Florida Increases Medicaid Personal Needs Allowance

The State of Florida has enacted a new law that will increase the Personal Needs Allowance for Medicaid recipients from $35.00 to $105.00, the first increase in the history of the Medicaid Institutional Care Program in the state.  The increase will become effective on July 1, 2014. The increase is in line item #239 in the General Appropriations Act (HB 5001), which was not among the line items vetoed by the Governor.  $14,189,102 from the General Revenue Fund and $21,246,910 from the Medical Care Trust Fund are provided to increase the PNA for residents in institutional settings.