Hello,

I am a resident of Chesterfield County, Virginia, and the Power of Attorney and paid attendant for my sister, who receives services through the CCC Plus Waiver.

I am deeply concerned about the proposed transition from independent Services Facilitators to Support Brokers and what this change could mean for vulnerable individuals and their families.

My concerns come from firsthand experience. My sister has significant cognitive, visual, and medical challenges and requires extensive assistance and supervision throughout the day. Despite an initial recommendation of 25 personal-care hours per week, only 15 hours were approved. I have filed an appeal.

Additionally, I have had to remove my sister from two separate assisted-living facilities due to inadequate care. Since then, I have made repeated attempts to secure respite care for her, but I have been unable to locate a provider capable of meeting her needs.

This raises a serious question: What good are Medicaid-covered services if families cannot actually access them?

I urge DMAS to ensure that any changes to the consumer-directed care system preserve independent oversight, strengthen accountability, and provide families with meaningful assistance when services are denied or unavailable.

Please consider the experiences of families like mine before implementing changes that could further complicate access to essential care.

Our elderly and disabled residents deserve safe, appropriate care, and family caregivers deserve a system that supports rather than overwhelms them.

Respectfully,

Donna L. Werge
Chesterfield County, Virginia