SB1501: Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver, etc.; elimination of waiting lists.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  § 1. That it is the intent of the General Assembly to eliminate the waiting lists for services pursuant to the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver and the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities and Support Medicaid Waiver.

In furtherance of this intent, beginning with the fiscal year starting July 1, 2010, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall add (i) at least 400 additional funded slots per fiscal year for the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver, and (ii) at least 67 additional funded slots per fiscal year for the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities and Support Medicaid Waiver, until the waiting lists for the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver and the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities and Support Medicaid Waiver have been eliminated.

In addition, the Governor shall develop a plan to eliminate the waiting lists for services provided to individuals on the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver and the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities and Support Medicaid Waiver by the 2018-2020 biennium. The plan shall include provisions to reduce the total number of individuals on the waiting list for the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver by 10 percent in the 2008-2010 biennium. The Governor shall submit the plan to the chairman of the Joint Commission on Health Care, and the chairmen of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1, 2009.

The Department of Medical Assistance Services shall work with the Department of Planning and Budget to incorporate additional costs pursuant to this act in the estimate of Medicaid expenditures required pursuant to § 32.1-323.1 of the Code of Virginia.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  § 1. That the Governor shall develop a plan to eliminate the urgent care waiting list for services provided to individuals on the Mental Retardation Waiver and the waiting list for services provided to individuals on the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support Waiver by the 2018-2020 biennium. The plan shall include provisions to reduce the total number of individuals on the urgent care waiting list for the Mental Retardation Waiver by 10 percent in the 2008-2010 biennium.  The plan shall also include provisions to reduce the total number of individuals on the urgent care waiting list for the Mental Retardation Waiver and to reduce the total number of individuals on the waiting list for the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support Waiver by 20 percent beginning in the 2010-2012 biennium. Waiting list reductions shall be measured by the number of individuals on these waiting lists as of July 1 of each biennium, with a goal of elimination by the 2018-2020 biennium.  In developing the plan, the Governor shall review reports and recommendations from the Community Integration Advisory Commission related to the urgent care waiting list for the Mental Retardation Waiver and the waiting list for the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities Support Waiver. The Governor shall submit a plan to the chairmen of the Joint Commission on Health Care and the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees by October 1, 2009.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  1. It is the intent of the General Assembly to eliminate the waiting lists for services pursuant to the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver and the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities and Support Medicaid Waiver.

2. In furtherance of the intent set forth in 1, beginning with the Commonwealth's fiscal year starting on July 1, 2010, and for each fiscal year thereafter, the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall add (i) at least an additional 400 funded slots in the fiscal year for the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver, and (ii) at least an additional 67 funded slots in the fiscal year for the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities and Support Medicaid Waiver until the waiting list has been eliminated for the respective Medicaid Waiver program. If fewer than 400 funded slots are needed in a fiscal year to eliminate the waiting list for the Mental Retardation Medicaid Waiver, then the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall add the number of funded slots necessary to eliminate the waiting list for such Medicaid Waiver program. If fewer than 67 funded slots are needed in a fiscal year to eliminate the waiting list for the Individual and Family Developmental Disabilities and Support Medicaid Waiver, then the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall add the number of funded slots necessary to eliminate the waiting list for such Medicaid Waiver program.

3. The Department of Medical Assistance Services shall work with the Department of Planning and Budget to incorporate the additional costs pursuant to this act in the estimate of Medicaid expenditures required pursuant to 32.1-323.1 of the Code of Virginia.