Mountain State Times

Gov. Jim Justice and the West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS) announced today that providers have been notified of an impending 15% increase in provider waiver rates, effective October 1, 2024. This adjustment follows recommendations from a service cost and rate review conducted by Myers and Stauffer LC, released on December 8, 2023. The Governor discussed the expansion during his weekly administration briefing.

In addition to the waiver rate increase, family support and personal care rates will also see an increment starting October 1. Moreover, the Bureau for Medical Services (BMS) will remove an additional 50 Intellectual/Developmental Disability (IDD) members from the waitlist, supplementing the 99 members who were removed on July 1, 2024. The total cost to remove these additional members is projected at $3.9 million per year.

"Ensuring that our providers are compensated fairly and that more West Virginians can access the services they need is a top priority," said Cindy Beane, DoHS Bureau for Medical Services Commissioner. "An October 1 start date will allow the Bureau for Medical Services to notify federal partners and make adjustments needed in our technology systems to ensure a smooth implementation of these important changes."

In 2023, BMS engaged Myers and Stauffer LC to review service rates following directives outlined in West Virginia Senate Bill (WV SB) 617. This review included not only the IDD Waiver but also expanded to cover the Aged and Disabled (AD) Waiver, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver, and personal care state plan service. The project aims to determine recommended reimbursement levels for home and community-based services providers serving individuals with IDD.

The rate review process incorporated a provider cost survey, stakeholder engagement, geographic analysis, and peer state research. Issues identified by waiver and state plan service providers include workforce pressures, staffing shortages, turnover rates, and reimbursement levels.

By extending this rate rebase initiative to include AD and TBI waivers along with personal care services, BMS reviewed rates for a broader population of service recipients. This comprehensive approach aims to align rates across similar services without creating imbalances that might lead workers to favor employment in one type of service over another due to differential wage funding capabilities.

BMS plans to monitor the impact of increased rates on member access to services as well as worker pay and turnover rates to evaluate whether these changes improve workforce availability and tenure.

To view or apply for career opportunities supporting West Virginia families, visit dhhr.wv.gov/Pages/Career-Opportunities.aspx.