I have been parent and guardian for my disabled son who has qualified for Medicaid for many years. As a Virginia licensed clinical psychologist and CSB provider, I am very familiar with the requirements and standards for service delivery required under his Medicaid waiver. I have coordinated his Medicaid renewal applications for many years without problem or interruption. However, this year has been a complete nightmare. Although we have maintained the same permanent address for the past 35 years, no Medicaid renewal application was received at this address, although I was advised that this was “impossible” because it was not returned to sender as undeliverable. Instead, I received notification that my son’s Medicaid would be terminated- with four days notice. I immediately attempted to contact his Case Worker with James City County who neglected to return my calls until she finally answered my call nearly a week later (contrary to her phonemail message, which stated she would return all calls “within one business day”). In the meantime, I completed a “Application for Reconsideration” by phone via Common Help. Since that time (July 26, 2026), I have heard nothing. This has caused chaos throughout my son’s provider system, affecting his group home residence, adult day support program and Social Security Disability payment. This is unacceptable and reflects very poorly on the Virginia State Medicaid program!

I have carefully reviewed the findings and responses provided by Vanguard Landing in the documents. I personally submitted a complaint regarding Vanguard Landing. 

I strongly recommend continued close scrutiny of this organization for an extended period of time.

I believe that in our family's instance and likely others described in the findings that the organization has provided contradictory information to families and individuals and has responded to the findings during the DMAS site visit in a lawyerly manner intended to defend their actions rather than seek to improve the support they claim to provide to individuals residing there.  In my opinion, the organization has prioritized the financial screening of potential residents far beyond their ability to provide the support and care which they are paid for and further lack the organizational experience to be effective in doing so.  The organization has demonstrated what I consider to be capricious and arbitrary responses to challenges in supporting an individual in their care.

Further in my opinion, the organization has provided responses to the site visit findings which are factually incorrect and pejorative based on my own personal experience.

I strongly recommend against this organization receiving any financial support from Medicaid or state funds.

This is an institution. No different than CVTC and I thought the DOJ said you can’t do that anymore!? Do not support.

There are numerous accommodation options available for our young people, but not for adults in the government or private sectors. 
For decades, many independent adult employees who have learning disabilities, sensory problems, physical issues, and/or are deaf or hard of hearing are refused reasonable accommodations. The individuals need support without lowering their expectations for themselves and their company. 

As parents of one of the first residents of Vanguard Landing (VGL) we are highly pleased with the quality and standards of this service provider. VGL itself is beautiful and well maintained and is physically located amid a vibrant community of single-family homes, modern shopping centers and restaurants. There is also access to gyms, parks, rec centers and libraries. Our resident's accommodations are excellent, and the VGL common areas are warm and inviting while offering many opportunities for activities and engagement such as art projects and puzzle building among others.  He has full choice in whether to participate or not. There have been numerous trips offered in the community to include shopping for personal items, cooking classes, park hikes, minor league baseball games, beach outings, visits to the local rec center and library, the Norfolk Zoo, and VA State Aquarium. His individual trips to a local gym have been supported with VGL transportation when necessary. We have found the support staff and leadership team to be professional, dedicated, and responsive. Our resident has an individual development plan that was created in full collaboration with VGL and through periodic reviews we can monitor progress against goals. We have observed meticulous data collection in support of learning objectives.  Most importantly, since our time with VGL we have witnessed significant personal growth in our resident. He has become more engaging in conversation, better able to follow multi-step instructions and has expanded his dietary choices. This is exactly what we had hoped for when choosing VGL. VGL is a sound addition to the VA State service provider network for this rapidly growing population.

We strongly support the application for use of the Medicaid Waver.

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. 

