Current through Reg. 50, No. 187; September 24, 2024
(1) Each Qualified Organization must meet the
requirements of Section
393.0663, F.S., this rule
chapter, and the iBudget Handbook, and be approved by the Agency. A provider
agency, as described in the iBudget Handbook, which provides support
coordination services prior to the effective date of this rule must apply to
and be approved by the Agency before it can be designated as a Qualified
Organization.
(2) Application for
Approval. Any business entity that wishes to become a Qualified Organization
must submit the following to the appropriate Regional Office, which will be
known as the applicant's Home Region:
(a) A
completed Qualified Organization Application, APD Form
65G-14.002 A, effective July 1,
2021, incorporated here by reference, and available at
http://www.flrules.org/Gateway/reference.asp?No=Ref-12650;
(b) A copy of the proposed code of ethics
described in Rule 65G-14.0041, F.A.C.;
(c) A copy of the proposed disciplinary
process described in Rule
65G-14.0042, F.A.C.;
(d) A copy of the proposed mentoring program
described in Rule 65G-14.0043, F.A.C.;
(e) A copy of the proposed policies and
procedures required by the iBudget Handbook for provider agencies;
(f) A copy of each prospective Support
Coordinator's provider application as described in Rule
65G-4.0215, F.A.C., or Medicaid
Waiver Services Agreement ("MWSA") for existing Support Coordinators;
and
(g) A table of organization,
including at minimum: the first and last name, position title, contact
information including phone number and email address, Medicaid provider number
(if applicable), and indicate full or part-time employment for all directors,
supervisors, owners, operators, managers, or any other position that directly
oversees the operations of any Qualified Organization in the State of Florida
or who provides support coordination services regardless of contractual
relationship, including a designated mentor(s). The table must indicate in
which region each individual operates. If the Qualified Organization operates
in multiple regions, the table of organization must be organized by region and
a point of contact must be designated for each region.
(3) Qualified Organization Leadership.
(a) Any directors, supervisors, owners,
operators, and managers who directly oversee the operations of any Qualified
Organization in the State of Florida must have at least a bachelor's degree
from an accredited college or university and two years of experience providing
services to persons with developmental disabilities, regardless of whether that
individual is an active Support Coordinator.
(b) Any directors, supervisors, owners,
operators, and managers who directly oversee the operations of any Qualified
Organization in the State of Florida must complete the Level 1 Training
described in Rule 65G-10.004, F.A.C., regardless
of whether they are Support Coordinators.
(c) Any directors, supervisors, operators,
and managers who directly oversee Support Coordinators in the State of Florida
must attend a minimum of six (6) monthly support coordinator meetings with
Agency staff each year. These meetings can be attended in any region, although
directors, supervisors, operators, and managers who directly oversee Support
Coordinators in particular regions must attend at least one meeting in that
region or regions each year.
(4) Approval, Denial, or Closure of
Applications.
(a) The Agency will review the
application and approve or deny complete applications within 90 days of
receipt. The Agency will close incomplete applications and notify the applicant
that it was closed because it was incomplete.
(b) The Agency will only consider complete
applications that include all required information and meet the requirements
delineated in this chapter, the iBudget Handbook, and Section
393.0663, F.S. An application is
complete upon the Agency's receipt of all requested information and correction
of any error or omission for which the applicant was notified.
(c) If the Agency receives an incomplete
application, the Agency will notify the applicant within 30 days of receipt.
The applicant will have up to 45 calendar days from the date of the notice to
submit the documentation, information, or make any corrections designated in
the notice. If the applicant does not complete the application within 45 days
of the notice, the application must be closed by the Agency. After an
application is closed, all documentation and information submitted will no
longer be considered, and a new complete application must be submitted for
consideration by the Agency. The closure of an application is not Agency
action. The closure of an application will not be considered substantively by
the Agency in any subsequent application.
(5) If the Qualified Organization intends to
operate in multiple Regions, the applicant must indicate such in the
application. The region in which the applicant submits the application will be
considered the applicant's Home Region, which must be a region in which it
provides services.
(6) A Qualified
Organization that wishes to expand service provision geographically must comply
with Rule 65G-4.0215, F.A.C.
(7)
(a)
Each Qualified Organization may only hire a Support Coordinator as an employee
pursuant to this paragraph and Section
393.0663(1) and
(2), F.S., and not as an independent
contractor.
(b) Each Qualified
Organization must employ a minimum of four Support Coordinators at all times
except as described in paragraph (c) of this rule.
(c) If a Qualified Organization should be
reduced to employing less than four Support Coordinators, the Qualified
Organization has a maximum of 90 days to re-establish a minimum employment of
four. For purposes of this rule, mentees count towards the minimum of four
Support Coordinators.
(8)
Failure to demonstrate compliance with Section
393.0663, F.S., this rule
chapter, and the iBudget Handbook shall result in disciplinary action as
described in Rule 65G-14.005, F.A.C.
(9) If a Qualified Organization does not
provide any Agency approved support coordinator or consultant services under
the Waiver for 180 consecutive days, then it shall no longer be recognized as a
Qualified Organization under Section
393.0663, F.S.
(10) This rule shall be reviewed, and if
necessary, renewed through the rulemaking process five years from the effective
date.
Rulemaking Authority
393.0662,
393.0663,
393.501 FS. Law Implemented
393.063,
393.0662,
393.0663
FS.
New 7-1-21, Amended
10-25-22.
