A Consumer's Guide to Health and Human Services Programs

Provided Through Florida’s State Agencies

This pamphlet introduces consumers to health and human services programs available through various Florida state agencies. It includes sources for information on health care facilities; financial and health care assistance; insurance; services for elders, persons with disabilities, children, and veterans; and other useful information.

For further information on the programs, view the website listed under each Agency or call the Agency’s phone number.

Information in this brochure is current as of February 2008.

FLORIDA AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE ADMINISTRATION (AHCA)

Websites: http://ahca.MyFlorida.com, www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov, and www.MyFloridaRx.com
Phone: (888) 419-3456

Medicaid. For information on Medicaid services, to file a Medicaid complaint, to report possible Medicaid fraud, or for referral to your local Medicaid office, call the toll-free number (888) 419-3456. To apply for Medicaid refer to the Department of Children and Families section.
Health Care Facilities. For referral to health facility regulation or to file a complaint against a facility, call the toll-free number (888) 419-3456.
Managed Health Care (health maintenance organizations/HMOs). For referral to managed health care regulation, call the toll-free number (888) 419-3456. If you have a complaint, first contact your HMO for their grievance process. Once you have completed that, if you are still not satisfied call (888) 419-3456 for information on further action that may be available to you.
Consumer Health Websites:

www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov provides search tools to compare short-term acute care hospitals, ambulatory (outpatient) surgery centers, health plans, and nursing homes. The site includes the A.D.A.M. Health Encyclopedia with thousands of articles and illustrations. The site also provides a list of health care facilities; information about insurance, medications, seniors, medical conditions, and resources for medical care; a variety of consumer publications; information for health care professionals; and much more.
www.MyFloridaRx.com was established by AHCA and the Office of the Attorney General. For price information on the top most commonly used prescription drugs in Florida.

Florida Organ and Tissue Donor Education Program. For information about organ and tissue donation, a registration form, and an organ donor card, call (850) 414-0359 or view the website http://ahca.MyFlorida.com.
Health Care Advance Directives. This pamphlet includes information on living wills, health care surrogate, Do Not Resuscitate Orders (DNRO), and Durable Power of Attorney. Order it by calling the toll-free number (888) 419-3456 or view it at www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov (click “Brochures and Guides”).

FLORIDA AGENCY FOR PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES (APD)

Website: http://apd.MyFlorida.com
Phone: (866) 273-2273; (850) 488-4257

Services. This Agency assists people with developmental disabilities and their families by identifying needed support and services. A wide range of services include support coordination, transportation, various therapies, home based services, supported employment services, medical services, and many others.
An Application for Services is available on the APD website as well as a list of area offices.

FLORIDA ATTORNEY GENERAL (AG)

Website: http://MyFloridaLegal.com
Phone: (866) 966-7226

Medicaid Fraud. The Medicaid Fraud Control Unit investigates Medicaid fraud committed by health care providers and also investigates the abuse, neglect and exploitation of the elderly, ill and disabled residents of long term care facilities like nursing homes, facilities for the mentally and physically disabled, and assisted living facilities. To report fraud or abuse, call the toll-free number (866) 966-7226.
Victim Services. The Division of Victim Services advocates for crime victims and offers some financial help for innocent victims of crime, to help with medical costs, lost income, mental health services, and funeral expenses related to the crime. Call the Division of Victim Services’ toll-free number (800) 226-6667 (or 414-3300 for Tallahassee-area residents).
Consumer Protection. Includes information and actions that consumers can take related to fraud, identity theft, child safety, free credit reports, consumer complaints, and consumer alerts. View the AG website for further information.
Contact the AG’s office for information on civil rights, criminal appeals, crime prevention, and more.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES (DCF)

