On behalf of Blue Ridge Residential Services, a provider of group residential, sponsored residential and day support services for Virginians with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD), I ask that you utilize the enhanced 10% HCBS FMAP offered under the American Rescue Plan Act to help stabilize and rebuild our workforce of Direct Support Professionals.  

Specifically, I support the Virginia Network of Private Providers recommendations to:

• Pay providers an increased “rate” quarterly beginning on August 1st based on claims billed and paid for any of the eligible services for the period of April 1 through June 30.  Repeat that process for subsequent quarters of July 1 – September 30, October 1 – December 31and January 1 (2022) – March 31.
• Require documentation of the appropriate use of the funds to be confirmed in a subsequent QMR review; utilize the guidance to be provided by CMS as the options for appropriate use.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented instability in our direct care workforce beyond the pre-pandemic workforce crisis we were already facing.  Utilization of these funds could have a significant impact on provider workforce recruitment and retention initiatives. 

Thank you for your consideration.

Mark Landis