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Courtesy of Barbara Smith
Brothers Jeffrey, left, and Will Smith hold paintings of the
only two work trucks their late father, H.L. Smith, had in his long
career as a plumber in Franklin County. The green 1970 Chevrolet
truck was painted by Amanda Capelleri and the 1992 white Ford
Custom was painted by Debbie Combs. The barn quilt paintings are a
Christmas gift to the brothers, both of whom followed their father
into the plumbing trade, from their mother, Barbara Smith, in
memory of her husband and their dad.
Page A7
Courtesy of Barbara Smith
Brothers Jeffrey, left, and Will Smith hold paintings of the
only two work trucks their late father, H.L. Smith, had in his long
career as a plumber in Franklin County. The green 1970 Chevrolet
truck was painted by Amanda Capelleri and the 1992 white Ford
Custom was painted by Debbie Combs. The barn quilt paintings are a
Christmas gift to the brothers, both of whom followed their father
into the plumbing trade, from their mother, Barbara Smith, in
memory of her husband and their dad.
State-regional
Editor's Pick
Youngkin: We'll end a waiting list for help with developmental disabilities
DAVE RESS
Richmond Times-Dispatch
JP Rey is 11. He can stand and take a few steps, with someone to hold him. He needs help getting dressed and going to the bathroom. And for 10 years he’s been on a waiting list for Medicaidfunds that could pay for some of what he and his brother Louie, 8, need.
“We’re about to grow out of our double stroller,” the brothers’ mom, Catherine, said. “A direct care professional would help, for when we need two wheelchairs.”
The Chesterfield family would get a little closer to getting that help, with Gov. Glenn Youngkin‘s $300 million proposal to fund 3,440 more Medicaid waiver slots for Virginians with developmental disabilities in the next state budget.
That money, if approved by the General Assembly would clear a waiting list of some 3,440 people who Medicaid and the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services said need support services within the next year. It’s called the priority 1 list; there are thousands more on waiting lists for less urgent needs.
In this December 2023 photo, Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Conner
Cummings chat at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance
Services in Richmond. The governor announced his plan to clear a
waiting list for people with development disabilities to tap funds
for support services.
DAVE RESS, TIMES-DISPATCH
Currently, more than 17,500 Virginians receive supports through the waiver program, which pays for non-medical services that individuals with developmental disabilities need to live in the community, either on their own, with their families or in group settings.
JP and Louie are on the priority 2 waiting list, but Catherine Rey said she feels they’ve just got a lot closer to the assistance she and her husband need to help their sons live and flourish in their community.
Youngkin’s budget proposal will also include more than $2.3 million to fund a program so that waivers can provide a total of $10,000 to an eligible individual for assistive technology and electronic home-based support services.
It also increases rates paid the providers by 5%. Agencies supporting people on waivers have for years complained it is tough to hire and retain staff because Medicaid rates are so low.
The increases in the number of waivers and the provider rate increase would come on top of the $120 million for 500 additional waiver slots in the current budget.
Catherine Rey says her sons Louie, left, and JP, right, came a
big step closer to getting Medicaid waiver funds to pay for needed
supports after Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced an expansion of the
program Wednesday.
Dave Ress, Times-Dispatch
“What the priority 1 DD waiver does is provide a support system beyond just the age of 18. And that’s so important,” Youngkin said Wednesday at the Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services in Richmond, after announcing the increased funding. “And the concern of a parent who says: What’s going to happen to my child if something happens to me, is overwhelming.”
He added: “The opportunity for these extraordinary Virginians to have a chance to live independently, to have a job to really begin to fulfill the God-given opportunities that are placed on them is inspiring. And finally, the sense of relief for families is real.”
The Rey brothers, who have a rare genetic syndrome called Alpha thalassemia X-linked intellectual disability syndrome, do have some support with their special education program in school, and their mom says with the right therapy, she’s looking forward to seeing them take their first independent steps.
“As you’ve just seen from a number of families, first of all, their love is endless,” Youngkin said. “And in so many cases, their responsibilities are endless as well.”
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