Thank you very much for this opportunity to provide comments on the proposed changes.  Our comments are as follows:

Combining the annual service limits for AT and EHBS into one shared annual limit of $10K.

We support and appreciate combining the annual service limits for Assistive Tech and EHBS.  This will give individuals who only need Assistive Tech, or EHBS, more funds to utilize.  The products that are typically needed through these services can be very expensive and many times $5k isn't enough to cover the cost for a solution.  That said and in addition, we recommend the $5K cap for each service to increase at the very least by the rate of inflation since the cap was created.  We also recommend the revision of regulations requiring the use of approved contractors perform work (in some cases we have found no approved contractors exist, and that the cheapest (i.e., lowest quality) materials be used.

Expanding the period of time people offered a Waiver slot to delay enrollment for up to 1 year.  

We support the extension to 1 year and recommend Virginia target funding toward provider development/expansion of the individualized and more integrated, person-centered supports individuals on the priority 1 waitlist (as well as many receiving supports in group settings) prefer.

Disregard SSDI benefits above the max SSI benefit limit for purposes of pre-eligibility treatment of income.

We support this amendment.  Medicaid Waiver LTSS are a crucial lifeline for these individuals and this amendment will remove one more barrier to individuals to access this lifeline.