Section 924. Covered services; limits on covered services

A. Covered services in the EDCD Waiver shall include: adult day health care, personal care (both consumer-directed and agency-directed), respite services (both consumer-directed and agency-directed), PERS, PERS medication monitoring, limited assistive technology, limited environmental modifications, transition coordination, and transition services.

1. The services covered in this waiver shall be appropriate and medically necessary to maintain the individual in the community in order to prevent institutionalization and shall be cost effective in the aggregate as compared to the alternative NF placement.

2. EDCD services shall not be authorized if another entity is required to provide the services (e.g., schools, insurance). Waiver services shall not duplicate services available through other programs or funding streams.

3. Assistive technology and environmental modification services shall be available only to those EDCD Waiver individuals who are also participants in the Money Follows the Person (MFP) demonstration program pursuant to Part XX (12VAC30-120-2000 et seq.).

4. An individual receiving EDCD Waiver services who is also getting hospice care may receive Medicaid-covered personal care (agency-directed and consumer-directed), respite care (agency-directed and consumer-directed), adult day health care, transition services, transition coordination, and PERS services, regardless of whether the hospice provider receives reimbursement from Medicare or Medicaid for the services covered under the hospice benefit. Such dual waiver/hospice individuals shall only be able to receive assistive technology and environmental modifications if they are also participants in the MFP demonstration program.

B. Voluntary/involuntary disenrollment from consumer-directed services. In either voluntary or involuntary disenrollment situations, the waiver individual shall be permitted to select an agency from which to receive his agency-directed personal care and respite services.

1. A waiver individual may be found to be ineligible for CD services by either the Preadmission Screening Team, DMAS-enrolled hospital provider, DMAS, its designated agent, or the CD services facilitator. An individual may not begin or continue to receive CD services if there are circumstances where the waiver individual's health, safety, or welfare cannot be assured, including but not limited to:

a. It is determined that the waiver individual cannot be the EOR and no one else is able to assume this role;

b. The waiver individual cannot ensure his own health, safety, or welfare or develop an emergency backup plan that will ensure his health, safety, or welfare; or

c. The waiver individual has medication or skilled nursing needs or medical or behavioral conditions that cannot be met through CD services or other services.

2. The waiver individual may be involuntarily disenrolled from consumer direction if he or the EOR, as appropriate, is consistently unable to retain or manage the attendant as may be demonstrated by, but not necessarily limited to, a pattern of serious discrepancies with the attendant's timesheets.

3. In situations where either (i) the waiver individual's health, safety, or welfare cannot be assured or (ii) attendant timesheet discrepancies are known, the services facilitator shall assist as requested with the waiver individual's transfer to agency-directed services as follows:

a. Verify that essential training has been provided to the waiver individual or EOR;

b. Document, in the waiver individual's case record, the conditions creating the necessity for the involuntary disenrollment and actions taken by the services facilitator;

c. Discuss with the waiver individual or the EOR, as appropriate, the agency-directed option that is available and the actions needed to arrange for such services and offer choice of potential providers, and

d. Provide written notice to the waiver individual of the right to appeal such involuntary termination of consumer direction. Such notice shall be given at least 10 calendar days prior to the effective date of this change. In cases when the individual's or the provider personnel's safety may be jeopardy, the 10 calendar days notice shall not apply.

C. Adult day health care (ADHC) services. ADHC services shall only be offered to waiver individuals who meet preadmission screening criteria as established in 12VAC30-60-303 and 12VAC30-60-307 and for whom ADHC services shall be an appropriate and medically necessary alternative to institutional care. ADHC services may be offered to individuals in a VDSS-licensed adult day care center (ADCC) congregate setting. ADHC may be offered either as the sole home and community-based care service or in conjunction with personal care (either agency-directed or consumer-directed), respite care (either agency-directed or consumer-directed), or PERS. A multi-disciplinary approach to developing, implementing, and evaluating each waiver individual's POC shall be essential to quality ADHC services.

