Guide
Getting paid to care for your medically fragile child in Florida
Many parents already do this work unpaid when nursing hours go unfilled. Florida's Family Home Health Aide program can pay a trained relative for part of it.
The short answer
Yes, if your child is under 21, medically fragile and eligible for private duty nursing. A parent or other relative 18 or older can be employed by a home health agency after at least 76 hours of training. Care is capped at 12 hours a day and 40 a week per child. Medicaid pays the agency at least $25 an hour, and your wage is negotiated with the agency.
Four things to ask an agency
- What will you pay me per hour? The $25 is the minimum the agency receives in fee for service, not your wage.
- Who pays for training, and do I get paid during it?
- What happens when my child is in the hospital? No care means no hours.
- Who is the nurse overseeing care? The law requires a registered nurse who is not related to the child.
Check your benefits first
AHCA warns that wages count as earned income for Medicaid and may change your child's coverage group. AHCA says families can ask DCF to exclude the income using an FHHA SSN Request Form. If you also get SSI, housing help or food assistance, ask a benefits counselor before you start.
It does not replace nursing
Florida's statute says family aide services must reduce the child's private duty nursing hours and cannot run at the same time. So ask how it would change your nursing authorization before you agree. See pediatric private duty nursing.
If your child also has a developmental disability
Look at iBudget Florida and CDC+ too. Rules on paying parents differ by program. Children on the iBudget waiting list can still receive Medicaid home health.
Full requirements are on our Family Home Health Aide page.
About this page. Aster Care LLC is a private home care agency, not a government agency. Eligibility decisions are made by the state offices named here. This is general information, not legal or benefits advice, and program rules change, so please confirm details with those offices.
Questions families ask
Do both parents have to qualify?
AHCA says any family member who meets the requirements can be employed, and more than one person may care for the same child.
My child does not have nurses yet. Can I still do this?
The child must be eligible for private duty nursing. Ask the doctor and the Medicaid plan.