Fort Lauderdale (CBSMiami/AP) – Florida has been given the green light by federal health officials to enroll long-term care patients into a statewide Medicaid privatization program.

The approved waiver allows Florida to enroll patients who require long-term care into programs that will offer services in their home or other community programs to keep them out of nursing homes.

Florida passed laws in 2011 that allow for-profit providers to determine the health care of Medicaid recipients.

Gov. Rick Scott has asked federal health officials to approve a second request, which would allow Florida officials to privatize Medicaid for most populations statewide.

Scott noted that Florida lawmakers need a decision soon so they can figure out how it will impact their plans to implement The Affordable Care Act.

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The News Service of Florida and the Associated Press contributed to this report.)