Section 1010. Individual eligibility requirements

A. Individuals receiving services under this waiver must meet the following Medicaid eligibility requirements. The Commonwealth shall apply the financial eligibility criteria contained in the State Plan for the categorically needy. The Commonwealth covers the optional categorically needy groups under 42 CFR 435.211, 42 CFR 435.217, and 42 CFR 435.230.

1. The income level used for 42 CFR 435.211, 42 CFR 435.217 and 42 CFR 435.230 shall be 300% of the current Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment standard for one person.

2. Under this waiver, the coverage groups authorized under § 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(VI) of the Social Security Act shall be considered as if they were institutionalized for the purpose of applying institutional deeming rules. All individuals under the waiver must meet the financial and nonfinancial Medicaid eligibility criteria and meet the institutional level-of-care criteria. The deeming rules shall be applied to waiver eligible individuals as if the individuals were residing in an institution or would require that level of care.

3. The Commonwealth shall reduce its payment for home and community-based waiver services provided to an individual who is eligible for Medicaid services under 42 CFR 435.217 by that amount of the individual's total income (including amounts disregarded in determining eligibility) that remains after allowable deductions for personal maintenance needs, other dependents, and medical needs have been made, according to the guidelines in 42 CFR 435.735 and § 1915(c)(3) of the Social Security Act as amended by the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1986. DMAS shall reduce its payment for home and community-based waiver services by the amount that remains after the deductions listed in this subdivision:

a. For individuals to whom § 1924(d) applies and for whom the Commonwealth waives the requirement for comparability pursuant to § 1902(a)(10)(B), DMAS shall deduct the following in the respective order:

(1) The basic maintenance needs for an individual under this waiver, which shall be equal to 165% of the SSI payment for one person. As of January 1, 2002, due to expenses of employment, a working individual shall have an additional income allowance. For an individual employed 20 hours or more per week, earned income shall be disregarded up to a maximum of both earned and unearned income up to 300% SSI; for an individual employed at least eight but less than 20 hours per week, earned income shall be disregarded up to a maximum of both earned and unearned income up to 200% of SSI. If the individual requires a guardian or conservator who charges a fee, the fee, not to exceed an amount greater than 5.0% of the individual's total monthly income, is added to the maintenance needs allowance. However, in no case shall the total amount of the maintenance needs allowance (basic allowance plus earned income allowance plus guardianship fees) for the individual exceed 300% of SSI.

(2) For an individual with only a spouse at home, the community spousal income allowance determined in accordance with § 1924(d) of the Social Security Act.

(3) For an individual with a family at home, an additional amount for the maintenance needs of the family determined in accordance with § 1924(d) of the Social Security Act.

(4) Amounts for incurred expenses for medical or remedial care that are not subject to payment by a third party including Medicare and other health insurance premiums, deductibles or coinsurance charges, and necessary medical or remedial care recognized under state law but not covered under the plan.

b. For individuals to whom § 1924(d) does not apply and for whom the Commonwealth waives the requirement for comparability pursuant to § 1902(a)(10)(B), DMAS shall deduct the following in the respective order:

(1) The basic maintenance needs for an individual under this waiver, which is equal to 165% of the SSI payment for one person. As of January 1, 2002, due to expenses of employment, a working individual shall have an additional income allowance. For an individual employed 20 hours or more per week, earned income shall be disregarded up to a maximum of both earned and unearned income up to 300% SSI; for an individual employed at least eight but less than 20 hours per week, earned income shall be disregarded up to a maximum of both earned and unearned income up to 200% of SSI. If the individual requires a guardian or conservator who charges a fee, the fee, not to exceed an amount greater than 5.0% of the individual's total monthly income, is added to the maintenance needs allowance. However, in no case shall the total amount of the maintenance needs allowance (basic allowance plus earned income allowance plus guardianship fees) for the individual exceed 300% of SSI.

(2) For an individual with a dependent child or children, an additional amount for the maintenance needs of the child or children, which shall be equal to the Title XIX medically needy income standard based on the number of dependent children.

(3) Amounts for incurred expenses for medical or remedial care that are not subject to payment by a third party including Medicare and other health insurance premiums, deductibles or coinsurance charges, and necessary medical or remedial care recognized under state law but not covered under the State Plan for Medical Assistance.

B. The following four criteria shall apply to all individuals who have ID who seek these waiver services:

1. Individuals qualifying for ID Waiver services shall have a demonstrated need for the service due to significant functional limitations in major life activities. The need for these waiver services shall arise from either (i) an individual having a diagnosed condition of ID or (ii) a child younger than six years of age being at developmental risk of significant functional limitations in major life activities;

2. Individuals qualifying for ID Waiver services shall meet the ICF/ID level-of-care criteria;

3. The Individual Support Plan and services that are delivered shall be consistent with the Medicaid definition of each service; and

4. Services shall be recommended by the case manager based on his documentation of the need for each specific service as reflected in a current assessment using a DBHDS-approved SIS instrument, or for children younger than five years of age, an alternative industry assessment instrument, such as the Early Learning Assessment Profile, and authorized by DBHDS.