1. ADHC services shall be designed to prevent institutionalization by providing waiver individuals with health care services, maintenance of their physical and mental conditions, and coordination of rehabilitation services in a congregate daytime setting and shall be tailored to their unique needs. The minimum range of services that shall be made available to every waiver individual shall be: assistance with ADLs, nursing services, coordination of rehabilitation services, nutrition, social services, recreation, and socialization services.

a. Assistance with ADLs shall include supervision of the waiver individual and assistance with management of the individual's POC.

b. Nursing services shall include the periodic evaluation, at least every 90 days, of the waiver individual's nursing needs; provision of indicated nursing care and treatment; responsibility for monitoring, recording, and administering prescribed medications; supervision of the waiver individual in self-administered medication; support of families in their home care efforts for the waiver individuals through education and counseling; and helping families identify and appropriately utilize health care resources. Periodic evaluations may occur more frequently than every 90 days if indicated by the individual's changing condition. Nursing services shall also include the general supervision of provider staff, who are certified through the Board of Nursing, in medication management and administering medications.

c. Coordination and implementation of rehabilitation services to ensure the waiver individual receives all rehabilitative services deemed necessary to improve or maintain independent functioning, to include physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy.

d. Nutrition services shall be provided to include, but not necessarily be limited to, one meal per day that meets the daily nutritional requirements pursuant to 22VAC40-60-800. Special diets and nutrition counseling shall be provided as required by the waiver individuals.

e. Recreation and social activities shall be provided that are suited to the needs of the waiver individuals and shall be designed to encourage physical exercise, prevent physical and mental deterioration, and stimulate social interaction.

f. ADHC coordination shall involve implementing the waiver individuals' POCs, updating such plans, recording 30-day progress notes, and reviewing the waiver individuals' daily logs each week.

2. Limits on covered ADHC services.

a. A day of ADHC services shall be defined as a minimum of six hours.

b. ADCCs that do not employ professional nursing staff on site shall not be permitted to admit waiver individuals who require skilled nursing care to their centers. Examples of skilled nursing care may include: (i) tube feedings; (ii) Foley catheter irrigations; (iii) sterile dressing changing; or (iv) any other procedures that require sterile technique. The ADCC shall not permit its aide employees to perform skilled nursing procedures.

c. At any time that the center is no longer able to provide reliable, continuous care to any of the center's waiver individuals for the number of hours per day or days per week as contained in the individuals' POCs, then the center shall contact the waiver individuals or family/caregivers, as appropriate, to initiate other care arrangements for these individuals. The center may either subcontract with another ADCC or may transfer the waiver individual to another ADCC. The center may discharge waiver individuals from the center's services but not from the waiver. Written notice of discharge shall be provided, with the specific reason or reasons for discharge, at least 10 calendar days prior to the effective date of the discharge. In cases when the individual's or the center personnel's safety may be jeopardy, the 10 calendar days notice shall not apply.

d. ADHC services shall not be provided, for the purpose of Medicaid reimbursement, to individuals who reside in NFs, ICFs/IID, hospitals, assisted living facilities that are licensed by VDSS, or group homes that are licensed by DBHDS.

D. Agency-directed personal care services. Agency-directed personal care services shall only be offered to persons who meet the preadmission screening criteria at 12VAC30-60-303 and 12VAC30-60-307 and for whom it shall be an appropriate alternative to institutional care. Agency-directed personal care services shall be comprised of hands-on care of either a supportive or health-related nature and shall include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, assistance with ADLs, access to the community, assistance with medications in accordance with VDH licensing requirements or other medical needs, supervision, and the monitoring of health status and physical condition. Where the individual requires assistance with ADLs, and when specified in the POC, such supportive services may include assistance with IADLs. This service shall not include skilled nursing services with the exception of skilled nursing tasks (e.g., catheterization) that may be delegated pursuant to Part VIII (18VAC90-20-420 through 18VAC90-20-460) of 18VAC90-20. Agency-directed personal care services may be provided in a home or community setting to enable an individual to maintain the health status and functional skills necessary to live in the community or participate in community activities. Personal care may be offered either as the sole home and community-based care service or in conjunction with adult day health care, respite care (agency-directed or consumer-directed), or PERS. The provider shall document, in the individual's medical record, the waiver individual's choice of the agency-directed model.

1. Criteria. In order to qualify for this service, the waiver individual shall have met the NF LOC criteria as set out in 12VAC30-60-303 and 12VAC30-60-307 as documented on the UAI assessment form, and for whom it shall be an appropriate alternative to institutional care.

a. A waiver individual may receive both CD and agency-directed personal care services if the individual meets the criteria. Hours received by the individual who is receiving both CD and agency-directed services shall not exceed the total number of hours that would be needed if the waiver individual were receiving personal care services through a single delivery model.

b. CD and agency-directed services shall not be simultaneously provided but may be provided sequentially or alternately from each other.

c. The individual or family/caregiver shall have a backup plan for the provision of services in the event the agency is unable to provide an aide.

