On June 7, 2018, Governor Northam signed the 2018 Virginia Acts of Assembly Chapter 2 (2018 Appropriations Act) directing the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to submit a Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver seeking federal approval for new Medicaid program features “designed to empower individuals to improve their health and well-being and gain employer sponsored coverage or other commercial health insurance coverage, while simultaneously ensuring the program's long-term fiscal sustainability.”
Pursuant to 42 CFR § 431.408, the DMAS is providing notice of intent to submit to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) a request to extend for five years its Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver, “The Virginia Governor’s Access Plan (GAP) and Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) Delivery System Transformation.”
Virginia’s current Demonstration, which expires on December 31, 2019, includes the Governor’s Access Plan (GAP) program; the Addiction and Recovery Treatment Services (ARTS) demonstration; and Medicaid coverage authority to former foster care youth who have aged out of foster care in another state but now reside in Virginia. Because the Commonwealth is in the process of expanding Medicaid on January 1, 2019 to non-disabled, non-pregnant adults ages 19 to 64 with income up to 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), the GAP program is being phased out, and GAP enrollees will be transitioned to the new adult Medicaid eligibility group.
Through the five-year extension, which will be called the Virginia “Creating Opportunities for Medicaid Participants to Achieve Self Sufficiency” (COMPASS) Waiver, the Commonwealth will continue to provide essential substance use disorder services to all Medicaid enrollees through ARTS and maintain authority for Medicaid coverage for former foster care youth. In addition, as directed by State legislation, the Commonwealth will: (a) implement a work and community engagement program in which participation is a condition of Medicaid eligibility for certain adults with income up to 138 percent of the FPL;
(b) implement premiums and co-payments for non-emergency use of the emergency department and incentivize healthy behaviors through health and wellness accounts for certain adults with income between 100 and 138 percent of the FPL; and (c) create a new housing and employment supports benefit for high-need populations.
The DMAS website includes a detailed public notice with more information about the extension request as well as the draft waiver application. See: www.dmas.virginia.gov/#/1115waiver. Public comments may be submitted until midnight (Eastern Time) on Saturday, October 20, 2018 by email, to 1115Implementation@dmas.virginia.gov; by regular mail to Virginia DMAS, Attn: Virginia COMPASS, 600 E Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219; or in person at the public hearings listed below and at Virginia DMAS, 600 E Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219.
DMAS will host five public hearings during the public notice and comment period at the times and locations below.
Tuesday, September 25, 2018, 10:00 AM-12:00 PM
Medical Assistance Services Board (DMAS Board) Meeting, 600 E. Broad Street, Richmond, VA 23219; If unable to attend in-person, you may:
Wednesday, October 3, 2018, 3:30-5:00 PM
Roanoke Elks Lodge No. 197
1147 Persinger Rd SW
Roanoke, VA 24015
Tuesday, October 9th, 2018, 3:30 -5:00 PM
Great Falls Library
9830 Georgetown Pike
Great Falls VA 22066
Thursday, October 11th, 1:30-3:00 PM
MEO Central Library
4100 Virginia Beach Blvd
Virginia Beach, VA 23452
Monday, October 15th, 3:30-5:00 PM
Arlington Central Library
1015 N. Quincy St
Arlington, VA 22201
| Name / Title: | Susan Puglisi / Senior Advisor |
| Address: |
600 East Broad Street Richmond, 23219 |
| Email Address: | susie.puglisi@dmas.virginia.gov |
| Telephone: | (804)225-2726 FAX: ()- TDD: ()- |