This morning, the Senate Committee on Education and Health approved a bill that would add targeted case management services to the state Medicaid plan. Delegate Hope’s HB 680 has been approved by the full House of Delegates, unanimously, on February 8th and was read, for the first time, on the floor of the Senate the very next day. It now moves to the Senate Committee on Finance.
The key to the success of this legislative measure will be in the proposed budget for state fiscal years 2023 and 2024. There are proposed budget amendments in both the House and the Senate for Medicaid targeted case management services for individuals with severe brain injury (Item 304 #41h and 304 #56s) as well as expanded case management services under state general fund programs (item 330 #5h and 330 #5s).
The two money committees will announce their proposed budget amendments on Sunday, February 20, 2022. House Appropriations is scheduled to announce their proposals at 1:00, and you can watch the committee meeting where that happens by clicking here (to watch it “live,” go to “now playing” in the menu on the left).
Senate Finance will announce their proposed amendments later that afternoon. You can watch that committee meeting by clicking here.
There are other budget issues concerning brain injury services that we will be looking for on Sunday. Senator Hanger has proposed a budget amendment to create a workgroup to study the possibility of creating a brain injury waiver and neurobehavioral science unit. Budget item 308 #1s
Senator Ruff is proposing funding for 9 staff positions within the Department of Aging and Rehabilitative Services for brain injury “housing support coordinators” (Item 330 #4s). Delegate Maguire has a similar amendment in the House (330 #4h).
The disAbility Law Center of Virginia’s mission is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation. We are available to educate policy makers about the potential impact of legislative proposals and budgetary considerations. Please let us know of any legislative proposals or budget issues that you think we should be following. Contact us at info@dlcv.org or by calling 1-800-552-3962 or 804-225-2042.