2. Limits on covered agency-directed personal care services.

a. DMAS shall not duplicate services that are required as a reasonable accommodation as a part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC §§ 12131 through 12165) or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC § 794).

b. DMAS shall reimburse for services delivered, consistent with the approved POC, for personal care that the personal care aide provides to the waiver individual to assist him while he is at work or postsecondary school.

(1) DMAS or the designated Srv Auth contractor shall review the waiver individual's needs and the complexity of the disability, as applicable, when determining the services that are provided to him in the workplace or postsecondary school or both.

(2) DMAS shall not pay for the personal care aide to assist the enrolled waiver individual with any functions or tasks related to the individual completing his job or postsecondary school functions or for supervision time during either work or postsecondary school or both.

c. Supervision services shall only be authorized to ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the waiver individual who cannot be left alone at any time or is unable to call for help in case of an emergency, and when there is no one else in the home competent and able to call for help in case of an emergency.

d. There shall be a maximum limit of eight hours per 24-hour day for supervision services. Supervision services shall be documented in the POC as needed by the individual.

e. Agency-directed personal care services shall be limited to 56 hours of services per week for 52 weeks per year. Individual exceptions may be granted based on criteria established by DMAS.

E. Agency-directed respite services. Agency-directed respite care services shall only be offered to waiver individuals who meet the preadmission screening criteria at 12VAC30-60-303 and 12VAC30-60-307 and for whom it shall be an appropriate alternative to institutional care. Agency-directed respite care services may be either skilled nursing or unskilled care and shall be comprised of hands-on care of either a supportive or health-related nature and may include, but shall not be limited to, assistance with ADLs, access to the community, assistance with medications in accordance with VDH licensing requirements or other medical needs, supervision, and monitoring health status and physical condition.

1. Respite care shall only be offered to individuals who have an unpaid primary caregiver who requires temporary relief to avoid institutionalization of the waiver individual. Respite care services may be provided in the individual's home or other community settings.

2. When the individual requires assistance with ADLs, and where such assistance is specified in the waiver individual's POC, such supportive services may also include assistance with IADLs.

3. The unskilled care portion of this service shall not include skilled nursing services with the exception of skilled nursing tasks (e.g., catheterization) that may be delegated pursuant to Part VIII (18VAC90-20-420 through 18VAC90-20-460) of 18VAC90-20.

4. Limits on service.

a. The unit of service shall be one hour. Respite services shall be limited to 480 hours per individual per state fiscal year, to be service authorized. If an individual changes waiver programs, this same maximum number of respite hours shall apply. No additional respite hours beyond the 480 maximum limit shall be approved for payment for individuals who change waiver programs. Additionally, individuals who are receiving respite services in this waiver through both the agency-directed and CD models shall not exceed 480 hours per state fiscal year combined.

b. If agency-directed respite service is the only service received by the waiver individual, it must be received at least as often as every 30 days. If this service is not required at this minimal level of frequency, then the provider agency shall notify the local department of social services for its redetermination of eligibility for the waiver individual.

c. The individual or family/caregiver shall have a backup plan for the provision of services in the event the agency is unable to provide an aide.

F. Services facilitation for consumer-directed services. Consumer-directed personal care and respite care services shall only be offered to persons who meet the preadmission screening criteria at 12VAC30-60-303 and 12VAC30-60-307 and for whom there shall be appropriate alternatives to institutional care.

1. Individuals who choose CD services shall receive support from a DMAS-enrolled CD services facilitator as required in conjunction with CD services. The services facilitator shall document the waiver individual's choice of the CD model and whether there is a need for another person to serve as the EOR on behalf of the individual. The CD services facilitator shall be responsible for assessing the waiver individual's particular needs for a requested CD service, assisting in the development of the POC, providing training to the EOR on his responsibilities as an employer, and for providing ongoing support of the CD services.

2. Individuals who are eligible for CD services shall have, or have an EOR who has, the capability to hire and train the personal care attendant or attendants and supervise the attendant's performance, including approving the attendant's timesheets.

a. If a waiver individual is unwilling or unable to direct his own care or is younger than 18 years of age, a family/caregiver/designated person shall serve as the EOR on behalf of the waiver individual in order to perform these supervisory and approval functions.

b. Specific employer duties shall include checking references of personal care attendants and determining that personal care attendants meet qualifications.

