We respectfully request the 10% Medicaid increase FMAP for HCBS Medicaid Agency Directed Personal Care Providers as this program is not adequately funded to care for the Commonwealth's most vulnerable populations.  Agency Directed Personal Care Providers have already incurred the increased costs associated with COVID-19 and the loss of revenue due to COVID-19 and have been impacted by the minimum wage increase that took effect May 1st.  Agency Directed Providers are facing an additionally unfunded minimum wage increase on January 1, 2022, which will further jeopardize their ability to continue to operate and provide these crucial personal care services to the citizens of the Commonwealth.  These Agency Directed Personal Care services offer tremendous costs savings to the Commonwealth over the same recipients receiving care in nursing homes. 

In order to continue to provide this invaluable care to the Commonwealth's most vulnerable populations we recommend Virginia State policy makers:

1. Pursue a strategy that will make minimum reimbursement for Personal Care Providers allowing them to hire and train staff to meet crucial needs in local communities.
2. The rate increases should be retroactive to April 1, 2021.
3. The directed payments provision of 42 C.F.R.438.6 (c) should be involved to ensure increased funds are indeed distributed to Managed Care and passed along to Personal Care Providers.

Sincerely,

Dana Howell, HR/PR Specialist

AmeriCare Plus In-Home Personal Care Agency