A Medicaid program in Virginia that allows people with disabilities to work without losing their benefits will now be able to help its clients with needs like transportation, eating and bathing, Gov. Tim Kaine announced Friday.
The federal government has approved an expansion to the state’s Medicaid Works program that will allow it to aid more profoundly disabled people in finding and keeping employment. The year-old initiative can now offer “personal assistance services” along with the standard health coverage offered by Medicaid, the governor announced, giving its beneficiaries the help of attendants throughout the day.
Officials said the expansion would not only give more work options to disabled people, but would prevent them from entering nursing homes or other institutions.
With the expansion’s approval from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Kaine said the state “can further extend opportunities for Virginians with disabilities to work and achieve greater self-reliance.”
“As we continue efforts in workforce development for the Commonwealth, it is important to include this often untapped pool of potential workers so that they, too, have access to meaningful career opportunities,” he said in a statement.
But the Medicaid Works program has been plagued by low enrollment since its inception. It now serves only 16 people throughout the commonwealth, according to the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services.
The program, referred to as a Medicaid “buy-in,” was put in place to allow employees or potential employees with a disability to make a higher income than normally allowed under Medicaid, and keep more of their savings, without canceling their coverage.
In Virginia, the state and federal government bear the cost of Medicaid equally.
