Thank you for seeking and taking into account our comments. 

Amivie is a HCBS provider serving persons with I/DD out of several site locations. The people we support are very diverse in their needs, in their strengths and preferences, and in their goals. One commonality, however, is their desire to live in the community of their choice among the people they care about. This desire, reaffirmed as a civil right for all Americans, should be expected by all persons and reinforced in our policy. 

Understanding the pressures to address rising healthcare costs, the soft caps on personal assistance services run the risk of forcing persons who are living successfully in their own homes into other settings, potentially separating them from family, friends, work, established healthcare providers, and existing social capital. 

Ultimately, this reduction borrows money from the future -- the money we would save by supporting people to live in the community -- to provide temporary budget relief in the present moment. If we can avoid the temptation to do something short-sighted, we and the people HCBS programs are here to support, will be better off. 

Please reconsider the soft caps on personal assistance for persons served through the HCBS waivers, and  thank you for all you do for Virginia and for people with disabilities across the Commonwealth. 

Sincerely, 

Richard Edwards