One Last Time!

June 24, 2022

The final budget has been “enrolled” and signed by the Governor, of special interest to us are the following in Item 304:

• KKKK. 1. Out of this appropriation, $175,793,045 the first year and $201,197,348 the second year from the general fund and $182,060,495 the first year and $208,539,425 the second year from matching federal Medicaid funds and other nongeneral funds shall be provided to increase Developmental Disability (DD) waiver rates set forth in the following paragraph.  2. Effective July 1, 2022, the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall have the authority to update the rates for DD waiver services using the most recent rebasing estimates, based on their review of the model assumptions as appropriate and consistent with efficiency, economy, quality and sufficiency of care and reported no later than July 1, 2022. Rates shall be increased according to Tiered payments contained in the rebasing model, where appropriate for the type of service provided. Rates shall be increased for Group Homes, Sponsored Residential, Supported Living, Independent Living Supports, In-home Supports, Community Engagement, Community Coaching, Therapeutic Consultation, Private Duty and Skilled Nursing, Group Day Support, Group Supported Employment, Workplace Assistance, Community Guide, DD Case Management and Benefits Planning. The department shall have the authority to implement these changes prior to completion of any regulatory process to effect such change.
• RRRR. Out of this appropriation, $56,640,476 from nongeneral funds the first year and $43,489,163 from the general fund and $64,983,275 from nongeneral funds the second year shall be provided, effective July 1, 2022, for the Department of Medical Assistance Services to increase rates by 12.5%, relative to the rates in effect prior to July 1, 2021, for: (i) adult day health care; (ii) consumer-directed facilitation services; (iii) crisis supervision, crisis stabilization and crisis support services; (v) transition coordinator services; (vi) mental health and early intervention case management services; and (vii) community behavioral health and habilitation services. In addition to the funds included in this Item, $38,057,684 the first year is provided for the state match for this purpose in Item 486 out of the revenues received from federal distributions of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. However, if ARPA funds cannot be used for this purpose the department is authorized to use the available cash balance or excess revenue in the Health Care Fund that is in excess of the estimates included for the first year in this act or additional general fund dollars in excess of the Official Medicaid Forecast made available due to changes in the federal match rate. The department shall have the authority to implement these changes prior to the completion of any regulatory process undertaken in order to effect such change.
• QQQQ. Effective July 1, 2022, the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall increase Medicaid rates for peer recovery and family support services in private and public community-based recovery services settings from $6.50 to $13.00 per 15 minutes for individuals and from $2.70 to $5.40 per 15 minutes for groups.
• H.  The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) shall amend the CL waiver to add 100 slots effective July 1, 2023. An amount estimated at $3,798,050 the second year from the general fund and $3,798,050 the second year from nongeneral funds is provided to cover the anticipated costs of the new slots.   The Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) shall amend the FIS waiver to add 500 slots effective July 1, 2023. An amount estimated at $9,036,000 the second year from the general fund and $9,036,000 the second year from nongeneral funds is provided to cover the anticipated costs of the new slots.
• IIII. 1. Effective July 1, 2022, the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) shall have the authority to increase Medicaid Title XIX and CHIP Title XXI reimbursement rates for dental services by 30 percent. The department shall have the authority to implement these reimbursement changes prior to the completion of any regulatory process to effect such changes.   And,
• DDDD. Effective July 1, 2022, the Department of Medical Assistance Services shall have the authority to increase the rates for agency- and consumer-directed personal care, respite and companion services by 7.5 percent to reflect additional increases in the state minimum wage while maintaining the existing differential between consumer- directed and agency-directed rest-of-state rates as well as the northern Virginia and rest-of-state rates. The department shall have the authority to implement these changes prior to completion of any regulatory process to effect such change.

Please note the post of 10 June for details of the mechanics!    We will have more the share on that by Monday.  And for those of you who have lost the final rebase numbers, they are linked to the November 30th Post.