Technology Assisted (Tech) Waiver – Virginia

Overview of Tech Waiver

The Technology Assisted Waiver began in 1988. This waiver is a program designed to allow eligible recipients to be cared for in the community rather than remain institutionalized. Eligible recipients are children under the age of 21, who have exhausted available third party benefits for private duty nursing and are dependent on a technology to substitute for a vital body function and adults, over age 21. All recipients must require substantial and ongoing skilled nursing services. While assistance with the cost of room and board is not available through Medicaid waivers, waivers provide supports that help individuals to live as independently as possible in the community.

Available services include:

• Environmental Modifications
• Personal Emergency Response System (PERS)
• Transition Services
• Personal care (Adults Only)
• Private duty nursing
• Respite care
• Environmental Modifications
• Assistive Technology

Individuals receiving Tech Waiver services have their care coordinated by a DMAS staff. Individuals receiving waiver services also receive other services offered through Medicaid. Examples include medications (for those individuals not covered by Medicare), physician visits, acute care hospitalizations, and certain therapies.

Who qualifies for services?

• Individuals who require ongoing skilled nursing care.
• Individuals 21 and older who are dependent at least part of each day on a mechanical ventilator or meet complex tracheotomy criteria.
• Individuals under the age of 21 who meet certain criteria based on various methods of respiratory or nutritional support.
• Individuals who meet Medicaid eligibility criteria as determined by the local department of social services. Parents’ income and resources are not considered by DSS when making a financial eligibility determination for a child under the age of 18 who is enrolling in the Tech Waiver.
• Tech Waiver services may be limited or denied for those individuals who are able to receive services through a third-party payment source.

Who can help initiate services?

The pre-admission screening teams are required to complete screenings for both children and adults who are accessing services through the Technology Assisted Waiver. For community based individuals, the screening team consists of the local department of health and the local department of social services. For hospital based individuals, the discharge planning staff may complete the screening process.

There is no cost to be screened to determine eligibility for the waiver. There may be a patient pay for services based on the individual’s earned and unearned income. The local department of social services eligibility worker will determine if an individual has a patient pay.