AHCA Announces Increase in Access to Health Care Services for Previously Uninsured Children

The Agency for Health Care Administration (Agency) today announced that based on the Urban Institute’s report on Medicaid/CHIP Participation Rates, Florida’s Medicaid program showed significant improvement in the percentage of eligible children enrolled in the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance (CHIP) programs. Florida saw a 7.1 percentage point increase in eligible children enrolled in the Florida Medicaid and CHIP between 2013 and 2015. This represents the sixth highest state increase in the nation, and is well above the national average increase.  To access the full report click here.
Agency Secretary Justin M. Senior said, “With the implementation of Statewide Medicaid Managed Care our state has revolutionized the way we administer the Medicaid program. This report highlights that more children than ever are receiving health care services and have access to the highest quality of care in our program’s history. With the increased percentage of eligible children enrolled in the Medicaid program, and the improvement in access to services announced this spring as part of the CMS-416 report, the numbers are proving that our program is a success and that children are receiving necessary health care.  We know we have more work to do, but our managed care system continues to improve each year — the proof is in the numbers, and our Agency will remain committed to our goal of better health care for all Floridians.”
The CMS-416 report announced last month showed that Florida Medicaid continues to improve in children’s access to health care services. For the second year in a row, Florida showed gains in every single metric in the 416 report. The 2016 CMS-416 data reported to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is a nationally recognized quality and access measure in the Medicaid program, and includes a yearly report that tracks the number of children who received preventive medical screening and dental services. The Agency also saw improvements in children receiving blood lead screenings and the usage of dental and other oral health services.  Florida’s dental scores have improved every year since 2011.