We are urging DMAS to reject the proposed “support broker” model and preserve our right to choose our own service facilitator. We are the primary caregivers for our 40-year-old son, who is severely disabled and unable to care for or advocate for himself.

To navigate the increasingly confusing bureaucracy of the Medicaid system, we rely heavily on our service facilitator for advice and guidance. He personally knows us, our son, and our situation, and we fully trust his judgment and recommendations. We truly believe he has our best interests in mind and works diligently to ensure our needs are met within the limitations of the system.

In our many years of caring for Nicholas, we have seen several changes to the care system. Some have been beneficial, but many have only created confusion, gaps in service, and an overall deterioration of the system. We believe this proposed change will harm a process that is currently working. The idea that a government department or, worse yet, an insurance company knows better whom to choose to provide the support we need and rely on to effectively care for disabled individuals is simply wrong.

Disabled Virginians cannot be treated as a single group. Each is an individual with unique needs that can only be adequately evaluated and addressed by someone with a personal relationship with that person.

We urge you to reject this proposed change and request that the current system, which allows families to choose the provider who best fits their individual situation, remain in place. The right to choose a service facilitator is far superior to an arbitrarily assigned broker model.