GUIDE TO SERVICES

(APD logo)
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
State of Florida

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Waiver Services

The four waivers
administered by the Agency
for Persons with Disabilities
(APD), called waiver tiers,
offer supports and services
to assist individuals with
developmental disabilities
to live in their community.
Services are provided based
on need, so all individuals do
not receive all services. The
primary categories are briefly
described below. Additional
information is available through
an APD area office or your
waiver support coordinator.
Some services require a
professional assessment
to determine the scope of
treatment. All services
require determination
of medical necessity.
The 27 services
listed below are
available in tiers
1, 2, and 3. The
13 services
marked with
an asterisk
(*) are
available
in Tier 4.

Adult Day Training* provides up to six hours per day
of meaningful day activities and skill-building training
in congregate, facility-based settings, and may include
off-site enclaves or mobile work crews.

Adult Dental Services cover a range of dental
treatments and procedures that are not otherwise
covered by Medicaid State Plan.

Behavior Analysis Services* include the analysis,
development, modification, and monitoring of behavior
for the purpose of changing an individual’s behavior.

Behavior Assistance Services* are supervised by
a behavior analyst and consist of training caregivers
in activities related to the delivery of behavior services
based on established behavior plans.

Companion Services consist of nonmedical care,
supervision, and goal-oriented community activities
provided to adults. Companion Services are used as
a meaningful day activity.

Consumable Medical Supplies* are nondurable
supplies that enable individuals to increase their
ability to perform activities of daily living, not otherwise
available through Medicaid State Plan. Examples
include incontinence supplies, wipes, and pads.

Dietitian Services are provided by a licensed
dietitian who determines proper dietary and
nutritional supports.

Durable Medical Equipment* includes prescriptive
equipment, prescribed by a physician, that is
not covered by Medicaid State Plan. Examples
include lap trays, grab bars, lifts, and individualized
positioning equipment.

Environmental Accessibility Adaptations* are
physical adaptations to the home that are of direct
medical or remedial benefit to the individual or enable
the individual access to the home. Major modifications
require a professional assessment performed by a
rehabilitation engineer.

In-Home Support Services* provide up to 24 hours a
day of personal care, assistance with activities of daily
living, and other activities necessary to maintain the
individual in his or her own home.

Occupational Therapy produces specific functional
outcomes in self-help, adaptive, and sensory motor
skill areas, and assist the individual to control and
maneuver within the environment. It requires a
physician’s prescription.

Personal Care Assistance provides adults with
nonmedical assistance in eating, bathing, dressing,
personal hygiene, and activities of daily living.

Personal Emergency Response System*
is an electronic communication system that
enables an individual to secure help in the event
of an emergency.

Physical Therapy produces specific functional
outcomes in ambulation, muscle control, and postural
development, and prevent or reduce further physical
disability. It requires a physician’s prescription.

Private Duty Nursing Services are prescribed by
a physician and provided by registered or licensed
practical nurses, limited to services not otherwise
covered by Medicaid State Plan.

Residential Habilitation is supervision and specific
training activities that help individuals acquire,
maintain, or improve daily living and other skills. The
service typically is provided in a licensed facility, but
also may occur in the person’s home.

Residential Nursing Services are prescribed by
a physician and consist of continuous nursing care
provided by registered or licensed practical nurses
to individuals who require daily nursing intervention
in their residential facility.

Respiratory Therapy is a service that relates
to impairment of respiratory function and other
deficiencies of the cardiopulmonary system.
It requires a physician’s prescription.

Respite Care* provides short-term care and
supervision to an individual when the primary
caregiver is unavailable due to a planned
temporary absence or unexpected illness.

Skilled Nursing Services are prescribed by a
physician and provided by registered or licensed
practical nurses to people who require intermittent
nursing care. They are limited to services not
otherwise covered by Medicaid State Plan.

Special Medical Home Care Services
provide up to 24-hour-a-day nursing
services and medical supervision to
residents of a licensed group
home that serves individuals with
complex medical conditions.

Specialized Mental Health
Services focus on the unique
treatment of psychiatric disorders
for persons with developmental
disabilities and mental illness.
Medicaid State Plan services
must be used prior to waiver
services.

Speech Therapy produces
specific functional outcomes
in communication skills
of an individual with a speech, hearing, or language
disability. It requires a physician’s prescription.

Support Coordination* is the service of advocating,
identifying, developing, coordinating, and accessing
supports and services on behalf of an individual, or
assisting an individual or family to access supports
and services on their own, regardless of the funding
source of the services.

Supported Employment* provides assistance to
obtain and maintain competitive employment.

Supported Living Coaching* provides training and
assistance in a wide variety of activities to support
individuals who live in and maintain homes or
apartments of their own.

Transportation* provides rides to and from home and
community-based waiver services.

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Complete definitions, provider qualifications,
service limitations, and documentation
requirements can be found in the Developmental
Disabilities Waiver Services Coverage and
Limitations Handbook, which is available here:
apd.myflorida.com/waiver/docs/dd-handbook.htm

SPECIAL NOTE: Residential Services provide longterm
residential care in a home licensed by APD, or
they coordinate residential care in facilities licensed
by other agencies. This is not a waiver service but it
is available to individuals in one of the waiver tiers.

Agency for Persons with Disabilities
1-866-APD-CARES (1-866-273-2273)
(850) 488-4257
www.apdcares.org

January 2010