3. The individual or family/caregiver shall have a backup plan for the provision of services in case the attendant does not show up for work as scheduled or terminates employment without prior notice.

4. The CD services facilitator shall not be the waiver individual, a CD attendant, a provider of other Medicaid-covered services, spouse of the individual, parent of the individual who is a minor child, or the EOR who is employing the CD attendant.

5. DMAS shall either provide for fiscal employer/agent services or contract for the services of a fiscal employer/agent for CD services. The fiscal employer/agent shall be reimbursed by DMAS or DMAS contractor (if the fiscal/employer agent service is contracted) to perform certain tasks as an agent for the EOR. The fiscal employer/agent shall handle responsibilities for the waiver individual including, but not limited to, employment taxes and background checks for attendants. The fiscal employer/agent shall seek and obtain all necessary authorizations and approvals of the Internal Revenue Service in order to fulfill all of these duties.

G. Consumer-directed personal care services. CD personal care services shall be comprised of hands-on care of either a supportive or health-related nature and shall include assistance with ADLs and may include, but shall not be limited to, access to the community, monitoring of self-administered medications or other medical needs, supervision, and monitoring health status and physical condition. Where the waiver individual requires assistance with ADLs and when specified in the POC, such supportive services may include assistance with IADLs. This service shall not include skilled nursing services with the exception of skilled nursing tasks (e.g. catheterization) that may be delegated pursuant to Part VIII (18VAC90-20-420 through 18VAC90-20-460) of 18VAC 90-20 and as permitted by Chapter 30 (§ 54.1-3000 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia. CD personal care services may be provided in a home or community setting to enable an individual to maintain the health status and functional skills necessary to live in the community or participate in community activities. Personal care may be offered either as the sole home and community-based service or in conjunction with adult day health care, respite care (agency-directed or consumer-directed), or PERS.

1. In order to qualify for this service, the waiver individual shall have met the NF LOC criteria as set out in 12VAC30-60-303 and 12VAC30-60-307 as documented on the UAI assessment instrument, and for whom it shall be an appropriate alternative to institutional care.

a. A waiver individual may receive both CD and agency-directed personal care services if the individual meets the criteria. Hours received by the waiver individual who is receiving both CD and agency-directed services shall not exceed the total number of hours that would be otherwise authorized had the individual chosen to receive personal care services through a single delivery model.

b. CD and agency-directed services shall not be simultaneously provided but may be provided sequentially or alternately from each other.

2. Limits on covered CD personal care services.

a. DMAS shall not duplicate services that are required as a reasonable accommodation as a part of the Americans with Disabilities Act (42 USC §§ 12131 through 12165) or the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 USC § 794).

b. There shall be a limit of eight hours per 24-hour day for supervision services included in the POC. Supervision services shall be authorized to ensure the health, safety, or welfare of the waiver individual who cannot be left alone at any time or is unable to call for help in case of an emergency, and when there is no one else in the home who is competent and able to call for help in case of an emergency.

c. Consumer-directed personal care services shall be limited to 56 hours of services per week for 52 weeks per year. Individual exceptions may be granted based on criteria established by DMAS.

3. CD personal care services at work or school shall be limited as follows:

a. DMAS shall reimburse for services delivered, consistent with the approved POC, for CD personal care that the attendant provides to the waiver individual to assist him while he is at work or postsecondary school or both.

b. DMAS or the designated Srv Auth contractor shall review the waiver individual's needs and the complexity of the disability, as applicable, when determining the services that will be provided to him in the workplace or postsecondary school or both.

c. DMAS shall not pay for the personal care attendant to assist the waiver individual with any functions or tasks related to the individual completing his job or postsecondary school functions or for supervision time during work or postsecondary school or both.

H. Consumer-directed respite services. CD respite care services are unskilled care and shall be comprised of hands-on care of either a supportive or health-related nature and may include, but shall not be limited to, assistance with ADLs, access to the community, monitoring of self-administration of medications or other medical needs, supervision, monitoring health status and physical condition, and personal care services in a work environment.

1. In order to qualify for this service, the waiver individual shall have met the NF LOC criteria as set out in 12VAC30-60-303 and 12VAC30-60-307 as documented on the UAI assessment instrument, and for whom it shall be an appropriate alternative to institutional care.

