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Governor Glenn Youngkin delivers remarks at Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services in Richmond on December 13, 2023. Official photo by Christian Martinez, Office of the Governor. |
Governor Glenn Youngkin Fully Funds Priority 1 Wait List in his Proposed Budget!
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Did you know that this month after decades of advocating for more DD Waiver slots the Governor proposed that 3,440 people in Priority Level 1 will get a waiver within the next 2 years! Although, we would love to declare this a finalized win for the many families we serve that have waited for this, the battle is not quite over yet. There are a few important things that we must bring to your attention.
- Please keep in mind that the Virginia General Assembly must still approve the funding, that means we need to advocate more in the coming days! Below you will find a link to learn more about your first opportunity to advocate at the virtual public hearing on January 3rd.
- If there are no available providers, you will not be able to access services even after receiving the long awaited waiver. Were you aware that Consumer-Directed (CD) Services are severely underfunded, and the staffing of service facilitation companies throughout the state is suffering because of this? To help you continue to have a choice and use Consumer-Directed services, and in order to build provider capacity in that area, CD Service Facilitator rates need to be corrected. Please talk to your legislators about a rate increase for Consumer-Directed services so that this option continues to be an option for you and your family for many years to come. Below you will find a link to find your legislators.
Don't miss these opportunities to make a difference! Remember, while you're advocating for approval of these slots, keep in mind provider capacity must grow in order for those that are awarded slots to actually access services.
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MCO Updates
Sentara Health Plans
Is Optima your MCO? You will soon receive a new member ID card to use beginning January 1, 2024. If you are a former Virginia Premier member that just changed to Optima, this will affect you as well. As you are aware starting June 2023 Optima began the transition to CDCN as their fiscal agent. Beginning January 1st, 2024 as Optima changes their name to Sentara Health Plans they will also complete their transition to CDCN fully. All EOR's and attendants for clients with Sentara Health Plans (formerly Virginia Premier and Optima) will need to be enrolled with CDCN as their fiscal agent. Need further assistance? Please contact your Care Coordinator or the number on the back of your insurance card for more assistance.
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Fiscal Agent Updates
Consumer Direct Care
Network Virginia
New to CDCN because of a recent MCO change? Here are some helpful tools for you to use while navigating their services.
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New to the role of EOR?
We know being the EOR comes with a lot of responsibilities in consumer directed services. You must find and hire attendants, handle weekly payroll tasks with your assigned fiscal agents, stay on top of changes, and much more! We are currently working on our website to help EOR's with their tasks. Check out our new EOR Tools page for weekly updates, useful tools, and more!
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Frequently Forgotten
Adult Preventative Services
Did you know that all adult Virginia Medicaid members have coverage for preventive services such as screenings, check-ups and counseling support? These services can help keep you healthy, and identify areas for improvement before they become an issue. Some of the preventive services that are available at no cost to members include:
- Adult wellness exam
- Individual and group smoking cessation and alcohol counseling
- Recommended vaccines, including tetanus and diphtheria, shingles, hepatitis A and B, influenza and human papillomavirus
- Mammography, prostate and other cancer screenings
- Blood pressure and cholesterol screenings
- Depression screenings
- Nutritional counseling
Schedule an annual wellness exam with your primary care doctor today and take steps towards a healthier you!
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Virginia Medicaid Waivers Discussion Group
Diving deeper into your questions and concerns!
Are you an LRI in the role of paid attendant and/or EOR?
Are you prepared for the changes coming on March 1, 2024? An extension was granted in November, however DMAS has been clear to us that there will be no additional grace period after March 1, 2024. This means being prepared is the key to success. Success meaning no lapses in services and no pay gaps for attendants. If we do not all plan accordingly and be proactive those things will be inevitable as there will be a surge in changes for Service Facilitators and Fiscal Agents come in at one time and they will start to backlog. Avoid this and plan ahead, you can learn more on our website about the steps to take now.
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Resource Spotlight
The Arc of Virginia's action center on their website is a great resource for families wanting to join in the advocacy efforts to make a difference! Visit their page today for a list of important dates coming in 2024 when we all need to stand together to make sure our voices are heard! We want the clients of Moms In Motion putting their Voices In Motion for these great causes!
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International Day of Persons with Disabilities
December 3rd 2023
This day and every day we aim to promote an understanding of disability issues and advocate for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.
Photo: During our December company call we all wore different colors to show our support and raise awareness!
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Holiday Schedule
Click the calendar to head to our website and learn about events near you!
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Goodbye 2023!
Looking into 2024
At the end of 2022, we found out that we would be required to start in-person visits again in 2023. This news was surprising to some and as a result, we lost about half of our team members. We have been trying all year to get back to fully staffed and we've come a long way toward that end. That said, we would like to take this opportunity to remind you that we are required to see you in person and on a regular basis in order for your services to continue uninterrupted. We have worked diligently to hire highly qualified team members and they have been coming out of training ready to serve!
Please be responsive to all of our Service Facilitators' calls when they reach out to schedule their visits with you so that we can ensure that your visits are done timely.
We are looking forward to 2024 and have our sights set high as we prioritize the needs of our staff and clients to ensure our service is exceptional.
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Upcoming Events
Save the Date for
Night To Shine 2024
Night to Shine is a complimentary event for people with special needs hosted by local churches around the world. The event is open to anyone living with disabilities, ages 14 and older. Although each event is a little bit different, some activities included are a red carpet entrance, limousine rides, dancing, karaoke, gifts, a catered dinner, a Respite Room for parents and caregivers, a crowning ceremony where every honored guest will receive a crown or tiara, and more...
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