Public Policy Platform &
Legislative Agenda

2009-2010 Public Policy Platform

vaACCSES supports:

Increased provider reimbursement rates to ensure adequate community capacity to serve people with disabilities.

Statewide access to quality employment, residential and other support services for people with disabilities.

Regulatory reform, administrative reform and enabling legislation to improve the efficiencies and coordinate the effective use of resources.

Equity in state agency allocation processes to support and adequately fund direct community-based services for people with disabilities.

Services that enable people with disabilities to live and work in their home communities and to exercise choice in their service delivery provisions.

2008-2009 Platform 

Legislative Agenda 2010
Do  No  Harm

PRESERVE the ability of the community-based system to meet the existing needs of all Virginians with disabilities.

1.   RESTORE job placement & employment support services for Virginians with disabilities (LTESS/EES).

• SECURE funding to restore cuts to approximately 1,240 Virginians with disabilities that lost their employment supports due to General Fund budget cuts (FY 08 & 09 budget).
• Jobs are a priority in Virginia.  Virginians with disabilities want the opportunity to work, to earn wages, to pay taxes, to purchase goods in their communities, and to become self-supporting. 

2.  MAINTAIN access to quality community-based services for Virginians with disabilities.

• RESTORE funding to eliminate the 5% proposed cut to waiver services.  Cuts will result in decreased provider capacity with limited access to services for families.
• RESTORE funding to eliminate the proposed freeze on enrollment for all waivers.  The freeze will result in unprecedented crisis and unwanted and expensive institutionalization.
• RESTORE funding for the 1,000 ID waiver slots and 134 DD waiver slots that were cut in the proposed budget.  Waiting lists exceed 5,900 individuals & families.  The proposed cut will erase years of efforts made to mitigate emergencies in the ID/DD service system.
• RESTORE funding to preserve critical case management and core services to Virginians with brain injury including veterans and wounded warriors. 
• RESTORE funding to eliminate the proposed change to eligibility for vulnerable individuals with disabilities.  The proposed change would eliminate 2,000 from access to long term care.  Many will end up in nursing homes & institutions at a higher cost.
• RESTORE funding to eliminate the reduction in respite hours and needed medical supplies and services for families.  Respite services are one of the most cost-effective services waiver families receive.
• PROMOTE the development of a cost-based rate methodology for Medicaid services to ensure the availability and choice of providers to meet the needs of Virginians with disabilities.

4. PROMOTE the expansion of choice by all Virginians with disabilities in the delivery of community-based services that ensure quality, cost effectiveness and choice in their service delivery options.

5. PROMOTE language or influence action to diminish over-regulation of community-based providers of services.

2009 Legislative Agenda - 2008 Legislative Agenda  - 2007 Legislative Agenda