VHCA Comments on DMAS Acute/LTC Integration Efforts

Earlier this year, Governor Timothy Kaine directed the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) to develop options for Medicaid reform in Virginia.  The key option the Department plans to pursue is the integration of acute care and long-term care services for Virginia’s seniors and persons with disabilities.

In his January 16, 2006 speech to the Joint Assembly, Governor Kaine directed “the Department of Medical Assistance Services to develop a plan which will serve as the blueprint for moving towards an integrated, acute and long-term care delivery system for elderly and disabled Medicaid recipients. This strategy offers the promise of controlling Medicaid expenditures without curbing access to the service needed by our elderly and disabled Virginians.”

DMAS has held three public meetings designed to assist them in meeting the Governor’s directive.  The Virginia Health Care Association recently responded to a request for public comments related to this acute and long term care integration initiative.  As you may be aware, earlier this year VHCA commissioned an independent study designed to objectively look at Virginia’s nursing home population and determine what portion of our existing residents might be candidates for care in home and community based settings.  VHCA’s comments were drawn largely from the results of the study and focus on the fact that while we support the development of home and community-based options, we caution policy makers that decisions to do so should be based on a desire to provide additional services and not as a cost-saving initiative. 

We believe that home and community-based services make sense for the very small percentage of existing nursing home residents who are characterized as low acuity, have a network of family or other informal care givers and who can provide for their own bed and board.  Go to VHCA's website  to view a copy of the VHCA comments provided to DMAS.  Go to DMAS' website to learn more about the DMAS integration of acute and long term care initiative.