Written by a parent, not a doctor. Nothing here is medical advice.

Childhood Cancer Lantern
Search Saved

Florida program

A narrow Medicaid route without parents’ income (Model Waiver)

The Model Waiver can cover a small group of medically fragile children without counting parents’ income.

What it is

The Model Waiver can cover a small group of medically fragile children without counting parents’ income.

Florida’s Model Waiver is much narrower than a broad Katie Beckett route. It requires hospital or nursing-facility level care and a specific medical or facility-stay history. Cancer alone does not establish that test.

Eligibility rules
  • The child must be under 21 and need hospital or nursing-facility level care.
  • The written criteria describe degenerative spinocerebellar disease, or medical fragility with 60 consecutive days in a skilled nursing facility.
  • DCF evaluates the child alone as a “family of one” for the waiver budget.
What you get
  • Medicaid with parents’ income left out of the waiver calculation, plus approved waiver services.
What the help covers
  • The waiver has about 20 places statewide, so an open place is never certain; CMAT can say whether one is free.
  • Approved waiver services can include respite, home-accessibility changes and transition case management. Existing Medicaid does not by itself establish whether these additional services would help.
If you decide to apply
  1. Ask the hospital team whether the medical and facility-stay tests fit your child.
  2. Ask the Children’s Medical Services assessment team, CMAT, about an assessment and an available place.

Children’s Medical Services clinical eligibility unit, 855-901-5390, for referral to CMAT · Official page ↗

What happens next
  • CMAT assesses the level of care and program fit. The doctor supplies the requested medical records.
Good to know

KidCare, share of cost and SSI are separate coverage conversations while this narrow route is checked.

Other details
  • The social worker can reach Children’s Medical Services at 855-901-5390 for the correct CMAT contact. The assessment team confirms the current entry rules, openings and waiting-list process.

Federal background: Medicaid home-care programs (waivers).

Official sources
Ask your social worker

“Does our child meet this narrow medical test, and would the waiver help more than the other coverage routes? If so, could you help us ask CMAT for an assessment?”

Why I’m asking: I want to understand whether a route that leaves out parents’ income is actually open to our child.

More background and detailed requirements
Additional program information and published rules

Who does what

The three parts, side by side. The agency decides; nobody on this page does.

You

Ask the team whether your child meets the facility-stay test; if so, call CMAT.

Your social worker

The social worker asks CMAT whether a place is open and what the wait is.

The care team

The doctor documents the level of care CMAT asks for.

Who decides
The Children's Medical Services assessment team (CMAT) decides level of care and fit; the benefits office (DCF) does the Medicaid budget counting the child alone (a 'family of one').
Ask your social worker
“Does our child meet the Model Waiver test, and is a place open? If not, what are Florida's other options for a family over the Medicaid income limit?”

How to apply

First step: Ask the social worker whether the disease or facility-stay criteria fit. Children’s Medical Services at 855-901-5390 can provide the correct CMAT assessment contact.

  1. Only if the facility-stay criterion is met: call CMAT at 850-245-4200 and ask for a Model Waiver assessment and the current wait.
  2. Meanwhile file KidCare, share of cost and SSI.

Official application / program page ↗

Where it starts: Children’s Medical Services clinical eligibility unit can provide the correct CMAT assessment contact; 855-901-5390 is not a dedicated Model Waiver intake line.

What to gather

  • Dates of any skilled nursing facility stay
  • The doctor's level-of-care letter

How long: No published assessment time or waiting-list count.

What a yes looks like

A CMAT level-of-care approval and a DCF Medicaid notice budgeted on the child alone.

What a no looks like, and the next move

Usually it is the test itself. Ask the assessment team (CMAT) to name which part failed and whether the 2026 redesign changed anything.

Watch out

  • Do not wait on this. KidCare, share of cost and SSI are the real options for an over-income Florida family.
  • The state Medicaid agency (AHCA) says 20 places; the benefits office (DCF) manual still says five. Ask the assessment team (CMAT) which is current.

Dates that change this

2026-01-01: AHCA filed a Model Waiver redesign report and the 2026 Legislature considered HB 915; whether the test or the number of places changed in law is not verified. (not yet confirmed against the final rule)

The numbers and the rules

The arcane layer, kept on purpose. Checked September 8, 2026.

What it is worth

Full Medicaid with parents' income ignored, for at most 20 children statewide who meet a narrow test. Four enrolled on January 1, 2026.

  • $20 — Places statewide (AHCA redesign report; DCF manual says five)
  • $4 — Children enrolled on January 1, 2026

Covers: Full Florida Medicaid · Respite, home adaptations, transition case management

What it costs the family: None published.

The eligibility facts, as published

Age
0-20
Age max exclusive
21
Parental income
disregarded (family of one)
Level of care
hospital or nursing facility
Criteria
degenerative spinocerebellar disease, or medically fragile and 60 consecutive days in a skilled nursing facility
Capacity
Newer AHCA/2026 legislative description: 20 total (legacy five plus 15 transition places). AHCA confirms the executed capacity period and availability.
Waiting list
not published

The trap: Hearing 'Florida has a Katie Beckett waiver' and waiting on it. Apply for KidCare, share of cost and SSI instead. Ask the assessment team (CMAT) about the Model Waiver only if your child has spent 60 days in a nursing facility.

Where I read this

← Back to your options