Section 760. Skilled nursing services

A. Service description. Skilled nursing services shall be provided for individuals with serious medical conditions and complex health care needs who require specific skilled nursing services that cannot be provided by non-nursing personnel. Skilled nursing may be provided in the home or other community setting. It may include consultation and training for other providers.

B. Criteria. In order to qualify for these services, the individual must have demonstrated complex health care needs that require specific skilled nursing services ordered by a physician and that cannot be otherwise accessed under the Title XIX State Plan for Medical Assistance. The individual's plan of care must stipulate that this service is necessary in order to prevent institutionalization and is not available under the State Plan for Medical Assistance.

C. Service units and service limitations. Skilled nursing services to be rendered by either registered or licensed practical nurses are provided in 15-minute units. Services must be explicitly detailed in the CSP and must be specifically ordered by a physician.

D. Provider requirements. Skilled nursing services shall be provided by a DMAS-enrolled home care organization provider or a home health provider, or licensed registered nurse or a licensed practical nurse under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse who is contracted or employed by a DBHDS licensed day support, respite, or residential provider. In addition to meeting the general conditions and requirements for home and community-based waiver participating providers as specified in 12VAC30-120-730 and 12VAC30-120-740, in order to be enrolled as a skilled nursing provider, the provider must:

1. If a home health agency, be certified by the VDH for Medicaid participation and have a current DMAS provider participation agreement for private duty nursing;

2. Demonstrate a prior successful health care delivery business or practice;

3. Operate from a business office; and

4. If community services boards or behavioral health authority employ or subcontract with and directly supervise a registered nurse (RN) or a licensed practical nurse (LPN) with a current and valid license issued by the Virginia State Board of Nursing, the RN or LPN must have at least two years of related clinical nursing experience that may include work in an acute care hospital, public health clinic, home health agency, or nursing home.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 17, Issue 18, eff. July 1, 2001; amended, Virginia Register Volume 23, Issue 20, eff. July 11, 2007; Volume 30, Issue 07, eff. January 2, 2014; Volume 30, Issue 14, eff. April 10, 2014.

Statutory Authority

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