Advocacy

2010 General Assembly Results

Prior to 2010 General Assembly session, Governor Kaine’s introduced budget proposed many devastating cuts to services for people with developmental disabilities. Over $100 million in services to help people on the ID and IFDDS Waiver waiting lists were proposed to be cut. Cuts affecting all Medicaid home and community-based waivers combined totaled more than $270 million.

At the same time as this proposed dismantling of community-based supports, the introduced budget proposes $106 million in new funding for large, segregated, state institutions, including $23 million to rebuild a new 75-bed institution in Chesapeake.

Items proposed in Governor Kaine’s budget included:

• Eliminate/postpone 1,000 Intellectual Disability (formerly MR) Waivers and 134 Individual and Family Developmental Disability Support (IFDDS) Waivers.
• Freeze enrollment on ID, IFDDS, EDCD, DS, and Alzheimer's Waivers from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011
• Cut reimbursement rates for HCBS Waiver services by 5% (Tech Waiver skilled nursing not affected)
• Reduce respite hours for families on all HCBS Waivers from 720 hours a year to 240 hours per year
• Eliminate or reduce needed medical services/supplies for adults on Medicaid (podiatry and optometry services eliminated, physical/occupational/speech therapy and incontinence supplies reduced).
• Restrict Medicaid eligibility from 300% SSI ($2022/mo) to 275% SSI ($1854/mo)
• $23 million in bond funds to rebuild a new, 75-bed institution in Chesapeake.
• $24 million in bond funds to renovate an institution in Lynchburg.
• Provides $60 million in additional operating funds for large, segregated, state institutions.

Restorations of home and community based services in the final 2010-2012 budget included:

• 250 new ID Waivers for individuals/families on the ID Waiver waiting list (start date of 7/1/10)*
• Elimination of the proposed cut to respite services, which would have reduced hours from 720 hours/year to 240 hours/year. *
• Elimination of the proposed 5% cut to HCBS Waiver provider reimbursement rates *
• Elimination of proposed 1 year freeze on HCBS Waiver enrollment *
• Elimination of proposed cuts to Medicaid podiatry and optometry services.*
• Monthly income for HCBS Waiver eligibility would not be reduced from 300% SSI to 250% SSI *
• No cuts to consumer directed services (proposed by Governor McDonnell during GA Session)

Cuts/Policies that remained in the 2010-2012 VA Budget included:

• $23 million to rebuild a 75-bed institution at Southeastern Virginia Training Center in Chesapeake.
• $24 million to renovate Central Virginia Training Center, an institution in Lynchburg.
• 750 ID Waivers and 134 DD Waivers eliminated (this would make 4 years of no new DD Waivers).
• Assistive Technology (AT) will be reduced from $5,000 to $3,000 per year in FY12.*
• Environmental Modifications (EM) will be reduced from $5,000 to $3,000 per year in FY12.*

* - Restorations dependent on FMAP funding. Like many other items in the budget, these restorations are contingent upon a 6 month extension of the enhanced FMAP (a temporary increase in the federal share of Medicaid spending). Congress is still taking action on the FMAP exentsion.

Finally,The Arc was also instrumental in helping to defeat a budget amendment during the reconvened session that proposed moving all Medicaid Home and Community Based Waivers to managed care. The amendment was defeated by a vote of 19Y-77N. Click here to find out how your Delegate voted on the amendment.