SUBJECT
title
Supplemental Medicaid Provider Minimum Wage Agreement with the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for Polk County Fire Rescue employees (Estimated annual expense $200,000)
body
DESCRIPTION
On June 2, 2022, Governor DeSantis signed the Freedom First budget for the State Fiscal Year 2022-23. In the budget, additional statewide funding in excess of $600 million was allocated to the State's Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) for the sole purpose of increasing the minimum wage the Medicaid providers pay their employees to $15.00 per hour beginning October 1, 2022. AHCA will distribute the additional funds to the providers by increasing the Medicaid managed care reimbursement rates and Medicaid fee-for-service schedules. Fire Rescue provides ambulance care to Medicaid citizens throughout Polk County. Approximately 16% of Fire Rescue's ambulance billing revenue is collected from Medicaid and we also participate in Medicaid reimbursement programs that generate approximately $3.7 million in additional Emergency Medical Services revenue.
AHCA has prepared a Supplemental Medicaid Provider Minimum Wage Agreement to ensure Medicaid providers use the additional funds received from the adjusted rates to comply with the increased minimum wage requirement. The agreement requires AHCA to adjust its Medicaid reimbursement rates and fee schedules as noted above, and for Polk County Fire Rescue employees to be paid at least $15.00 per hour beginning October 1, 2022. The agreement is effective as of October 1,2022, and will expire June 30, 2023.
RECOMMENDATION
Request the Board approve the Supplemental Medicaid Provider Minimum Wage Agreement with AHCA and authorize Holly Newton, Financial Administrator of Polk County Fire Rescue to certify and attest the Supplemental Minimum Wage Agreement for Ambulance Services on the Board's behalf.
FISCAL IMPACT
Funds are budgeted in the General Fund Emergency Medical Services budget for FY 22/23
C...
Click here for full text