RD360 - Biennial Report of the Board of Medical Assistance Services (2005-2006)


Executive Summary:
The Board of Medical Assistance Services is established in Section 32.1-324 of the Code of Virginia to oversee the Medicaid program. The duties assigned to the Board include the development of the State Plan and promulgating rules and regulations for the administration of the Medicaid program.

Appointed by the Governor, the 11 Board members must include five health care providers and six individuals that are not health care providers; the members elect the Board’s chairman. The terms are staggered and members may not serve more than two consecutive terms. The Board meets quarterly with a biennial retreat. The current members and past meeting dates are listed in Table 1.

During the Board meetings, DMAS staff has briefed the members on changes to the Medicaid/FAMIS program, new initiatives such as the Healthy Returns disease management program, legislative and budget developments, and DMAS administrative issues. Other speakers have included staff from the Office of the Attorney General and representatives from the Healthy Returns contractor. In addition, the Board provides for a public comment period at each meeting in order to hear from the general public regarding any Medicaid related issues. A full list of the agenda topics are in Appendix A.