Section 758. Environmental modifications

A. Service description. Environmental modifications shall be defined as those physical adaptations to the individual's primary home or primary vehicle used by the individual, documented in the individual's plan of care, that are necessary to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of the individual, or that enable the individual to function with greater independence in the primary home and, without which, the individual would require institutionalization. Such adaptations may include the installation of ramps and grab-bars, widening of doorways, modification of bathroom facilities, or installation of specialized electrical and plumbing systems that are necessary to accommodate the medical equipment and supplies that are necessary for the welfare of the individual. Excluded are those adaptations or improvements to the home that are of general utility and are not of direct medical or remedial benefit to the individual, such as carpeting, roof repairs, central air conditioning, etc. Adaptations that add to the total square footage of the home shall be excluded from this benefit, except when necessary to complete an adaptation, as determined by DMAS or its designated agent. All services shall be provided in the individual's primary home in accordance with applicable state or local building codes. All modifications must be authorized by the service authorization agent. Modifications may be made to a vehicle if it is the primary vehicle being used by the individual. This service does not include the purchase of vehicles.

B. Criteria. In order to qualify for these services, the individual must have a demonstrated need for equipment or modifications of a remedial or medical benefit offered in an individual's primary home, primary vehicle used by the individual, community activity setting, or day program to specifically improve the individual's personal functioning. This service shall encompass those items not otherwise covered in the State Plan for Medical Assistance or through another program. Environmental modifications shall be covered in the least expensive, most cost-effective manner. For enrollees in the Elderly or Disabled with Consumer Direction (EDCD) waiver (12VAC30-120-900 through 12VAC30-120-980), environmental modification services shall be available only to those EDCD enrollees who are also enrolled in the Money Follows the Person demonstration.

C. Service units and service limitations. Environmental modifications shall be available to individuals who are receiving case management services. To receive environmental modifications in the EDCD waiver, the individual must be receiving at least one other waiver service. To receive environmental modifications in the IFDDS waiver, the individual must be receiving case management services and at least one other waiver service. A maximum limit of $5,000 may be reimbursed per plan of care or calendar year, as appropriate to the waiver in which the individual is enrolled. Costs for environmental modifications shall not be carried over from year to year. All environmental modifications must be authorized by the service authorization agent prior to billing. Modifications shall not be used to bring a substandard dwelling up to minimum habitation standards. Also excluded are modifications that are reasonable accommodation requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Virginians with Disabilities Act, and the Rehabilitation Act.

Case managers or transition coordinators must, upon completion of each modification, meet face-to-face with the individual and his family/caregiver, as appropriate, to ensure that the modification is completed satisfactorily and is able to be used by the individual.

D. Provider requirements. In addition to meeting the general conditions and requirements for home and community-based waiver services participating providers as specified in 12VAC30-120-160, 12VAC30-120-730, 12VAC30-120-740, and 12VAC30-120-930, as appropriate, environmental modifications must be provided in accordance with all applicable state or local building codes by contractors who have a provider agreement with DMAS. Providers may not be spouses or parents of the individual. Modifications must be completed within the plan of care or the calendar year in which the modification was authorized, as appropriate to the waiver in which the individual is enrolled.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 20, eff. July 11, 2007; Volume 25, Issue 20, eff. July 9, 2009; Volume 30, Issue 14, eff. April 10, 2014.

Statutory Authority

§ 32.1-325 of the Code of Virginia; 42 USC § 1396.