What are Virginia Medicaid Waivers?
Virginia offers multiple Waivers, including three specifically intended to serve children and
adults with developmental disabilities (DD Waivers). These include the Community Living
Waiver (formerly Intellectual Disability/ID Waiver); Family and Individual Supports Waiver
(formerly developmental disabilities/DD Waiver); and the Building Independence Waiver
(formerly (Day Support/DS Waiver.
The Virginia Developmental Disabilities Waiver Program provides Medicaid funding to
qualified individuals to cover a continuum of “community-based” services including, but not
limited to:
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group home residential/residential support services
in-home support services
group day support
group supported employment
individual supported employment
personal assistance
respite
assistive technology
crisis supports
community coaching
community engagement
companion services
electronic home-based services
environmental modifications
private duty nursing/skilled nursing
therapeutic behavior consultation
workplace assistance services
Other important facts about the Virginia DD Waiver Program:
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The DD Waiver Program emphasizes community integration, community inclusion, and
community engagement, as well as individual choice in planning and services.
The Waivers are funded with state and federal Medicaid dollars.
The Developmental Disability Waiver Program is managed by the Virginia Department
of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) in collaboration with the
Virginia Department of Medicaid Assistance Services (DMAS).
Virginia Waiver services for persons with developmental disabilities date to the mid1970s.
What are the DD Waiver Eligibility Factors?
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Possess a diagnosis of DD
Meet level of care (functioning) determined by the DBHDS assessment tool
Meet financial eligibility for Medicaid
Able to accept Waiver services within 30 days of Waiver assignment
What is Waiver Redesign?
The Virginia DD Waiver program has undergone a historical and monumental re-design that
began in 2013 as part of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Settlement Agreement. The Re-design
(more widely known as “My Life My Community”) was approved by the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services (CMS) in August 2016 with an implementation date of September 1,
2016.
The revised, or amended, Waivers for persons with DD meet the goals and expectations of the
DOJ Settlement Agreement in that:
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They provided more comprehensive integrated, community-based services that support
the needs of persons with developmental disabilities;
The rates are restructured to support the delivery of community integrated services;
Crisis services are embedded into the structure of the program and services
A higher number of individuals can be served
Service access and availability, as well as individual care-giver training and service
facilitation is enhanced; and
There is improved inclusion of transition and other services to support people with
intense behavioral and medical needs and facilitate movement from institutional settings
(i.e., Training Centers)
How many people in Arlington currently receive DD Waiver funding and
services?
As of August 30, 2016, Arlington has 121 individuals receiving Medicaid Waivers: 106 have
Community Living (CL) Waivers and 15 have Family and Individual Supports (FIS) Waivers.
Additionally, there are 84 individuals (children and adults) on the State’s DD Medicaid Waiver
waitlist.
Building
Family and Individual
Independence Waiver
Supports Waiver
For adults (18+) able to
live independently in the
community
For individuals living with
their families, friends, or in
their own homes
Community Living
Waiver
24/7 services and supports
for individuals with
complex medical and/or
behavioral support needs
through licensed services