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

APD Waiting List Should Be Improved for Agency's Planning and Budgeting Purposes

Report 06-54, July 2006

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Report Summary

  • The Agency for Persons with Disabilities maintains a waiting list of individuals requesting services under its Developmental Disabilities Home and Community-Based Services Waiver. As of May 3, 2006, the agency reported having 17,467 individuals on its waiting list, of which 5,798 were receiving services from the Family and Supported Living Waiver.
  • The waiting list is not a valid indicator of need for waiver services. Approximately 28% of the 10,488 individuals who were offered waiver services for Fiscal Year 2005‑06 did not enroll. Many of these individuals were already receiving related services through other sources such as the Family and Supported Living Waiver, other state-funded programs, school district programs, or the Medicaid state plan. Also, information on individuals on the waiting list is often out of date and inaccurately reflects their current or potential service needs. This hinders the Legislature's ability to determine the level of funding needed to serve eligible persons.
  • The agency should regularly review its waiting list to determine the number of individuals who are receiving services under related programs and/or who have declined waiver services, as well as the length of time such individuals have been on the waiting list. The agency also should develop a multi-year plan for addressing the waiting list for waiver services that considers the length of time individuals have been on the waiting list, how soon the individuals are expected to need waiver services, the expected level of services to be provided, and whether the individuals are receiving services from other waivers or programs.

Related Reports
  1. iBudget Implementation Continues as the Agency for Persons with Disabilities Responds to Legal Challenges
    Report 14-09 March 2014
  2. APD Waiting List Process Now More Useful for Planning and Budgeting; Multi-year Plan Still Needed
    Report 10-45 June 2010
  3. Agency for Persons with Disabilities Has Made Several Changes to the Prior Service Authorization Process
    Report 08-49 August 2008
  4. APD Should Take Steps to Ensure New Needs Assessment and Individual Budget Process Is Timely and Effective
    Report 08-15 March 2008
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, human services, Developmental disabilities, waiver support coordinator, developmental services, Medicaid Waiver, Home and Community Based Services Waiver, Family and Supported Living Waiver, CDC+ Waiver, waiting list, primary disability, waiver enrollment, multi-year plan, mental retardation, autism, cerebral palsy, Spina Bifida, developmental disabilities, MAXIMUS, prior service authorization, waiver support coordinator, fair hearings, medical necessity, developmental services, medicaid waiver, home and community-based services waiver, family supported living waiver, CDC, waiver