Waiver Re-Design: The Names of Waivers are Changing!
Please see March 9, 2016 letter from the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services to Individuals and Families Receiving IDD Waiver Services.
Virginia has redesigned its Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waivers for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities (I/DD). Waivers provide certain medical and non-medical services to people living in the community who would otherwise be required to live in an institution in order to receive those same services. The current need for services in Virginia has far outpaced available funding, resulting in very long waiting lists for waiver services and a shortage of providers. Virginia also needs to comply with new federal requirements that people with disabilities live, work, and use services in their communities.
Virginia has partnered with its disability community and national experts to transform the Medicaid I/DD waiver system to streamline the current waivers and offer services consistent with living full and integrated lives in the community. The goal of the redesign is to achieve consistency, equity; quality and accountability across waivers so that Virginia’s resources are balanced to better support all people with I/DD. Key elements include:
All people with I/DD will follow the same process to qualify for and access supports
Services and funding are based on the support needs of each person
New rates and more choice about services and providers
The ID Waiver will become the Community Living Waiver which includes up to 24/7 residential services and additional supports for adults and some children with exceptional medical and/or behavioral support needs. The Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support (DD) Waiver will become the Family and Individual Supports Waiver which includes supports for children and adults living with their families, friends, or in their own homes, including supports for
those with some medical or behavioral needs. The Day Support Waiver will become the Building Independence Waiver which includes supports for adults (18+) who live independently in their own homes. Supports are complemented by non-waiver funded rent subsidies and/or other types of support. The supports available in this waiver will be periodic or provided on a regular basis when needed.
