Virginia Law

A. The state elects to provide alternative benefits under § 1937 of the Social Security Act. The alternative benefit package will be available statewide.

B. The population who will be offered opt-in alternative coverage and who will be informed of the available benefit options prior to having the option to voluntarily enroll in an alternative benefit package consists of working individuals with disabilities enrolled pursuant to the Social Security Act, § 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XV) (Ticket to Work and Work Incentives Improvement Act) covered group or who meet the income, resource and eligibility requirements for the § 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(XV) covered group.

C. Medicaid Buy-In: program outreach.

1. Future Medicaid Works solicitations will be geared towards individuals who are currently covered in the SSI and blind and disabled 80% federal poverty level groups; the letter will be an invitation to consider going to work, or to increase how much they work, and inform them that they will still be able to keep their Medicaid health care coverage.

2. They will be advised that this is voluntary and will enable them to earn higher income and retain more assets from their earnings. It will also explain that this option includes an alternative benefits package comprised of their regular Medicaid benefits plus personal assistance services for those who need personal assistance and related services in order to live and work in the community. It will be clearly stated that this program is optional. Their local eligibility worker will be able to review the advantages and disadvantages of this option in order to assist individuals in making an informed choice.

3. Current Medicaid Works enrollees will each receive personal communication by mail advising them of the new alternative benefits package and the steps needed in order to access personal assistance services. Should an enrolled individual be dissatisfied with this option or be unable to continue to be employed, their eligibility worker will reevaluate eligibility for other covered groups pursuant to changing the individual back to regular Medicaid coverage and, if necessary, to accessing personal assistance and related services through the existing home-based and community-based services waivers.

4. Brochures describing this work incentive opportunity and alternative benefits option shall be prominently displayed and readily available at local departments of social services.

D. Description of Medicaid Buy-In alternative benefit package.

1. The state will offer an alternative benefit package that the secretary determines provides appropriate coverage for the population served.

2. This alternative benefits package includes all federally mandated and optional Medicaid State Plan services, as described and limited in 12VAC30-50, plus personal assistance services (PAS) for enrollees who otherwise meet the standards to receive PAS, defined as follows:

a. "Personal assistance services" or "PAS" means support services provided in home and community settings necessary to maintain or improve an individual's current health status. Personal care services are defined as help with activities of daily living, monitoring of self-administered medications, and the monitoring of health status and physical condition.

b. These services may be provided in home and community settings to enable an individual to maintain the health status and functional skills necessary to live in the community or participate in community activities. An additional component of PAS is work-related and postsecondary education personal services. This service will extend the ability of the personal assistance attendant to provide assistance in the workplace.

c. These services include filing, retrieving work materials that are out of reach; providing travel assistance for an individual with a mobility impairment; helping an individual with organizational skills; reading handwritten mail to an individual with a visual impairment; or ensuring that a sign language interpreter is present during staff meetings to accommodate an employee with a hearing impairment.

d. This service is only available to individuals who also require personal assistance services to meet their ADLs. Workplace or school supports are not provided if they are services provided by the Department of Rehabilitative Services, under IDEA, or if they are an employer's responsibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act or § 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

e. Following an individual's assessment of the need for PAS and development of a plan of care, the individual will decide whether to have PAS through a personal care agency or whether to self direct his care. For individuals who choose consumer-directed care, DMAS will provide for the services of a fiscal agent to perform certain tasks as an agent for the individual/employer who is receiving consumer-directed services. The fiscal agent will handle certain responsibilities for the individual, including but not limited to, employment taxes.

f. All governmental and private PAS providers are reimbursed according to the same published fee schedule, located on the agency's website at the following address: http://www.dmas.virginia.gov/pr-fee_files.htm. The agency's rates, based upon one-hour increments, were set as of July 1, 2006, and are effective for services on or after said dates. The agency's rates are updated periodically.

E. Wrap-around/additional services.

1. The state assures that wrap-around or additional benefits will be provided for individuals under 21 years of age who are covered under the state plan pursuant to § 1902(a)(10)(A) of the Social Security Act to ensure early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) services are provided when medically necessary.

2. Wrap-around benefits must be sufficient so that, in combination with the Medicaid Buy-In package, these individuals receive the full EPSDT benefit, as medically necessary. The wrap-around services provided are described in 12VAC30-50-130.

F. Delivery system.

1. The alternative benefit package will be furnished through a combination of the following methods:

a. On a fee-for-service basis consistent with the requirements of § 1902(a) and implementing regulations relating to payment and beneficiary free choice of provider;

b. Through a managed care entity consistent with applicable managed care requirements; or

c. Through premium assistance for benchmark-equivalent in employer-sponsored coverage.

2. Personal assistance services will always be fee-for-service, whereas all other Medicaid-covered services shall be through one of two models: fee-for-service or through managed care organizations.

G. Additional assurances.

1. The state assures that individuals will have access, through the Medicaid Buy-In alternative benefit package, to rural health clinic (RHC) services and federally qualified health center (FQHC) services as defined in subparagraphs (B) and (C) of § 1905(a)(2).

2. The state assures that payment for RHC and FQHC services is made in accordance with the requirements of § 1902(bb) of the Social Security Act.

H. Cost effectiveness of plans: the Medicaid Buy-In alternative benefit package and any additional benefits must be provided in accordance with economy and efficiency principles.

I. Compliance with the law: The state will continue to comply with all other provisions of the Social Security Act in the administration of the state plan under this title.