Elizabeth Dudek,
Secretary
Agency for Health
Care Administration
Greetings from the Secretary!
Welcome to the Florida Choice Counseling online certification course for Medicaid Reform. First, let me thank you for your commitment to work with
Medicaid beneficiaries and assist them in making a very important decision for their family – how they will receive their health care services. The job you are
about to engage in is fundamental to Medicaid Reform and you have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of millions of Floridians.
I truly believe Medicaid Reform will empower beneficiaries to change their lifestyle and to improve their overall health status. Our program can and will be a
model to the nation of how successful the Medicaid program can be if it is modernized to embrace the health care principles of today – prevention, transparency and marketplace decisions.
The services you will provide as a Choice Counselor will be the beneficiary’s first
contact with the new Medicaid program. The education and assistance you
provide will be the first stepping stone in empowering beneficiaries to take control
of their health care. Florida Choice Counselors will have
access to information, such as plan performance, that will truly help beneficiaries
in making an informed choice.
In addition to the benefits Medicaid Reform will provide to the beneficiary, you,
as a Choice Counselor, also will be leading the nation. Florida is the only state
that has created a certification program for their choice counseling professionals.
The course you are about to complete is designed to ensure you have the
knowledge of Medicaid and Medicaid Reform and the people skills necessary to
serve our beneficiaries. This innovative approach will ensure you can succeed and
provide the highest level of service to our beneficiaries. I am confident that if you
complete this course and become a certified choice counselor you will be
successful.