Understanding HB 391: What It Means for Family Caregivers in Florida
Originally published April 11, 2025. Last updated: August 27, 2026.
Can Florida parents get paid to care for their medically fragile children? Thanks to House Bill 391 (HB 391), the answer is yes—but many families are still unsure how this program works or how to qualify.
If you're a parent of a child with complex medical needs, this law could change your life. HB 391 allows eligible parents to become paid caregivers for their children through Medicaid. In this guide, we'll break down:
✅ What HB 391 is and why it was created
✅ How it works today (who qualifies, what's required, and how much caregivers get paid)
✅ How Home Heart Florida can help you enroll and get certified
What Is HB 391?
House Bill 391 is a Florida law that allows parents to get paid to care for their medically fragile children through what's officially called the Family Home Health Aide (FHHA) Program — you may also see it referred to by its earlier name, AMFC (Aide for Medically Fragile Children). Both names refer to the same program.
Before this law, families of children on Medicaid had to rely on home health agencies to provide outside nurses or aides. But Florida faced a severe home nursing shortage, leaving many families without consistent care. Some parents were already providing full-time medical care at home—unpaid.
The goal of HB 391 was to solve two problems at once:
Help parents who were already providing care by allowing them to be hired and paid under Medicaid
Fill the home care gap by expanding the workforce, since trained family caregivers are just as qualified to give excellent care
The law went into effect on July 1, 2023, and has since allowed families to turn their unpaid caregiving into a Medicaid-funded job. Home health agencies were only able to start offering the program in late 2024 / early 2025, due to delays from payors. In 2025, a follow-up law nicknamed the "Glitch Bill" updated several of the program's training and scheduling rules — this post reflects those current rules. See our Glitch Bill breakdown for the full picture.
How Does the FHHA Program Work Today?
The program is not automatic—parents must go through certification and employment steps before they can start getting paid. Here's what you need to know:
Who Qualifies?
✅ Your child must be under 21 years old and on Florida Medicaid
✅ They must be medically fragile, meaning they need ongoing medical care at home
✅ You (the parent, guardian, or family member) must complete FHHA training and work with a licensed home health agency
What Training Is Required?
Florida Medicaid requires all FHHA caregivers to go through a state-regulated training program, administered by home health agencies. Under Florida's 2025 "Glitch Bill" update, that training is now 76 hours, with the skills portion tailored to your child's specific plan of care and validated by a registered nurse.
To qualify, parents must:
Complete 76 hours of training (includes hands-on clinical skills)
Pass a Level 2 background check
Get hired by a Medicaid-approved home health agency (like Home Heart Florida)
The training covers essential caregiving skills, including:
🩺 Basic medical care (checking vital signs, assisting with medications)
🛏️ Helping with daily living (feeding tubes, hygiene, mobility)
🚑 Emergency response (handling seizures, CPR, ventilator care)
Home Heart Florida offers flexible training programs to help parents get certified quickly—so you can start getting paid sooner!
How Much Can Parents Get Paid?
Home Heart Florida pays family caregivers $15 per hour through Medicaid reimbursement. Under current rules, caregivers can work up to 12 hours in a single day, with a weekly total capped at 40 hours per patient.
At $15/hour and a full 40-hour week, that's about $600 a week, or roughly $2,400 a month — your actual pay depends on your approved hours.
🚨 Important: Caregiving income may impact Medicaid or disability benefits—Home Heart Florida helps families navigate this issue.
How to Apply?
Confirm Medicaid Eligibility: Make sure your child is enrolled in a full Medicaid insurance plan, like Children's Medical Services, Simply HealthCare, Sunshine Health, etc. Feel free to contact Home Heart Florida if you have any questions on your Medicaid enrollment.
Start Training: Enroll in our state-approved FHHA certification program.
Complete Background Screening: Pass Florida's Level 2 background check.
Get Hired & Start Earning! Once certified, you'll be officially employed and paid as your child's caregiver.
Let Home Heart Florida Help You Get Certified & Paid
At Home Heart Florida, we specialize in helping families become certified caregivers and start earning income through Medicaid.
💙 We offer fast-track FHHA training (designed for parents)
💙 We handle all Medicaid paperwork and approvals
💙 We make sure you get paid quickly and correctly
Ready to turn your caregiving into a career? Contact Home Heart Florida today to check your eligibility and start training!
📞 Call us: 844-721-1433
📝 Fill out our Caregiver Inquiry Form
Clinically reviewed by Christina Viamontes, MSN, RN