C. Assessment and enrollment.

1. To ensure that Virginia's home and community-based waiver programs serve only individuals who would otherwise be placed in an ICF/ID, home and community-based waiver services shall be considered only for individuals who are eligible for admission to an ICF/ID due to their diagnoses of ID, or individuals who are younger than six years of age and who are at developmental risk. For the case manager to make a recommendation for waiver services, ID Waiver services must be determined to be an appropriate service alternative to delay or avoid placement in an ICF/ID, or to promote exiting from an ICF/ID or other institutional placement.

2. The case manager shall recommend the individual for home and community-based waiver services after determining diagnostic and functional eligibility. This determination shall be mandatory before DMAS assumes payment responsibility of home and community-based waiver services and shall include:

a. The required level-of-care determination by applying the existing DMAS ICF/ID criteria (Part VI (12VAC30-130-430 et seq.) of the Amount, Duration and Scope of Selected Services Regulation) to be completed no more than six months prior to enrollment. The case manager determines whether the individual meets the ICF/ID criteria with input from the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, and service and support providers involved in the individual's support; and

b. A psychological evaluation or standardized developmental assessment for children who are younger than six years of age that reflects the current psychological status (diagnosis), current cognitive abilities, and current adaptive level of the individual's functioning.

3. The case manager shall provide the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, with the choice of ID Waiver services or ICF/ID placement.

4. The case manager shall enroll the individual in the ID Waiver or, if no slot is available, place the individual on the waiting list. The CSB shall only enroll the individual following electronic confirmation by DBHDS that a slot is available. If no slot is available, then the individual's name shall be placed on either the urgent or nonurgent statewide waiting list, consistent with criteria established in this waiver in 12VAC30-120-1088, until such time as a slot becomes available. Once the individual's name has been placed on either the urgent or nonurgent waiting list, the case manager shall notify the individual in writing within 10 business days of his placement on either list and offer appeal rights. The case manager shall contact the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, at least annually while the individual is on the waiting list to provide the choice between institutional placement and waiver services.

D. Waiver approval process: authorizing and accessing services.

1. Once the case manager has determined an individual meets the functional criteria for ID Waiver services, has determined that a slot is available, and that the individual has chosen ID Waiver services, the case manager shall submit enrollment information via the IDOLS to DBHDS to confirm level-of-care eligibility.

2. Once the individual has been enrolled by the CSB, the case manager will submit a DMAS-225 along with a computer-generated confirmation of level-of-care eligibility to the local department of social services to determine financial eligibility for the waiver program and any patient pay responsibilities.

3. After the case manager has received written notification of Medicaid eligibility by the local departments of social services, the case manager shall so inform the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, to permit the development of the Individual Support Plan.

a. The individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, shall meet with the case manager within 30 calendar days of waiver enrollment to discuss the individual's needs and existing supports, complete the DBHDS-approved assessment, obtain a medical examination completed no earlier than 12 months prior to the initiation of waiver services, begin to develop the Personal Profile, and complete all designated assessments, such as the Supports Intensity Scale (SIS), deemed necessary to establish and document the needed services.

b. The case manager shall provide the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, with choice of needed services available under the ID Waiver, alternative settings, and providers. Once the service providers are chosen, a planning meeting shall be arranged by the case manager to develop the person-centered Individual Support Plan based on the assessment of needs as reflected in the level of care and DBHDS-approved functional assessment instruments and the preferences of the individual and the individual's family/caregiver's, as appropriate.

c. Participants invited to participate in the person-centered planning meeting shall include the individual, case manager, service providers, the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, and others desired by the individual. The Individual Support Plan development process identifies the services to be rendered to individuals, the frequency of services, the type of service provider or providers, and a description of the services to be offered. The individual enrolled in the waiver, or the family/caregiver as appropriate, and case manager must sign the ISP.

4. The individual or case manager shall contact chosen service providers so that services can be initiated within 30 calendar days of enrollment. The service providers in conjunction with the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, and the case manager shall develop Plans for Supports for each service. A copy of these plans shall be submitted to the case manager. The case manager shall review and ensure the Plan for Supports meets the established service criteria for the identified needs prior to submitting to the state-designated agency or its contractor for service authorization. Only ID Waiver services authorized on the Individual Support Plan by the state-designated agency or its contractor according to DMAS policies may be reimbursed by DMAS. The Plan for Supports from each waiver service provider shall be incorporated into the Individual Support Plan along with the steps for risk mitigation as indicated by the risk assessment.

5. When the case manager obtains the DMAS-225 form from a local department of social services, the case manager shall designate and inform in writing a service provider to be the collector of patient pay when applicable. The designated provider shall monthly monitor the DMAS-designated system for changes in patient pay obligations and adjust billing, as appropriate, with the change documented in the record in accordance with DMAS policy. When the designated collector of patient pay is the consumer-directed personal or respite assistant or companion, the case manager shall forward a copy of the DMAS-225 form to the EOR along with the case manager's designation described in 12VAC30-120-1060 S 2 a (6). In such cases, the case manager shall be required to perform the monthly monitoring of the patient pay system and shall notify the EOR of all changes.

