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1996 SESSION

961672112
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 125
Offered January 22, 1996
Expressing the sense of the General Assembly that Medicaid waivers be amended to offer consumer-directed personal assistance services.
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Patron-- Almand
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, the Department of Medical Assistance Services has evaluated the feasibility and advisability of amending the existing Elderly and Disabled Waiver to allow consumers to hire their own personal attendant after demonstrating their ability to manage and supervise the performance of that attendant; and

WHEREAS, the Department has the option to (i) continue to contract only with agencies for the provision of personal care for other eligible clients; (ii) pay for services offered by individuals rather than agencies; or (iii) offer both options, which would be available based on the consumer's ability to manage his own care; and

WHEREAS, the findings of the 1995 House Joint Resolution No. 539 study estimates that 1,176 consumers with disabilities who are under age 65 and 1,613 consumers over age 65 might choose the option of consumer-directed personal assistance services, if available; and

WHEREAS, the implementation of the recommendations of the HJR 539 study appears to be amenable to Congressional Medicaid reform; and

WHEREAS, the immediate benefit of consumer-directed personal assistance services includes an increased level of independent living which is beneficial and productive for all Virginians; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That it is the sense of the General Assembly that the amendment of the Elderly and Disabled Waiver be carried out immediately and with all due haste to offer consumer-directed personal assistance services in conjunction with the agency-directed model currently available.