2. CD respite services shall only be offered to individuals who have an unpaid primary caregiver who requires temporary relief to avoid institutionalization of the waiver individual. This service shall be provided in the waiver individual's home or other community settings.

3. When the waiver individual requires assistance with ADLs, and where such assistance is specified in the individual's POC, such supportive services may also include assistance with IADLs.

4. Limits on covered CD respite care services.

a. The unit of service shall be one hour. Respite services shall be limited to 480 hours per waiver individual per state fiscal year. If a waiver individual changes waiver programs, this same maximum number of respite hours shall apply. No additional respite hours beyond the 480 maximum limit shall be approved for payment. Individuals who are receiving respite services in this waiver through both the agency-directed and CD models shall not exceed 480 hours per state fiscal year combined.

b. CD respite care services shall not include skilled nursing services with the exception of skilled nursing tasks (e.g., catheterization) that may be delegated pursuant to Part VIII (18VAC90-20-420 through 18VAC90-20-460) of 18VAC90-20 and as permitted by Chapter 30 (§ 54.1-3000 et seq.) of Title 54.1 of the Code of Virginia).

c. If consumer-directed respite service is the only service received by the waiver individual, it shall be received at least as often as every 30 days. If this service is not required at this minimal level of frequency, then the services facilitator shall refer the waiver individual to the local department of social services for its redetermination of eligibility for the waiver individual.

I. Personal emergency response system (PERS).

1. Service description. PERS is a service that monitors waiver individual safety in the home and provides access to emergency assistance for medical or environmental emergencies through the provision of a two-way voice communication system that dials a 24-hour response or monitoring center upon activation and via the individual's home telephone line or system. PERS may also include medication monitoring devices.

a. PERS may be authorized only when there is no one else in the home with the waiver individual who is competent or continuously available to call for help in an emergency or when the individual is in imminent danger.

b. The use of PERS equipment shall not relieve the backup caregiver of his responsibilities.

c. Service units and service limitations.

(1) PERS shall be limited to waiver individuals who are ages 14 years and older who also either live alone or are alone for significant parts of the day and who have no regular caregiver for extended periods of time. PERS shall only be provided in conjunction with receipt of personal care services (either agency-directed or consumer-directed), respite services (either agency-directed or consumer-directed), or adult day health care. A waiver individual shall not receive PERS if he has a cognitive impairment as defined in 12VAC30-120-900.

(2) A unit of service shall include administrative costs, time, labor, and supplies associated with the installation, maintenance, monitoring, and adjustments of the PERS. A unit of service shall be the one-month rental price set by DMAS in its fee schedule. The one-time installation of the unit shall include installation, account activation, individual and family/caregiver instruction, and subsequent removal of PERS equipment when it is no longer needed.

(3) PERS services shall be capable of being activated by a remote wireless device and shall be connected to the waiver individual's telephone line or system. The PERS console unit must provide hands-free voice-to-voice communication with the response center. The activating device must be (i) waterproof, (ii) able to automatically transmit to the response center an activator low battery alert signal prior to the battery losing power, (iii) able to be worn by the waiver individual, and (iv) automatically reset by the response center after each activation, thereby ensuring that subsequent signals can be transmitted without requiring manual resetting by the waiver individual.

(4) All PERS equipment shall be approved by the Federal Communications Commission and meet the Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc. (UL) safety standard.

(5) Medication monitoring units shall be physician ordered. In order to be approved to receive the medication monitoring service, a waiver individual shall also receive PERS services. Physician orders shall be maintained in the waiver individual's record. In cases where the medical monitoring unit must be filled by the provider, the person who is filling the unit shall be either an RN or an LPN. The units may be filled as frequently as a minimum of every 14 days. There must be documentation of this action in the waiver individual's record.

J. Transition coordination and transition services. Transition coordination and transition services, as defined at 12VAC30-120-2000 and 12VAC30-120-2010, provide for applicants to move from institutional placements or licensed or certified provider-operated living arrangements to private homes or other qualified settings. The applicant's transition from an institution to the community shall be coordinated by the facility's discharge planning team. The discharge planner shall coordinate with the transition coordinator to ensure that EDCD Waiver eligibility criteria shall be met.

1. Transition coordination and transition services shall be authorized by DMAS or its designated agent in order for reimbursement to occur.

