Virginia Regulatory Town Hall View Comments

Department of Medical Assistance Services

Board of Medical Assistance Services

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3/30/23 9:02 pm

Commenter: Concerned Parent

Comments on proposed waiver changes

Dear Decision Makers,

I am writing to express my strong support for the continued ability of parents to serve as paid care attendants for their child with a waiver at the discretion of the child via the consumer-directed care model. This model has already been highly vetted and supervised by service facilitators who are themselves vetted and trained by the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS). I strongly believe that imposing restrictions on this model would be detrimental to the consumer's right to direct their own care and limit the quality of care that they receive.

Firstly, to require that parents can serve as caregivers only if there is no qualified paid caregiver outside of the family places unnecessary restrictions on the consumer’s right to direct their own care. Parents are often the best qualified caregivers for their children, as they have a deep understanding of their child's needs and are often willing to go above and beyond to provide the care that is needed.

Parents should be allowed to serve as caregivers regardless of whether another caregiver lives with the consumer or not. This is especially important for families who may have specific needs or preferences that can only be met by a family member. The consumer should have the right to choose who provides their care.

Secondly, placing limits on the number of hours a parent can serve also limits the consumer's right to direct their own care. If the consumer requires care in excess of 40 hours per week, then they should have the option of having their parent provide that care. This is particularly important for individuals with complex needs who require continuous care throughout the day.

Thirdly, forcing parents to undergo lengthy vetting, training, and supervision which is overseen by an agency is discriminatory. This is because there are many rural areas where agencies do not exist or the quality of the agencies is poor. Forcing families to use an agency that adds no value to the services already offered through the consumer-directed model is unfair and puts an unnecessary financial burden on the Commonwealth. Allowing parents to serve as caregivers ensures that the consumer receives quality care from someone they trust and reduces unnecessary costs associated with using an agency.

Governor Younkin published an Op Ed in the Washington Post titled "Glenn Youngkin: Virginia’s parents can decide what’s best for their children". Here's a few quotes of Gov Younkin from his article.

"On Day 1 of my administration, I signed an executive order that delivered on a promise I made to parents, empowering them to make decisions regarding their children."

"If November’s election made one thing clear, it’s that too many bureaucrats and politicians had stopped listening to parents. Those parents shared with me the concern that the cold halls of government are disconnected from the reality they face every day."

"To parents, I say: We respect you. And we will continue to work to empower you in the education and well-being of your children."

Allowing parents to serve as caregivers ensures that the consumer's needs are met by someone they trust and who has their best interests at heart. The consumer should have the right to choose who provides their care and how that care is provided.

In conclusion, I strongly urge you to support the continued ability of parents to serve as paid care attendants for their child with a waiver at the discretion of the child via the consumer-directed care model. This model has been highly vetted and supervised by DMAS, and placing restrictions on it would limit the consumer's right to direct their own care and reduce the quality of care that they receive. Thank you for considering my views on this important issue.

Sincerely,

CommentID: 215810