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Two bills addressing gaps in healthcare services for people and families with disabilities moved forward Thursday during a subcommittee of the Committee of Health and Human Services meeting. 

The bills, HB1762 introduced by Del. Will Morefield, R-Tazewell, and HB2344, introduced by Del Chris Obenshain, R-Montgomery, aim to improve access to critical services for people with disabilities and young children with developmental delays.

Morefield’s HB1762 directs the Department of Medical Assistance Services to seek federal authorization to provide Medicaid coverage to citizens receiving Social Security Disability Insurance, regardless of their income or assets. Currently, SSDI recipients must wait 24 months before becoming eligible for Medicare, creating a coverage gap.

Morefield emphasized the bill’s benefits, including improved healthcare access through Medicaid expansion, which would help keep rural hospitals open and give financial relief for families struggling to cover medical costs. 

Teresa Champion from the Virginia Autism Project noted the bill’s importance for families on the Medicaid waiver waitlist. 

“These individuals who have SSDI will be receiving Medicare and they will be eligible for Medicaid,” Champion said. “So we need to fill this gap.”

However, concerns arose regarding fiscal implications. 

Del. Irene Shin, D-Herndon, questioned the DMAS estimate of 12,000 potential beneficiaries, assuming that 95% will use the assisted services. Will Frank from DMAS sa he could not provide a definitive answer to these concerns. The Department of Planning and Budget will issue a fiscal impact statement to clarify costs.

Ultimately, the bill passed with unanimous support and was referred to the appropriations committee for further review.

Obenshain’s HB2344 proposes extending early intervention services for children with disabilities from the current cutoff at three years old to five. These services, provided under the Infant & Toddler Connection of Virginia, address developmental delays and disabilities, offering support in areas such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and adaptive development.

He said the extension would prevent gaps in services for children moving to school-based support and improve development, helping them be more prepared for school. 

Obenshain added that it would reduce long-term costs by investing in early intervention, which could decrease the financial burden on the Commonwealth by reducing the need for intensive services later on in the children's lives.

Dodie Woodard, a speech language pathologist, highlighted the need for expanded services, especially in Southwest Virginia. 

“The coaching model for early intervention empowers parents to be a therapist every day, and when they age out at the age of three and they move on to outpatient or school services, a lot of times, those services aren’t available in our regions,” Woodard said.

Del. Mark D. Sickles, D-Fairfax, acknowledged the long-standing success of Virginia’s Part C program and expressed hope that this year’s appropriations process might finally support the proposed expansion.

The bill advanced to the Appropriations Committee with a 6-1 vote. Del. Rozia A. Henson Jr., D-Prince William, was the sole dissenting vote.