Florida’s House Bill 391, also known as HB 391 and The Home Health Aide for Medically Fragile Children Program, is changing the landscape of pediatric homecare. It allows parents and guardians to become paid caregivers for their medically complex children. This new opportunity empowers families to provide care directly while receiving financial support. We’ll explore what HB 391 entails, the benefits of becoming your child’s caregiver, and how to get started.
What is House Bill 391?
House Bill 391 is a Florida law that allows parents or legal guardians to become paid caregivers for their children with complex medical needs. This law addresses the shortage of qualified home healthcare providers. It offers families the chance to provide direct care to their children while being compensated. By becoming their child’s caregiver, parents can provide consistent, personalized care and have a hands-on role in their child’s daily healthcare needs.
How Does HB 391 Work?
Under HB 391, parents or guardians of medically complex children can apply to be trained and compensated by a homecare agency for providing homecare services to their own child. This includes administering medications, managing medical equipment, and assisting with daily activities. By doing so, parents not only meet their child’s medical needs but also gain financial support for their caregiving efforts.
Benefits of Becoming Your Child’s Caregiver
Personalized Care
As a parent, no one knows your child like you. Becoming their caregiver allows you to provide care that is specifically tailored to their medical needs and personal preferences.
Financial Compensation
Caring for a medically complex child often demands significant time, making it hard for parents to maintain traditional jobs. HB 391 provides financial compensation through a homecare agency for the care you are already providing, easing some of the economic strain.
Peace Of Mind
You will receive the training you need to be the primary caregiver for your child’s daily care and treatment plan. This will give you confidence to fully support their needs and lead to a more stable and comfortable environment for your child.
Flexibility
Being your child’s caregiver offers flexibility to manage their care around other family responsibilities, allowing a balanced approach to caregiving.
Qualifications and Training Requirements
To become a paid caregiver under HB 391, parents or guardians must meet specific qualifications and complete the necessary training:
Eligibility Requirements
- Caregiver Requirements: You must be over 18 and the parent or relative of the child needing care.
- Child Requirements: The child must be 21 or younger, eligible for Medicaid, and must be currently receiving PDN services through an agency.
Training Requirements
Caregivers must complete a minimum of 86 hours of training. The training requirements are broken down into three sections:
- Theoretical Training: The first section is 40 hours of theoretical training. This portion can be completed virtually with instruction from a qualified registered nurse with two or more years of nursing experience and at least one year of pediatric nursing experience.
- Skills Training: The second section requires 30 hours of skills training specific to the care of medically fragile pediatric patients. It must be done by a qualified registered nurse with two or more years of nursing experience and at least one year in pediatric nursing. This portion must be done in person and may not be done virtually.
- Clinical Competency & Validation: The last section requires 16 hours of clinical competency training and validation. Validation must be conducted on-site with a patient and supervised by a qualified registered nurse with at least two years of nursing experience and at least one year in pediatric nursing.
Medication administration will require additional hours to meet the state regulation.
Ongoing Education
To maintain eligibility, caregivers will be required to participate in continuing education courses to stay updated on the latest caregiving practices and protocols.
How to Become a Paid Caregiver Under HB 391
If you’re interested in becoming a Family Home Health Aide for your child, here’s what you need to do:
- Check Eligibility: Ensure your child meets the criteria for medically complex conditions as outlined by the state. Contact us if you’re not sure about your eligibility.
- Apply Through a Licensed Homecare Agency: Family First is a licensed homecare agency that participates in this program. We will help you navigate the application process and verify that you meet all the necessary requirements.
- Complete Required Training: Follow the training provided. Family First’s 48.5-hour Healthstream training is immediately available to start. Our 46-hour hands-on training will be available prior to the start of the go-live date for HB 391.
- Receive Approval and Start Providing Care*: Once you have completed the training and your hiring process is finalized, you can start providing care to your child and receiving compensation. We will continue to provide oversight and support to ensure you have everything you need to provide the best care to your loved one.
Conclusion
Florida’s House Bill 391 offers a new pathway for parents to become paid caregivers for their medically complex children, providing financial support and allowing for more personalized and consistent care. By understanding the qualifications and training requirements, parents can take full advantage of this opportunity. If you’re interested in becoming your child’s caregiver, contact us to start the process and learn more about the benefits of this new law.
Learn more about the program.*Family Caregivers are available to start training now. The official start date for this program has not yet been determined by the Agency for Healthcare Administration and our partnering Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). We will ensure Family Caregiver training has been completed prior to the program’s official go-live date.