- What Programs Are Available To Assist People With Disabilities in West Virginia?
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Is there a Medicaid waiver program in West Virginia? West Virginia has three waivers including:
- Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waiver
- Aged and Disabled (A& D) Waiver
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver
What state department operates the Medicaid waiver program for persons with developmental disabilities in West Virginia? The Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) in West Virginia operates the Medicaid Waiver program. The Bureau contracts designated operating functions to other entities.
What programs assist people who have developmental disabilities in West Virginia? The Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Waiver (formerly the MR/DD Waiver Program) provides services that instruct, train, support, supervise, and assist individuals who have intellectual disabilities and/or developmental disabilities in achieving the highest level of independence and self-sufficiency possible in their lives. The I/DD Waiver Program provides services in natural settings, homes and communities where the member resides, works, and shops instead of ICF/MR facilities.
What is the best number to call to get started?
ID /DD Waiver (304) 356-4904
Aged & Disabled Waiver (304) 356-4913
TBI Waiver (304) 356-4913Is there a website?
http://dhhr.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx - Who Qualifies For Assistance?
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What is considered a developmental disability in West Virginia?
Per the I/DD Waiver Policy Manual, Developmental Disability is defined as follows:
Developmental Disability: persons with related conditions who have a severe, chronic disability that meets all of the following conditions:
-It is attributable to cerebral palsy or epilepsy; or any other condition, other than mental illness, found to be closely related to mental retardation because this condition results in impairment of general intellectual functioning or adaptive behavior similar to that of mentally retarded persons, and requires treatment or services similar to those required for these persons.
-It is manifested before the person reaches age 22;
-it is likely to continue indefinitely;
-it results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity:
(1) Self-care;
(2) Understanding and use of language,
(3) Learning;
(4) Mobility;
(5) Self-direction;
(6) Capacity for independent living. (Refer to Code of Federal Regulations 42 CFR 435.1010).
Are there income limits to receive waiver services in West Virginia? Yes. Per the I/DD Waiver Policy Manual, The applicant must meet the following financial eligibility criteria:
Income:
The applicant’s monthly income may not exceed 300% of the current maximum monthly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment for a single individual. Applicants who are found to be financial eligible will receive a letter (ESNL-A) from DHHR. The maximum monthly SSI payment may be found by contacting the local county DHHR office or local Social Security Administration office.
• Only the applicant’s personal income is considered for determination.
• The parent’s or spouse’s income is not considered for determining financial eligibility.
• An applicant does not have to be SSI eligible to become eligible for the I/DD Waiver Program.
Assets:
• An individual’s assets, excluding residence, furnishings and personal vehicle (owned and registered in member’s name) may not exceed $2,000.
• The parent’s assets are not considered for determining financial eligibility.How old do you have to be to start receiving services in West Virginia? The I/DD Waiver program has no age restrictions.
- Is There a Waiting List For Services?
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How long is the waiting list in West Virginia? The length of time a person is generally on the wait list for I/DD Waiver varies depending on slots that become available through attrition each year. Typically 125-175 slots can be awarded throughout each fiscal year. Persons with developmental disabilities have reported a wait of three or more years before receiving waiver services in West Virginia.
How many people are on the waiver waiting list in West Virginia? The current wait list encompasses about 850 people.
How many people are currently receiving waiver services in West Virginia? Currently, there are available slots for 4,534 persons on the I/DD Waiver program.
What assistance is available while you wait? Birth to Three Services may be available to children ages 0-3. If an eligible applicant already qualifies for Medicaid, state plan services can assist. Wait list grants are also available to assist with identified service needs. Available services within the grant are: Service Coordination, Therapeutic Consultant, Behavior Support Professional, Supported Employment, Facility-based Day Habilitation, Transportation, Environmental Accessibility Adaptations, and Respite Care.
Is there priority preference for people who are in crisis? No.
- What Services Are Offered & What Are The Service Limitations?
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What services does the Medicaid waiver program offer in West Virginia? The following services are available to all WV I/DD Waiver Program Members: Service Coordination, IPP Planning, Behavior Support Professional, Therapeutic Consultant, Skilled Nursing RN and LPN, Speech, Occupational and Physical Therapies, Dietary Therapy, Transportation Trips and Miles, Environmental Accessibiltiy Adaptations, Facility-based Day Habilitation, Person-Centered Supports, Supported Employment, Respite Care, Electronic Monitoring and Surveillance, Crisis Services. Participant-Directed Goods and Services are also available if the member chooses to self-direct his or her services.
Does West Virginia offer community group homes? Yes, program members can currently receive services through a community group home.
Does West Virginia offer supported living? Yes. Members can receive services in Individualized Support Settings where they rent/lease/own their own homes and can receive staff round-the-clock.
Are there still state owned institutions in West Virginia? There are no state institutions to seclude those with developmental disabilities.
- How Do You Select A Provider?
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Do waiver providers work for the state in West Virginia? No. The Bureau for Medical Services contracts all direct service provision to approved private companies, provider agencies. Staff are employees of the provider agencies. For those members that choose to self-direct services, the member is the employer of record.
About how many providers are there in the state of West Virginia? There are about 83 I/DD waiver providers in West Virginia.
Do you have a choice in providers? Yes, members are encouraged to select their own providers. In fact, they even have the option of selecting the Traditional Services and Personal Option Model, in which they will be the employer of record. They will be responsible for recruiting, hiring, training, and supervising your Person-Centered Support and Respite staff. Each year, during the functional assessment, members will be offered choice of:
1) Institutional versus Community-based Supports,
2) Choice of Service Delivery Model,
3) Choice of provider(s). - How Do You Become A Provider?
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I/DD Waiver providers go through an abbreviated Certificate of Need process called Summary Review. To learn more about becoming a waiver provider, call (304) 356-4904.
- Additional Information
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Per the Waiver Policy Manual, individuals who apply for the program must be residents of WV. If a WV resident is in out-of-state placement and wishes to apply for the WV I/DD Waiver program, an I/DD-01 application should be submitted by the individual or his/her legal representative to APS Healthcare. APS will verify the member’s residency status. If an applicant is determined to be a non-resident of WV, he/she (or his/her legal representative if applicable) will be contacted by APS Healthcare and advised that the applicant cannot be considered until residency is established.