Virginia Law

Either voluntary or involuntary disenrollment of the consumer-directed (CD) model of personal assistance, companion, or respite services may occur. In either voluntary or involuntary disenrollment, the individual enrolled in the waiver shall be permitted to select an agency from which to continue to receive his personal assistance services, companion services, or respite services. If the individual either fails to select an agency or refuses to do so, then personal assistance services, companion services, or respite services, as appropriate, will be discontinued.

1. An individual who has chosen consumer direction may choose, at any time, to change to the agency-directed model as long as he continues to qualify for the specific services. The services facilitator or support coordinator shall assist the individual with the change of services from consumer-directed to agency-directed.

2. The services facilitator or support coordinator, as appropriate, shall initiate involuntary disenrollment from consumer direction of an individual enrolled in the waiver when any of the following conditions occur:

a. The health, safety, or welfare of the individual enrolled in the waiver is at risk;

b. The individual or EOR demonstrates consistent inability to hire and retain a CD assistant; or

c. The individual or EOR, as appropriate, is consistently unable to manage the CD assistant, as may be demonstrated by a pattern of serious discrepancies with timesheets.

d. If the individual does not choose a services facilitator and a family member, other caregiver, or the support coordinator is not willing or able to assume the services facilitation duties, then the support coordinator shall notify DMAS or its designated service authorization contractor and the consumer-directed services shall be discontinued.

3. Prior to involuntary disenrollment, the services facilitator or support coordinator, as appropriate, shall:

a. Verify that essential training has been provided to the EOR to improve the problem condition or conditions;

b. Document in the individual's record the conditions creating the necessity for the involuntary disenrollment and actions taken by the services facilitator or support coordinator, as appropriate;

c. Discuss with the individual and the EOR, if the individual is not the EOR, the agency-directed option that is available and the actions needed to arrange for such services while providing a list of potential providers;

d. Provide written notice to the individual and EOR, if the individual is not the EOR, of the action, the reasons for the action, and the right of the individual to appeal, pursuant to 12VAC30-110, such involuntary termination of consumer-direction. Except in emergency situations in which the health or safety of the individual is at serious risk, such notice shall be given at least 10 business days prior to the effective date of the termination of consumer-direction. In cases of an emergency situation, notice of the right to appeal shall be given to the individual but the requirement to provide notice at least 10 business days in advance shall not apply; and

e. If the services facilitator initiates the involuntary disenrollment from consumer-direction, inform the support coordinator of such action and the reasons for the action.