HHS Approves Florida Expansion of Independence Initiative

February 24, 2003 HHS Approves Florida Expansion of Independence Initiative On February 12, 2003, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy G. Thompson approved a Florida Medicaid waiver to expand its existing Medicaid consumer-directed care program using the HHS Independence Plus initiative. Consumers and their families will be involved in planning all aspects of service delivery, including hiring, training and, if necessary, firing service providers. Under the new waiver, state officials expect about 150 additional people to participate in the consumer-directed program, which already serves about 2,000 residents. Participation is available to the frail elderly . . .