At a glance
Three things to know.
Apply and ask
APD can explain the application and the person's status.
Know your program
Eligibility, enrollment, and service approval are separate steps.
Plan the support
Ask a coordinator which services are approved for the person.
Read the overview
In plain language: Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) programs can help eligible people receive authorized care and support in their own home, a family home, or a community residence instead of an institution. Florida offers more than one way to organize those services.
You are not expected to know every term.
Many families first encounter words like “waiver,” “support plan,” and “individual budget” during a stressful transition. It is okay to take one step at a time and ask the same question more than once.
Compare the pathways
Three program names you may hear.
Use the buttons below for a simple overview. This is not an eligibility test; APD, Medicaid, and the participating health plan make official program decisions.
iBudget Florida
APD’s HCBS waiver for eligible people with developmental disabilities. A support coordinator helps identify needs and organize authorized social, medical, behavioral, therapeutic, and residential services.
- Good question to ask
- Which services can be authorized in my family member’s support plan and budget?
- Excellent Care connection
- iBudget is Excellent Care’s primary funding source for eligible, authorized residential services.
Consumer-Directed Care Plus (CDC+)
CDC+ gives an enrolled person more responsibility and flexibility to manage an approved monthly budget, choose workers, and organize supports. A trained CDC+ consultant provides guidance, and a representative may help.
- Good question to ask
- Do we want the responsibility of hiring, scheduling, and managing providers?
- Remember
- CDC+ is an option within iBudget, not a separate shortcut into waiver eligibility.
IDD Comprehensive Managed Care (ICMC)
APD describes ICMC as a statewide Medicaid program that combines regular Medicaid healthcare with additional home and community-based services. Participants work with a Florida Community Care case manager.
- Good question to ask
- Is ICMC available and appropriate for the person’s current Medicaid and support needs?
- What APD highlights
- Enrollment has no cost, participants may disenroll, and one case manager helps coordinate services.
A visual starting point
From questions to authorized support.
Step 1 / 5
Gather records
Collect medical, psychological, school, genetic, and adaptive-functioning records that document the disability and when it began.
Gather records
Collect medical, psychological, school, genetic, and adaptive-functioning records that document the disability and when it began.
Apply to APD
Submit the APD application. Regional staff can explain the process and available language support.
Complete reviews
APD and Medicaid review developmental-disability, financial, and program requirements. Ask about current enrollment timelines.
Choose a pathway
If eligible and enrolled, ask how iBudget, CDC+, or ICMC may fit the person’s needs and preferred level of control.
Plan and authorize
Services must appear in the approved plan and budget. Providers also complete their own safety and program-fit reviews.
Where are you today?
Choose the statement that feels closest.
Begin with the APD application.
Gather records that show the qualifying developmental disability and that it began before age 18. If records are incomplete, APD says staff can help families identify needed information.
Visit APD’s application information →APD eligibility basics
Who may qualify for APD services?
Florida law defines the developmental disabilities APD serves. The condition generally must begin before age 18, create a substantial limitation, and be expected to continue indefinitely. A diagnosis alone does not automatically establish every program requirement.
Select a name for a short explanation. These summaries do not diagnose a condition or determine eligibility.
Intellectual disability
A lifelong condition that affects learning, problem-solving, and everyday skills, such as communication and self-care. The amount and type of support a person needs can vary.
Read more: MedlinePlusAutism (APD criteria apply)
A developmental disability that can affect communication, interaction, learning, and behavior. Strengths and support needs vary widely. APD uses its own eligibility criteria.
Read more: CDCAPD documentation guidanceCerebral palsy
A group of conditions that affect movement, balance, and posture because of differences or injury in the developing brain. Some people need mobility or daily-living support; others need less assistance.
Read more: CDCSpina bifida cystica or myelomeningocele
A condition present at birth in which the spine does not close completely. Myelomeningocele involves the spinal cord and nerves and can affect leg movement, bladder control, and bowel function.
Read more: CDCDown syndrome
A genetic condition involving extra material from chromosome 21. It affects development and learning and may also involve heart, hearing, or other health needs. Each person's abilities and support needs are different.
Read more: MedlinePlusPrader-Willi syndrome
A genetic condition that can affect muscle tone, growth, learning, and appetite. Feeding difficulties may occur in infancy; strong, persistent hunger often develops later. Support needs change with age.
Read more: MedlinePlusPhelan-McDermid syndrome
A genetic condition that can affect development, speech, learning, and muscle tone. Some people also have seizures or autism-related traits. Abilities and support needs vary from person to person.
Read more: MedlinePlusTatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome
A rare genetic condition that can affect learning and development and is often associated with above-average growth. Low muscle tone, loose joints, or other health needs may also occur.
Read more: GeneReviewsChildren ages 3–5 at high risk for a developmental disability
This is an APD review category, not a diagnosis. Children ages 3–5 may be considered when records show developmental delays or certain other risk factors. APD reviews the supporting information.
