State law requires that all nursing facilities obtain a license to operate in Virginia. There are more than 265 nursing facilities containing 33,965 beds located throughout Virginia. All but fifteen nursing facilities are certified for federal reimbursement under Medicare and Medicaid.
Nursing facilities are inspected every 2 years under state licensure and on an average of every 12 months under Medicare/Medicaid certification.
In addition to nursing facilities, The Office of Licensure and Certification also surveys Intermediate Care Facilities for the Mentally Retarded (ICF/MRs) for Medicaid. The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services ensures compliance with state licensure standards for these facilities.
Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded
"The new culture of aging involves a transformation based on person-directed values and person-directed practices, where the voices of elders and those working closest with them are honored and respected…an inclusive grassroots movement where new ways of de-institutionalizing services and individualizing care are shared freely." Pioneer Network
Pioneer Network
Virginia Culture Change
Advancing Excellence
CMS Culture Change FAQ
Institute for Caregiver Education
National Commission for Quality Long-term Care
To assure that nursing facility residents reside in the least restrictive environment, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) has developed the ‘Return to Community Referral’ evaluation as part of the resident assessment process. The goal of the assessment is to assist nursing facility residents interested in transitioning back to their communities.
As part of the requirements for implementing the evaluation, the Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) have been designated as the Local Contact Agencies (LCAs) and will serve as the initial point of contact providing introductory community resource information.
Local Contact Agency Staff Information spreadsheet