Lawmakers appropriated more than $600 million to increase the wages long-term care providers pay their staff to $15 an hour.

To ensure the money is used to boost wages, Medicaid officials require providers to enter into a supplemental agreement with the state by Oct. 1.

The Agency for Health Care Administration, which houses the state’s Medicaid offices, has been sending notices ahead of the deadline. The latest reminder was sent out Monday afternoon.

Medicaid providers that don’t reimburse direct care staff $15 an hour beginning Jan. 1, 2023, can sue their employer in court. If they are successful, workers can recover the total amount of any back wages, liquidated damages the state assessed against a managed care provider (if any), and attorneys’ fees.

The law also allows workers who are not paid the minimum mandated amounts to pursue a class action lawsuit against their employers.

The wage agreement has been posted on the Medicaid Provider Secure Web Portal website since Aug.4. Providers failing to sign the agreement will be subject to recoupment of funds associated with the minimum wage requirement.

Most providers, including local governments, which are enrolled in the Florida Medicaid program must pay direct care workers $15 an hour. However, nursing homes are required to pay their entire staff a minimum of $15 an hour.

Increases apply to managed care companies, nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities for the developmentally disabled, as well as most providers...

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