APD documentation guidanceWhat iBudget may authorize
Eight service families, centered on one person.
Select a service family to see an example. These are service categories, not portions of a budget.
Support for everyday life
Service 1 · Life skills and employment
Life skills and employment
Learning everyday skills or getting support to find and keep a job.
Service 2 · Supplies and equipment
Supplies and equipment
Approved supplies, equipment, or changes that make a home easier to use.
Service 3 · Personal supports and respite
Personal supports and respite
Help with daily activities. Respite has age and living-arrangement rules.
Service 4 · Residential services
Residential services
Support in a home, with the level of care approved for the person.
Service 5 · Support coordination
Support coordination
A coordinator helps connect the person's needs, plan, and services.
Service 6 · Therapy, nursing, and wellness
Therapy, nursing, and wellness
Authorized clinical support, such as nursing or respiratory therapy.
Service 7 · Transportation
Transportation
Approved rides to community waiver services when other support is unavailable.
Service 8 · Adult dental
Adult dental
Eligible dental care not otherwise covered by the Medicaid State Plan.
Services depend on the person's needs, program rules, and approval in their plan and budget.
Source: APD's eight service families
Relevant to Excellent Care
Residential and medical supports
Florida’s official list includes residential habilitation, residential nursing, skilled nursing, private duty nursing, respiratory therapy, and Specialized Medical Home Care. APD describes Specialized Medical Home Care as providing up to 24-hour nursing services and medical supervision in qualifying licensed group homes.
Common family questions
Answers without the jargon.
Does APD eligibility mean waiver services begin immediately?
No. APD eligibility, Medicaid eligibility, program enrollment, service planning, and individual service authorization are separate decisions. Ask APD about the person’s current status and timeline.
Can the waiver help pay for a group home?
iBudget includes residential services, but the person must be eligible and enrolled, and the specific residential service must be approved in the support plan and budget. A provider must also determine that it can safely meet the person’s needs.
Is CDC+ a separate waiver?
No. APD describes CDC+ as a self-directed option within iBudget. It gives the participant more control, along with more day-to-day responsibility for managing workers and an approved budget.
Can a family choose every service on the list?
No. The list shows services the program can offer. Actual services depend on assessed need, coverage criteria, medical necessity when required, available funding, and formal authorization.
Can Excellent Care determine Medicaid or waiver eligibility?
No. APD and the responsible Medicaid agencies make those decisions. Excellent Care can explain its residential programs and help a family organize questions for the official team.
Resource Center · Episode 06
Watch the video.
Choose a narration language in the player. Translations still being prepared are clearly marked.
English narration. Captions are controlled by the viewer.
Watch on YouTubePrepare here. Take it with you.
Prepare for a conversation about funding.
You do not have to know all the program names before asking for help. Use these prompts with APD or, if the person has one, their coordinator.
Where things stand
Find out the person's current program status and who can guide the next steps.
Which program is the person currently eligible for or enrolled in?
Why this matters
Eligibility, enrollment, and service approval are different questions. Ask your contact to explain where the person is in the process.
Needs & authorizations
Ask whether any supports are approved and what information is still needed.
Are any services approved yet? Which needs or requests require further review?
Why this matters
The conversation can connect the person's needs with the review process. This guide does not determine coverage or authorization.
Timing & changes
Write down whom to call, when to follow up, and how to report changing needs.
What are the current enrollment or review timelines?
Why this matters
A named contact and a follow-up plan can help when a timeline is uncertain or circumstances change.
A little preparation you can take along.
Choose English, Spanish, Haitian Creole, or Portuguese. Download the one-page PDF to type your notes in a PDF reader and save your copy, or print a blank guide to write on.
Kreyòl ayisyen
Your answers are not sent to Excellent Care. If your browser cannot fill or save the PDF, download it and open it in a PDF reader.
No sign-in or personal information needed. These prompts support a conversation; they do not determine eligibility, admission, or clinical readiness.
Getting APD services: a practical checklist
Editorial draft · specialist review pending · Sources checked October 2, 2026.
Use these four steps to prepare for and follow up on a conversation with APD.
- Step 01
Ask APD
Ask APD which application form and supporting records fit the person; use APD’s current quick guide rather than guessing that every document is required.
- Step 02
Keep records
Keep copies of the application, confirmation, written notices, contact names, and dates. Ask which agency decides each next step.
- Step 03
Read the notice
If APD assigns a pre-enrollment category, read the letter and report significant changes to the regional office. Pre-enrollment is not the same as waiver enrollment.
- Step 04
Confirm approvals
If the person is enrolled in a waiver, ask which requested services are in the support plan and individually authorized. Eligibility, enrollment, and service authorization are separate decisions.
Contact log (keep this paper copy private)
| Date | Who / agency | What happens next |
|---|---|---|
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