Florida Medicaid is administered by the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).

Since 1994, it has covered cochlear implants for all children under age 21 and above the FDA-approved minimum age for implantation. AHCA contracted exclusively with Cochlear Corporation and purchased only Nucleus devices for its Medicaid children. Cochlear Corporation provided AHCA one free device for every ten devices purchased at invoice price.

In accordance with Federal regulations, AHCA covers all services related to cochlear implants for children, including programming and aural rehabilitation, and replacements of batteries and coils. However, AHCA consistently has not covered upgrades to new generation speech processors unless the existing equipment is beyond repair.

Adult coverage of cochlear implants has been sporadic. In 2001, the Florida Legislature cut funding for adult hearing services, including cochlear implants and hearing aids.

However, these services were restored for 2002. AHCA now covers all related services for adult cochlear implants, with the exception of replacements for batteries and coils.

AHCA also now covers implants in children as young as one year of age.

AHCA's Subscriber Assistance Panel ruled in April 2007 that one of Florida Medicaid's managed care plans,Cigna Healthcare of Florida, had to cover a bilateral cochlear implant for a profoundly hearing impaired child.

Click here for a copy of the ruling in which the Panel concludes that cochlear implants are "not experimental or investigational" and that "Bilateral cochlear implants have been in use here in the United States for many years [and] are generally accepted by the Otolaryngology community."