2. For the purposes of transition services, an institution must meet the requirements as specified by CMS in the Money Follows the Person demonstration program at http://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/comp2/F109-171.html#ft262.

3. Transition coordination shall be authorized for a maximum of 12 consecutive months upon discharge from an institutional placement and shall be initiated within 30 days of discharge from the institution.

4. Transition coordination and transition services shall be provided in conjunction with personal care (agency-directed or consumer-directed), respite (agency-directed or consumer-directed), or adult day health care services.

K. Assistive technology (AT).

1. Service description. Assistive technology (AT), as defined in 12VAC30-120-900, shall only be available to waiver individuals who are participating in the MFP program pursuant to Part XX (12VAC30-120-2000 et seq.).

2. In order to qualify for these services, the individual shall have a demonstrated need for equipment for remedial or direct medical benefit primarily in an individual's primary home, primary vehicle used by the individual, community activity setting, or day program to specifically serve to improve the individual's personal functioning. This shall encompass those items not otherwise covered under the State Plan for Medical Assistance. AT shall be covered in the least expensive, most cost-effective manner.

3. Service units and service limitations.

a. All requests for AT shall be made by the transition coordinator to DMAS or the Srv Auth contractor.

b. The maximum funded expenditure per individual for all AT covered procedure codes (combined total of AT items and labor related to these items) shall be $5,000 per year for individuals regardless of waiver, or regardless of whether the individual changes waiver programs, for which AT is approved. The service unit shall always be one, for the total cost of all AT being requested for a specific timeframe.

c. AT may be provided in the individual's home or community setting.

d. AT shall not be approved for purposes of convenience of the caregiver/provider or restraint of the individual.

e. An independent, professional consultation shall be obtained from a qualified professional who is knowledgeable of that item for each AT request prior to approval by the Srv Auth contractor and may include training on such AT by the qualified professional. The consultation shall not be performed by the provider of AT to the individual.

f. All AT shall be prior authorized by the Srv Auth contractor prior to billing.

g. Excluded shall be items that are reasonable accommodation requirements, for example, of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Virginians with Disabilities Act (§ 51.5-1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), or the Rehabilitation Act (20 USC § 794) or that are required to be provided through other funding sources.

h. AT services or equipment shall not be rented but shall be purchased.

L. Environmental modifications (EM).

1. Service description. Environmental modifications (EM), as defined herein, shall only be available to waiver individuals who are participating in the MFP program pursuant to Part XX (12VAC30-120-2000 et seq.). Adaptations shall be documented in the waiver individual's POC and may include, but shall not necessarily be limited to, 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 waiver 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, flooring, roof repairs, central air conditioning, or decks. Adaptations that add to the total square footage of the home shall be excluded from this benefit, except when necessary to complete an authorized 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 prior authorized by the Srv Auth contractor. Modifications may only be made to a vehicle if it is the primary vehicle being used by the waiver individual. This service does not include the purchase or lease of vehicles.

2. In order to qualify for these services, the waiver individual shall have a demonstrated need for modifications of a remedial or medical benefit offered in his primary home or primary vehicle used by the waiver individual to ensure his health, welfare, or safety or specifically to 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. EM shall be covered in the least expensive, most cost-effective manner.

3. Service units and service limitations.

a. All requests for EM shall be made by the MFP transition coordinator to DMAS or the Srv Auth contractor.

b. The maximum funded expenditure per individual for all EM covered procedure codes (combined total of EM items and labor related to these items) shall be $5,000 per year for individuals regardless of waiver, or regardless of whether the individual changes waiver programs, for which EM is approved. The service unit shall always be one, for the total cost of all EM being requested for a specific timeframe.

c. All EM shall be authorized by the Srv Auth contractor prior to billing.

d. Modifications shall not be used to bring a substandard dwelling up to minimum habitation standards. Also excluded shall be modifications that are reasonable accommodation requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Virginians with Disabilities Act (§ 51.5-1 et seq. of the Code of Virginia), and the Rehabilitation Act (20 USC§ § 794).

e. Transition coordinators shall, upon completion of each modification, meet face-to-face with the waiver individual and his family/caregiver, as appropriate, to ensure that the modification is completed satisfactorily and is able to be used by the individual.

f. EM shall not be approved for purposes of convenience of the caregiver/provider or restraint of the waiver individual.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 31, Issue 10, eff. February 12, 2015.

Statutory Authority

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