6. The case manager shall submit the results of the comprehensive assessment and a recommendation to DBHDS staff for final determination of ICF/ID level of care and authorization for community-based services. The state-designated agency or its contractor shall, within 10 working days of receiving all supporting documentation, review and approve, pend for more information, or deny the individual service requests. The state-designated agency or its contractor shall communicate in writing to the case manager whether the recommended services have been approved and the amounts and type of services authorized or if any services have been denied. Medicaid shall not pay for any home and community-based waiver services delivered prior to the authorization date approved by the state-designated agency or its contractor if service authorization is required.

7. ID Waiver services may be recommended by the case manager only if:

a. The individual is Medicaid eligible as determined by the local departments of social services;

b. The individual has a diagnosis of ID as defined by the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, or is a child under the age of six at developmental risk, and who would in the absence of waiver services require the level of care provided in an ICF/ID the cost of which would be reimbursed under the Plan; and

c. The contents of the Plans for Support are consistent with the Medicaid definition of each service.

8. All Individual Support Plans shall be subject to final approval by DMAS. DMAS is the single state agency authority responsible for the supervision of the administration of the ID Waiver.

9. If services are not initiated by the provider within 30 days of receipt of enrollment confirmation from DBHDS, the case manager shall notify the local department of social services so that a re-evaluation of eligibility as a noninstitutionalized individual can be made.

10. In the case of an individual enrolled in the waiver being referred back to a local department of social services for a redetermination of eligibility and in order to retain the designated slot, the case manager shall submit information to DBHDS via IDOLS requesting retention of the designated slot pending the initiation of services. A copy of the request shall be provided to the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate. DBHDS shall have the authority to approve the slot-retention request in 30-day extensions, up to a maximum of four consecutive extensions, or deny such request to retain the waiver slot for that individual. DBHDS shall provide a response to the case manager via IDOLS indicating denial or approval of the slot extension request. DBHDS shall submit this response within 10 working days of the receipt of the request for extension and include the individual's right to appeal its decision.

E. Reevaluation of service need.

1. The Individual Support Plan.

a. The Individual Support Plan, as defined herein, shall be collaboratively developed annually by the case manager with the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, other service providers, consultants, and other interested parties based on relevant, current assessment data.

b. The case manager shall be responsible for continuous monitoring of the appropriateness of the individual's services and revisions to the Individual Support Plan as indicated by the changing needs of the individual. At a minimum, the case manager must review the Individual Support Plan every three months to determine whether the individual's desired outcomes and support activities are being met and whether any modifications to the Individual Support Plan are necessary.

c. Any modification to the amount or type of services in the Individual Support Plan shall be prior authorized by the state-designated agency or its contractor.

d. All requests for increased waiver services by individuals enrolled in the waiver shall be reviewed under the health, safety, and welfare standard and for consistency with cost effectiveness. This standard assures that an individual's ability to receive a waiver service is dependent on the finding that the individual needs the service, based on appropriate assessment criteria and a written Plan for Supports, and that services can safely and cost effectively be provided in the community.

2. Review of level of care.

a. The case manager shall complete a reassessment annually in coordination with the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, and service providers. The reassessment shall include an update of the level of care and Personal Profile, risk assessment, and any other appropriate assessment information. The Individual Support Plan shall be revised as appropriate.

b. At least every three years for those individuals who are 16 years of age and older and every two years for those individuals who are ages birth through 15 years old, or when the individual's support needs change significantly, the case manager, with the assistance of the individual and other appropriate parties who have knowledge of the individual's circumstances and needs for support, shall complete the DBHDS-approved SIS form or an approved alternative instrument for children younger than the age of five years.

c. A medical examination shall be completed for adults based on need identified by the individual and the individual's family/caregiver, as appropriate, provider, case manager, or DBHDS staff. Medical examinations and screenings for children shall be completed according to the recommended frequency and periodicity of the EPSDT program.

d. A new psychological evaluation shall be required whenever the individual's functioning has undergone significant change (such as a loss of abilities or awareness that is expected to last longer than 30 days) and is no longer reflective of the past psychological evaluation. A psychological evaluation or standardized developmental assessment for children younger than six years of age must reflect the current psychological status (diagnosis), adaptive level of functioning, and cognitive abilities.

3. The case manager shall monitor the service providers' Plans for Supports to ensure that all providers are working toward the desired outcomes of the individuals.

4. Case managers shall be required to conduct monthly onsite visits for all individuals enrolled in the waiver residing in VDSS-licensed assisted living facilities or approved adult foster care homes. Case managers shall conduct a minimum of quarterly onsite home visits to individuals receiving ID Waiver services who reside in DBHDS-licensed sponsored residential homes.

Historical Notes

Derived from Volume 29, Issue 20, eff. July 4, 2013.

Statutory Authority

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