Elder Health

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Adding an Oral Health Benefit to Medicare
When the Medicare Program was created in 1965, the major connection between oral health and overall wellness was not as well understood, and the Program excluded coverage of medically necessary dental care. While the connection between oral health and overall health outcomes is now proven, many people who rely on Medicare have limited access, or no access, to dental care. Read the full brief

FHJP's Stories Project connected Sonia and Miguel with a Miami Herald reporter, who then wrote about the need for adding a dental benefit to Medicare. Read article in Miami Herald

Repeal of Retroactive Medicaid Eligibility
In 2018, Florida received approval from the federal government to “waive” the Retroactive Medicaid Eligibility (RME) section of the Medicaid statute for non-pregnant adults over 21 and to limit coverage to one month. This elimination of RME is hurting low-income frail and disabled Floridians and critical safety net health care providers.  Read the full brief

Advocate's Guide to the Florida Long-Term Care Medicaid Waiver
The Advocate’s Guide to the Florida Long-Term Care Medicaid Waiver provides a roadmap to the complex Medicaid program providing home and community-based services for frail elderly and disabled Floridians who want to stay out of a nursing home after they can no longer handle the routines of daily living.
 
The Guide provides advocates with an overview of the authority governing Florida's Medicaid managed care long-term care waiver and a roadmap addressing basic questions including:  who is eligible; how to apply; what to do if an application is denied or delayed; how the waitlist works; what to do if services are denied, delayed, terminated or reduced.

2019 Florida Elder Justice Conference
FHJP received funding from Bay Area Legal Services to prepare the agenda and program for the Conference.  Miriam Harmatz, Executive Director, recruited over 30 state and national experts to present.  Together with the speakers,  she developed an agenda that included a range of innovative projects and cross sector legal issues impacting  low-income Florida seniors. For more information, click here.

First South Florida Elder Health and Economic Justice Conference
FHJP, Justice in Aging, Florida Justice Technology Center, and other partners came together for the first-ever South Florida Elder Health and Economic Justice Conference.  The sessions were recorded and will be available soon on Florida Advocate.  See the conference agenda here.

Alliance for Aging Annual Conference and Luncheon
FHJP  was invited to present at the Alliance’s New Face of Again Conference on March 14, 2019 in Miami. Our presentation on Florida’s Medicaid Long-Term Care Waiver, provided an overview  of this complex and critical program, including recent changes to the Medicaid Managed Care contracts and updates to the LTC Advocate’s Guide. The slide show is available here.