Virginia Law

A. Service description. Peer mentor supports provide information, resources, guidance, and support from an experienced, trained peer mentor to an individual who is a waiver recipient. This service is delivered to waiver recipients by other individuals with developmental disabilities who are or have been service recipients, have shared experiences with the individual, and provide support and guidance to him. The service is designed to foster connections and relationships that build individual resilience. Peer mentor supports encourage individuals with developmental disabilities to share their successful strategies and experiences in navigating a broad range of community resources beyond those offered through the waiver with waiver participants so that the waiver participant is better able to advocate for and make a plan to achieve integrated opportunities and experiences in living, working, socializing, and staying healthy and safe in his own life, as well as to overcome personal barriers which are inhibiting him from being more independent. Peer mentoring is intended to assist with empowering the individual receiving the service. This service is delivered based on the support needs of the individual as outlined in his person-centered plan. This service shall require the use of a peer support service administrative provider enrolled with DMAS that shall be responsible for directly coordinating the service and directly billing DMAS for reimbursement. This service is designed to be short-term and periodic in nature.

B. Criteria and allowable activities. Allowable activities may include the following for the individual as documented in the individual's plan for supports:

1. The administering agency facilitates peer to peer "matches" and follows up to ensure the matched relationship meets the individual's expectations;

2. The peer mentor has face-to-face contact with the individual to discuss the individual's specific interests or desired outcomes related to realizing greater independence and the barriers to achieving them;

3. The peer mentor explains community services and programs and suggests strategies to the individual to achieve the individual's desired outcomes, particularly related to living more independently, engaging in paid employment, and expanding social opportunities in order to reduce the need for supports from family members or paid staff;

4. The peer mentor provides information from his experiences to help the individual in problem solving, decision making, developing supportive community relationships, and exploring specific community resources that promote increased independence and community integration; or

5. The peer mentor assists the individual in developing a personal plan for accessing the identified integrated community activities, supports, services, or resources.

C. Service units and limitations.

1. Peer mentor supports is expected to be a short, periodically intermittent, intense service associated with a specific outcome. Peer mentor supports may be authorized for up to six consecutive months, and the cumulative total across that timeframe may be no more than 60 hours in a plan year.

2. The peer mentor shall not supplant, replace, or duplicate activities that are required to be provided by the support coordinator. Prior to accessing funding for this waiver service, all other available and appropriate funding sources shall be explored and exhausted.

3. Peer mentors cannot mentor their own family members.

4. Peer mentors shall be at least 21 years of age and may provide these supports only to individuals 16 years of age and older.

5. Individuals who receive supports through DD Waiver or other waivers may be peer mentors.

D. Provider qualifications and requirements.

1. The administering agency shall be a DBHDS licensed provider of DD Waiver services, employment service organization, or center for independent living. The administering agency shall serve as the enrolled provider and maintain the documentation of the peer mentor's qualifications, criminal background and Child Protective Registry (if service recipient is younger than 18 years of age) checks, and other required documentation.

2. Peer mentor supports shall be provided by an individual with a developmental disability who has lived independently in the community for at least one year and is or has been a recipient of services, including to publicly-funded housing, Medicaid waiver services, work incentives, and supported employment.

3. The peer mentor shall have completed DBHDS's DD Peer Mentor training curriculum and passed the accompanying test.

4. The peer mentor supports administering agency shall have a signed provider participation agreement with DMAS.

E. Documentation requirements for service providers.

1. Providers shall include in each individual's record:

a. A copy of the completed, standard, age-appropriate assessment form as described in 12VAC30-122-200.

b. The provider's plan for supports per requirements detailed in 12VAC30-122-120.

c. Documentation which shall confirm the individual's amount of time in services, a log of contacts, and information regarding the type of supports delivered to the individual.

d. Documentation to support units of service delivered, and the documentation shall correspond with billing. Providers shall maintain separate documentation for each type of service rendered for an individual.

e. A written review supported by documentation in the individual's record shall be submitted to the support coordinator quarterly, during any quarters in which the service was provided, with the plan for supports, if modified. This written review shall list the dates and nature of contacts and a statement about the individual's satisfaction with the service.

f. All correspondence to the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, the support coordinator, DMAS, and DBHDS.

g. Written documentation of all contacts with family/caregiver, physicians, formal and informal service providers, and all professionals regarding the individual.

h. Documentation of the peer mentor's qualifications, as well as criminal background and Child Protective Registry (if service recipient is younger than 18 years of age) checks.

2. Administering agency documentation shall support all claims submitted for DMAS reimbursement. Claims that are not supported by appropriate documentation shall be subject to recovery by DMAS as a result of utilization reviews and audits.