Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability

Progress Report: Other Initiatives to Decrease Long-Term Care Costs Should Accompany Medicaid Waiver Expansion

Report 99-51, May 2000




Report Summary

  • The Legislature has increased funding for the Assisted Living for the Elderly Medicaid Waiver annually since Fiscal Year 1997-98. The Medicaid waiver pays for additional services, including extended congregate care (ECC) services, for eligible low-income residents in assisted living facilities. However, this expansion has not been done in conjunction with some of the other alternatives for reducing the cost of long-term care, such as placing additional limits on the growth of nursing home beds and tightening Medicaid's eligibility criteria for nursing home admission.
  • The Department of Elder Affairs and the Agency for Health Care Administration have increased public education activities and have streamlined some ECC regulations. However, ECC facilities still are inspected more frequently than nursing homes.


Related Reports
  1. No Title
    Report 97-26
  2. Services to Elders Program, Department of Elder Affairs
    Report 01-66 December 2001
  3. DCF's Adult Services Program Meeting Goals; Data Reliability, Case Management Need Work
    Report 01-08 February 2001
  4. High-Risk Elder Victims of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation Quickly Served; Data Problems Remain
    Report 01-04 January 2001
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
Copies of this report in print or alternate accessible format may be obtained by email OPPAGA@oppaga.fl.gov, telephone (850) 488-0021, or mail 111 W. Madison St., Room 312 Tallahassee, FL 32399-1475.
social services, health, assisted living, elderly, extended congregate care, congregate, department of elder affairs, agency for health care administration, ECC facilities, age in place