Who this applies to
Anyone considering Eden personal care, respite, companion, adult day, or transportation support in Virginia.
What is not automatically guaranteed
Submitting a form does not start services and does not approve hours.
- 1
Contact / Start Care
A family, member, or referral partner contacts Eden or submits Start Care / Get Care.
- 2
Intake
A coordinator gathers client, contact, location, care-need, and coverage information.
- 3
Coverage review
Eden determines which program or payer appears applicable. This is not a coverage guarantee.
- 4
Assessment if required
If the program requires screening, nursing assessment, waiver determination, or another evaluation, Eden coordinates that step. A nurse does not automatically evaluate every request.
- 5
Care-plan documentation
Needs are documented for the service type being requested.
- 6
Authorization if required
Documentation is submitted through the payer, MCO, or authorization process that applies to that program — not a single universal “nurse sends to insurance” rule.
- 7
Payer decision
Possible outcomes: approved, partially approved, more information requested, or denied.
- 8
Operational next steps
Eden explains what the decision means for scheduling and staffing.
- 9
Approved services and hours
Only authorized service types and units can be scheduled.
- 10
Caregiver matching
Matching depends on skills, availability, location, and authorized services.
- 11
Schedule setup
Visits are scheduled within authorized hours and caregiver availability.
- 12
Services begin
Care starts only after required documents, authorization, and staffing are in place.
- 13
EVV / attendance
Where required, visits are verified electronically.
- 14
Supervision and reassessment
Supervision, EVV review, and authorization tracking continue for the authorization period.
Limitations
Submitting a form does not start services and does not approve hours. Eden educational resources are not a substitute for official Medicaid, waiver, or health-plan determinations. Rules vary by program, assessment, authorization, and plan. Confirm current details with DMAS, your MCO, and Eden intake.
Important definitions
Short definitions used on this page. Program manuals may phrase lists slightly differently.
- Service authorization / prior authorization: The payer's approval of a specific service, amount, and period. Authorization is not the same as Medicaid eligibility or waiver enrollment.
- Reassessment: A later review of needs that can change authorized services or hours. Frequency depends on the program and payer.
Plain-English summary
Eden's public care journey: contact, intake, coverage review, assessment if required, authorization if required, decision, matching, scheduling, EVV, and ongoing review.
Plain-English overview
There is no single payer workflow. Medicaid waiver personal care, Medicare skilled home health, commercial insurance, and private pay follow different rules.
Does a nurse always come first?
No. Depending on the program and service, an assessment by a nurse or other qualified professional may be required.
Conditional, not universal
Only say a nurse submits to insurance when that is true for the specific program.
Requested vs authorized vs worked hours
Separate requested hours, assessed need, authorized hours, scheduled hours, and EVV-verified hours. They are often different numbers.
Eligibility and applicability
Program rules, assessments, and payer authorization decide what can start. Medicaid enrollment, waiver enrollment, service eligibility, service authorization, and authorized hours are not the same status.
Assessment and documentation
Depending on the program and service, an assessment and supporting documentation may be required. A nurse does not automatically visit first for every request.
Authorization and approval
When authorization is required, the payer or MCO reviews the requested service and hours. Outcomes can include approval, partial approval, a request for more information, or denial. Eden does not approve the benefit.
Hours and limits
Requested, assessed, authorized, scheduled, and EVV-verified hours can all differ. This site does not invent a universal hour number.
How services can interact
Personal care, respite, companion, adult day, and transportation follow separate rules. A plan may authorize one, more than one, or none.
Family caregiver implications
A parent or spouse is not automatically a paid caregiver. Virginia LRI rules apply only in defined relationships and only when the current official policy and authorization allow it.
Agency-directed vs consumer-directed
Agency-directed: a licensed agency is the employer. Consumer-directed: the member or representative is the employer of record, with services-facilitator support where the waiver allows. Eden's typical public role is agency-directed care.
Insurance and MCO implications
Managed-care members usually follow their plan's authorization and appeal process. Fee-for-service members follow DMAS processes. A plan existing on the official roster does not mean Eden is in-network.
What Eden can help with
Collect intake facts, review which payer or program appears applicable, coordinate required assessments, submit requested documentation, and schedule after a payer decision.
What Eden cannot decide
Eden cannot approve Medicaid eligibility, waiver enrollment, MCO enrollment, service authorization, or a specific number of hours. Those decisions belong to DMAS, the health plan, or another payer.
What happens after I apply with Eden?
Intake reviews your information and coverage. If your program requires an assessment or authorization, Eden coordinates those steps. After the payer decides, we explain approved services or next options.
How will I know if it was approved?
The payer or plan issues the determination. Eden communicates operational next steps when we have the decision.
Eden educational resources are not a substitute for official Medicaid, waiver, or health-plan determinations. Rules vary by program, assessment, authorization, and plan. Confirm current details with DMAS, your MCO, and Eden intake.
Last reviewed August 23, 2026.
Want help?
Start Care or contact Eden. Submitting a request does not approve services or hours.