Website: www.MyFlorida.com/cf_web
Phone: (850) 488-1111

ACCESS Florida. To apply for Medicaid, temporary cash assistance or food stamps, or to check on the status of your claim, go to the DCF website and click the links under ACCESS Florida or call the toll-free number (866) 76-ACCES (762-2237)
Abuse Hot Line. To report suspected abuse, neglect or exploitation of children and elderly or disabled adults, call the toll-free number (800) 96-ABUSE (962-2873).
Domestic Violence Hotline. To report domestic violence or to seek help, call the toll-free number (800) 500-1119.
Adoption. To inquire about adopting a child in Florida, call the toll-free number (800) 96-ADOPT (962-3678) or from out-of-state call (904) 353-0679. For additional information go to the DCF website.
Project H.O.P.E. (Helping Our People in Emergencies). For those who need help coping with loss or grief from a disaster, call the toll-free number (866) 518-1825.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health includes information and referral to outpatient and residential care for drug and alcohol abuse and for mental health. View the DCF website or contact your local DCF office.
Refugee Services provides resettlement assistance for refugees who have Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) documentation. View the DCF website or contact your local DCF office.
Contact DCF for information on foster care, childcare, and homelessness.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AFFAIRS (DCA)

Division of Emergency Management
Website: www.FloridaDisaster.org

Special Needs Registry. For patients whose medical needs are not acute, but who need assistance in evacuation during natural or human-made disasters. Check the phone book for your local Division of Emergency Management office or view the DCA website for referral to your local office.
Website. Information on the website includes disaster preparation; current information during a disaster; and assistance after a disaster.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ELDER AFFAIRS (DOEA)

Website: http://ElderAffairs.state.fl.us
Phone: (800) 963-5337

Elder Care Services Helpline. For referral to local services for seniors, call the toll-free number (800) 963-5337. Some of the programs and services include:

SHINE (Serving Health Insurance Needs of Elders) provides counseling to seniors regarding health insurance. Call the above number or view www.FloridaShine.org.
CARES (Comprehensive Assessment Review and Evaluation Services) provides assistance obtaining home and community-based services to avoid nursing home care as well as Medicaid waiver assessments for home and community-based services. Call the above number or view ElderAffairs.state.fl.us/english/cares.html.
Other programs include the Older Americans Act (OAA), Community Care for the Elderly, Home Care for the Elderly, Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly, and the Alzheimer’s Disease Initiative.

Assisted Living Facilities and Adult Family Care Homes Website: www.FloridaAffordableAssistedLiving.org. The site has a variety of information, including a search tool to find facilities based on location, cost, services provided, and accommodation preferences.
Long-Term Care Ombudsman Council investigates complaints and assists in resolving grievances of residents in nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and adult family care homes. Call the toll-free number (888) 831-0404 to file a complaint or to report operation of an unlicensed long-term care facility. View the website http://ombudsman.MyFlorida.com.
Contact DOEA for information on memory disorder clinics, demographic profiles on elders, legal assistance, elder abuse prevention, disabilities, mental health, relocating to Florida, information for caregivers, senior employment, guardianship, volunteerism, and disaster preparedness.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF FINANCIAL SERVICES (DFS)

Website: www.fldfs.com
Phone: (800) 342-2762

Insurance Information. For general insurance information or for a problem with an insurance claim, call the toll-free number (800) 342-2762 or view the DFS website.
Division of Insurance Fraud. To report insurance fraud, call the toll-free number (800) 378-0445.
Hurricane Helpline toll-free number (800) 227-8676. For questions related to insurance and hurricane damage.
The Workers’ Compensation Employee Assistance Office assists workers who need benefit payments and services due to injury on the job. For information call the toll-free number (800) 342-1741.
Funeral and Cemetery Hotline. For questions and complaints about funeral providers, cemeteries, and pre-need contracts call the toll-free number (800) 323-2627.
Contact DFS for information on insurance agents, insurance rates, consumer insurance guides, and insurance information on disasters and storms.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH (DOH)