Greg and Sara Walters

We are writing in strong support of Vanguard Landing’s application for use of the Medicaid Waiver. Our adult daughter has been fortunate to move into one of the first licensed cottages at VGL.  She chose VGL because of its unique blend of choice and opportunities. VGL provides numerous opportunities to engage in social/group activities that promote connection with VGL and the broader VA Beach community. She can choose which activities and community outings that she enjoys and stay in her Cottage with DSP support when she prefers some quiet time. She has the opportunity to meet others and is taking steps to build what she hopes is a lifelong community. We have already seen her grow and raise the level of her independence and connection.  The DSPs and staff are caring and well trained to understand her needs.  She feels safe and well cared for. Based on her needs and choices, clear goals for independence and growth have been defined and begun to be achieved.  

Overall, our daughters experience at VGL has been very positive.  We are thrilled that she has grown in independence and connection.  We strongly support VGL’s  application for the use of Medicaid Waiver. We believe that VGL will help meet the great need for intentional, safe and inclusive communities for disabled individuals.

Thank you,

Ben and Ann Wolf

I am a parent of an adult with ID.  I want my child included in the world.  This seems like a neighborhood operating with the opposite of inclusion…and that seems to be a step backwards.  

If families want to private pay for their family member to live in essentially a gated community, then that is certainly their right. However, if Medicaid Waiver Funds are to be considered, then all regulations, rules, best practices etc. should also apply.  If they do not have to abide by the same rules, this looks like preferential treatment based on who you know. There have been programs who have had to drastically change or modify their locations and way of doing business to meet these standards.  My question remains, don't the Medicaid Waiver Regulations including HCBS, apply to all?

I am currently living in a group home using my Medicaid waiver. I like my group home, but I do not like that I cannot go out for a walk or do things in my neighborhood and be friends with the other people who live near my group home.  That is why I want to go to Vanguard Landing. I love that Vanguard Landing is a community of people who have experiences and challenges like mine. I am going to be in one of the townhouses and I am really excited to have my own apartment in a community where I can have friends all around me. Vanguard Landing truly is a community where people who have faced similar challenges can support each other as we live, work, and play. And that is exactly why I want to be there. 

I have worked for the last several years and saved as much money as I could into my Able account.  I used my own money to buy furniture and decorations that I really love for my new home at Vanguard Landing.  I asked for things for my townhome for my birthday and Christmas.  I am proud that I was able to do this for myself.  When I thought I was going to get to move into my new place I got a job near Vanguard Landing.  Because I could not use my waiver, I was not able to move.  Now I have to travel over 45 minutes each way to get to my new job.  I cannot afford to make my dream of life at Vanguard Landing a reality without the use of my Medicaid waiver.  Please allow me and others to make this choice for ourselves by allowing Vanguard Landing to accept Medicaid waivers.

Is this political in nature? Why is the only Heightened Scrutiny on your page the Vanguard Landing?

DMAS. Seriously. Please. There are HCBS Settings violations GALORE across this commonwealth of ours. I've had experiences with 3 Tidewater group homes & 1 sponsored residence & 1 "community integration" program.

The violations are in plain sight. Not hidden. And not dumb (like the rule about no company shirts you cite - that is just overreach, anti-team building, anti-personal choice, unless it is just a ban on uniforms - no one is out there not realizing someone has a disability because staff isn't in a company t shirt!!).

Forget your 'power & control" system-based standards. Look at the ones on choice & independence. They are ROUTINELY violated all over. I have reported directly to your very WEAK human rights division at least 3x on HCBS settings violations & behavior management violations. Crickets. Literally nothing is done.

Across Virginia we have for profit orgs, staffed by close relatives of each other (translation: with HUGE conflicts of interest!!!), running homes & programs. Setting bedtimes. Denying kitchen access. Making up their own rules. Providing pretend choices, not real ones. Using people's belongings to control their behavior.

Heightened Scrutiny? Just go ask these folks. Ask them what happens "if they be good". Ask them what happens "if they be bad".

You do nothing about it. You just create more complicated bureaucratic paperwork to perpetuate your own system, addressing paper violations while real ones are commonplace. So, yeah, heightened scrutiny isn't for one big org that gets your goat. It is for all the providers you are letting get away with routine violation of human & civil rights.