Agency Decision Briefs Are Released

September 19, 2026

Decision Briefs are the “tool” used by State Agencies to communicate their list of priorities for the Governor’s Budget.  While they are developed by the agency, the process is certainly guided by the Administration and agencies do not go far off course in what they propose.  However, it does give us an early look at what might be in the Governor’s Budget.  Remember that this will be a “short session” so all they can do is tinker with the budget they already have!    I’ll list the highlights below:


DMAS

  • Allow Medicaid to provide coverage for vaccines that are no longer recommended at the Federal level but are recommended by the Virginia Department of Health and the Health Commissioner 
  • Centralize LTSS eligibility and patient pay determinations which are currently under the oversight of DSS and conducted by the CSBs across the Commonwealth
  • Increase the cap on Environmental Mods from $5000 per year to $10,000 in two years.
  • Increase the personal needs allowance from $40/month to $70/month for residents of Nursing Facilities (NF).  ICFs are typically included in the NF category.
  • “Realign” the rates for the proposed BH Redesign to better reflect the potential cost of providing CPST and the new Clubhouse Model, but do so by reducing the rates for Mobile Crisis and 23-hour CRC services.   
  • Streamline Medicaid enrollment for the SSI population by making enrollment automatic for individuals determined eligible for SSI.  And last,
  • There is a “placeholder’ for increasing certain DD Waiver rates – the word “certain” is reminiscent of last year and the services included in the Guidehouse study.  There are no funds attached to this item.

DBHDS
  • Implement License Application Fees and increase the cap on Civil penalties; there will be a legislative proposal to allow funds to be retained by DBHDS.
  • Increase Part C funding by $4.4M – always a good idea!
  • Increase SRAP funding by $2.4M and adding one FTE at DBHDS
  • Add $6.4M (a 15% increase in the existing appropriation) for the comprehensive crisis system to support operation at CRCs and CSUs operated by CSBs to address the uninsured or uncompensated costs.
  • Replace the CONNECT and the CHRIS systems; the request is for 5 FTE and $2.5M in funding for the “first phase” which will address the CONNECT system and integrate the new system with MES.
  • Request $4.2M for 30 FTEs for Licensing and OHR.  And finally,
  • Increase funding for school-based health centers.

We’ll have a lot to talk about at the Conference!
Resources
Upcoming Events