Website: www.FloridasHealth.com and www.FLHealthSource.com
Phone: (850) 245-4444

County Health Departments (CHD) provide primary care and personal health services, plus immunizations and disease control. Check the phone book for your local CHD or view the DOH website.
Health Care Professionals. DOH licenses and regulates health care professionals and provides licensure information on the DOH website. To report someone working as a health care professional without a state license, call the DOH toll-free number (877) 425-8852.
Complaints. To request a form to file a written complaint against a health care professional call the toll-free number (888) 419-3456. The complaint is required to be in writing.
Office of Vital Statistics. For information on official records of birth, death, marriage, and divorce in Florida, view the DOH website or call (904) 359-6900.
Children’s Medical Services (CMS) provides comprehensive care to eligible children with special health care needs. Services include prevention and early intervention programs, as well as primary, specialty and long-term care. The Newborn Screening Program (which tests all children born in Florida for genetic, metabolic and hemoglobinopathic disorders) and the Early Steps Program (which serves Florida's infants and toddlers with developmental delays) are also housed in Children’s Medical Services. To learn more and to find contact information, view their website at www.cms-kids.com.
Contact DOH for information on maternal and child health; particular diseases; disease prevention and immunizations; health alerts; rural, minority, and environmental health; emergency medical services; brain and spinal cord injury; and statistics on morbidity, mortality, births, population, and other community health indicators.

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF MANAGEMENT SERVICES (DMS)

Website: http://dms.MyFlorida.com

Division of State Group Insurance. Administers the employee benefits program for active and retired State of Florida employees and surviving spouses. For more information view the DMS website or call the toll-free number (800) 226-3734.
Clearinghouse on Disabilities provides information and referral services to state and community programs for people with disabilities. For more information call the toll-free number (877) 232-4968 (Voice and TTY)

FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS’ AFFAIRS (FDVA)

Website: www.FloridaVets.org
Phone: (727) 319-7400

Benefits. Provides information and services related to veterans’ benefits, including compensation, education, health, pension, and other benefits.
Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities. Provides the addresses and contact information for Florida veterans’ nursing homes and assisted living facilities.
Newsletter. Provides navigation links to veterans’ information and subscription access for the eFloridaVetsNews electronic newsletter.
Contact FDVA for additional information on life insurance, death benefits, Board of Veterans’ Appeals procedures, and home loans for veterans and their beneficiaries.

FLORIDA KIDCARE

Website: www.FloridaKidCare.org
Phone: (888) 540-5437; (877) 316-8748 (TTY)

Florida KidCare is a health insurance program for children under age 19, available at low or no cost depending on family income.

Florida KidCare is an interagency collaboration that includes the Agency for Health Care Administration, the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health, and the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation.

FLORIDA GOVERNMENT WEBSITE

For information on other state agencies, visit the Florida state government website at www.MyFlorida.com.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WEBSITES

For information on Medicare, Medicare supplemental insurance, the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit, and other Medicare topics:

Website: www.Medicare.gov
Phone: (800) 633-4227 or (877) 486-2048 (TTY)

For information on other federal agencies, visit the federal government website at www.USA.gov.

The Florida Telecommunication Relay System can assist hearing impaired individuals to contact the agencies listed here. To call Florida Relay dial 711 or use the toll-free number (800) 955-8771 (TTY) or (800) 955-8770 (Voice). View their website at www.ftri.org for further information and for other toll-free numbers.

This pamphlet is produced by the Agency for Health Care Administration.

Additional consumer brochures include:

A Patient’s Guide to a Hospital Stay
Assisted Living in Florida
Emergency Medical Care
End-of-Life Issues – A Practical Planning Guide
Florida Medicaid – A Reference Guide
Health Care Advance Directives
Home Health Care in Florida
Long-Term Care
Patient Safety
Understanding Prescription Drug Costs

For additional copies of this brochure, or others in the series, contact our Agency’s toll-free number (888) 419-3456. To view or print any brochure in the Consumer Awareness Series, visit www.FloridaHealthFinder.gov .

This brochure may be copied for public use. Please credit the Agency for Health Care Administration for its creation.

If you have comments or suggestions, call (850) 922-5771.