SESSION WATCH
Superseded — its companion passed SENATE · SESSION 2026

No. CS/SB 1016

Medical Assistance Eligibility for Working Persons with Disabilities
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SPONSOR
Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Bradley
FILED BY
Jennifer Bradley — District 6, Republican [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
Upon becoming a law
COMPANION
CS/HB 915 — CS/SB 1016 was set aside and its companion carried the policy

Filed under Healthcare.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Medical Assistance Eligibility for Working Persons with Disabilities; Creating the Working People with Disabilities program within the Agency for Health Care Administration; specifying income and asset requirements for eligibility in the program; requiring the Department of Children and Families to provide a written notice of specified information to eligible adults upon their initial enrollment in certain Medicaid waiver programs, and at least annually thereafter; requiring the agency to identify certain Medicaid recipients and share such information with the department for a specified purpose, etc.

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Lets working people with disabilities keep Medicaid waiver coverage.

A new "Working People with Disabilities" program lets adults with a developmental disability who are already enrolled in a Medicaid home and community-based waiver keep that coverage while working, instead of losing it once they earn income.

To qualify, income must stay under 550 percent of the federal SSI benefit rate, and the program disregards up to $13,000 in assets for an individual, $24,000 for a couple, plus any IRS-recognized retirement account.

The Department of Children and Families must send eligible adults a plain-language notice explaining the program, special needs trusts, and a contact office, both at initial enrollment and at least once a year afterward.

The state health agency must identify Medicaid recipients who already qualify and share that information with the department, which then has 90 days after the law takes effect to notify everyone currently eligible.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 New program lets recipients work without losing waiver coverage majors. 409.9041(2)

AIThe Working People with Disabilities program is established to let certain working individuals with disabilities keep eligibility for Medicaid home and community-based services waivers while earning income.

“allowing certain working individuals with disabilities to maintain eligibility for Medicaid home and community-based services waiver programs” bill text, line 30 →
§ 2 Income cap set at 550 percent of the SSI benefit rate majors. 409.9041(4)

AIAn enrollee's maximum monthly income may not exceed 550 percent of the federal Supplemental Security Income benefit rate in order to keep Medicaid eligibility under the program.

“the enrollee's maximum monthly income may not exceed 550 percent of the Supplemental Security Income Federal Benefit Rate” bill text, line 48 →
§ 3 Asset disregards raised for enrollees and spouses majors. 409.9041(4)

AIThe state must disregard up to $13,000 in assets for an enrollee alone, and up to $24,000 for an enrollee and spouse together, when determining Medicaid eligibility under the program.

“shall disregard assets up to $13,000 for an enrollee and up to $24,000 for an enrollee and his or her spouse” bill text, line 52 →
§ 4 Eligibility requires existing waiver enrollment moderates. 409.9041(3)

AITo join the program, a person must already be enrolled in one of several named Medicaid home and community-based services waiver programs, in addition to being 18 or older, employed, and having a developmental disability.

“Is currently enrolled in a Medicaid home and community based services waiver program” bill text, line 38 →
§ 5 Mandatory notice at enrollment and annually moderates. 409.9041(5)

AIThe department must send eligible adults a written notice at initial enrollment in a qualifying waiver program and at least once a year after that, explaining the program and how to opt in.

“provide written notice to eligible adults upon initial enrollment in a waiver program described in paragraph (3)(b) and at least annually thereafter” bill text, line 57 →
§ 6 Agency must proactively identify likely-eligible recipients moderates. 409.9041(6)

AIThe agency must identify Medicaid recipients who are enrolled in both a Supplemental Security Income program and a qualifying waiver, and share that information with the department to carry out the notice requirement.

“identify Medicaid recipients who are enrolled in a Supplemental Security Income program and a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver program” bill text, line 74 →
§ 7 90-day deadline to notify current enrollees technicals. 409.9041

AIThe department must send the required notice to enrollees who are already eligible today within 90 days after this act takes effect, not just to future new enrollees.

“shall provide the written notice required under s. 409.9041(5), Florida Statutes, to currently eligible enrollees” bill text, line 80 →
TIMELINE
3/5/2026
Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/HB 915 (Ch....
3/5/2026
Substituted CS/HB 915 -SJ 598
3/5/2026
Read 2nd time -SJ 598
3/2/2026
Placed on Special Order Calendar, 03/05/26
2/19/2026
Placed on Calendar, on 2nd reading
2/18/2026
Favorable by- Appropriations; YEAS 18 NAYS 0
2/13/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations, 02/18/26, 1:30 pm, 412 Knott Building
2/12/2026
Now in Appropriations
2/12/2026
Favorable by Appropriations Committee on Health and Human...
2/9/2026
On Committee agenda-- Appropriations Committee on Health and Human...
1/29/2026
CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs read 1st time
1/28/2026
Now in Appropriations Committee on Health and Human Services
1/28/2026
Pending reference review under Rule 4.7(2) - (Committee Substitute)
1/27/2026
CS by Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; YEAS 5 NAYS 0
1/22/2026
On Committee agenda-- Children, Families, and Elder Affairs,...
1/13/2026
Introduced
1/7/2026
Referred to Children, Families, and Elder Affairs; Appropriations...
12/29/2025
Filed
12 EARLIER →
STATUTES IT CHANGES
s. 409.9041
+428 / −0
STAFF ANALYSES
2 MORE →