eligible adults upon their initial enrollment in certain Medicaid waiver programs, and at least annually thereafter; requiring the agency to identify certain Medicaid recipients and share such information with the department for a specified purpose, etc. 
Committee Substitute 1 
2026 
S 
GB 
General Bill 
c1 

 Florida Senate - 2026 CS for SB 1016 

 By the Committee on Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; and 
 Senator Bradley 

 586-02239-26 20261016c1 
 1 A bill to be entitled 
 2 An act relating to medical assistance eligibility for 
 3 working persons with disabilities; creating s. 
 4 409.9041, F.S.; defining the term “department”; 
 5 creating the Working People with Disabilities program 
 6 within the Agency for Health Care Administration; 
 7 providing the purpose of the program; specifying 
 8 eligibility requirements; specifying income and asset 
 9 requirements for eligibility in the program; requiring 
 10 the Department of Children and Families to provide a 
 11 written notice of specified information to eligible 
 12 adults upon their initial enrollment in certain 
 13 Medicaid waiver programs, and at least annually 
 14 thereafter; requiring the agency to identify certain 
 15 Medicaid recipients and share such information with 
 16 the department for a specified purpose; requiring the 
 17 department to provide the initial written notice to 
 18 currently eligible enrollees within a specified 
 19 timeframe; providing an effective date. 
 20 
 21 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 
 22 
 23 Section 1. Section 409.9041, Florida Statutes, is created 
 24 to read: 
 25 409.9041 Working People with Disabilities program.— 
 26 (1) As used in this section, the term “department” means 
 27 the Department of Children and Families. 
 28 (2) The Working People with Disabilities program is 
 29 established within the agency. The purpose of the program is to 
 30 eliminate barriers to employment by allowing certain working 
 31 individuals with disabilities to maintain eligibility for 
 32 Medicaid home and community-based services waiver programs while 
 33 working and earning additional income. 
 34 (3) An individual is eligible for the program if he or she 
 35 meets all of the following criteria: 
 36 (a) Has a developmental disability as defined in s. 
 37 393.063. 
 38 (b) Is currently enrolled in a Medicaid home and community 
 39 based services waiver program, including the home and community 
 40 based services Medicaid waiver program under s. 393.0662, the 
 41 familial dysautonomia waiver program authorized under s. 
 42 409.912(10), the long-term care managed care program under s. 
 43 409.978, the pilot program for individuals with developmental 
 44 disabilities under s. 409.9855, or the Florida Medicaid Model 
 45 Waiver. 
 46 (c) Is at least 18 years of age. 
 47 (d) Is employed and earning income. 
 48 (4) To maintain Medicaid eligibility, the enrollee’s 
 49 maximum monthly income may not exceed 550 percent of the 
 50 Supplemental Security Income Federal Benefit Rate established by 
 51 the Social Security Administration. The agency and department 
 52 shall disregard assets up to $13,000 for an enrollee and up to 
 53 $24,000 for an enrollee and his or her spouse, and exclude an 
 54 enrollee’s assets held in a retirement account recognized by the 
 55 Internal Revenue Service, when determining eligibility for the 
 56 Medicaid program. 
 57 (5) The department shall provide written notice to eligible 
 58 adults upon initial enrollment in a waiver program described in 
 59 paragraph (3)(b) and at least annually thereafter. The notice 
 60 must clearly and concisely communicate all of the following 
 61 information with the option to opt into the program: 
 62 (a) Eligibility and qualifications for participation in the 
 63 program. 
 64 (b) The enrollee’s ability to maintain Medicaid benefits 
 65 while earning income under the program. 
 66 (c) The optional nature of participation in the program. 
 67 (d) A brief overview of a special needs trust authorized by 
 68 the federal Social Security Act and how it may assist with 
 69 maintaining eligibility for benefits. 
 70 (e) The name and contact information for the person or 
 71 office within the department responsible for providing 
 72 information regarding eligibility for or assistance with the 
 73 program. 
 74 (6) The agency shall identify Medicaid recipients who are 
 75 enrolled in a Supplemental Security Income program and a 
 76 Medicaid home and community-based services waiver program listed 
 77 in paragraph (3)(b) and sh