Welcome to this month’s edition of our newsletter. We’re glad you’re here! Each month, we’ll share important updates on benefits, policies, and case management resources designed to support those we serve. Each month, meet members of our team through employee spotlights and stay connected to the people, programs, and updates that help shape and support our community.
Executive Leadership Update
September Bridge Call Recap
Thank you to everyone who joined our September Bridge Call. We discussed the Family Listening Tour, several underutilized benefits that families may find helpful, insurance payments, and our work on caregiver rates, which are also highlighted throughout this newsletter. We also heard questions and suggestions that will help guide our next steps. Unfortunately, we were not able to record the call as planned, but we will ensure recordings are available for future meetings.
Listening Tour Update
The Family Listening Tour begins in October. We're launching with a flexible, ongoing format designed to give families opportunities to connect in ways and at times that work best for them.
Initially, visits will take place once a month in different areas of Virginia, based on family interest and availability. The first visits are scheduled for:
- October 15
- November 12
- December 10
Families may request an individual visit, and group conversations may be offered where there is sufficient interest in a region. These early visits will help us learn what formats, locations, and timing are most helpful, and will guide planning for additional dates in 2027.
More information about how to request a visit will be shared directly with families.
Benefit Basics
Sentara Premium Payment Update
Since identifying an issue with certain Sentara Health Plan premium payments in August, we have continued working directly with Sentara and providing updates to impacted families. We're pleased to share that the issue has been resolved.
Sentara has confirmed that the Program is recognized as a qualified third-party payer, and impacted participant accounts have been updated. The Program will continue paying premiums directly to Sentara on behalf of participants.
If you paid your premium directly during this period, you may submit a reimbursement request through the Vision portal with proof of payment. Please share any remaining account concerns or notices from Sentara with your Case Specialist.
Open Enrollment Reminder
As Open Enrollment approaches, please provide your Case Specialist with any health insurance changes for 2027, along with current documentation showing your monthly premium and any past-due balance.
While the Program pays eligible premiums on your behalf, we do not receive notices from insurance carriers about rate increases, policy changes, or past-due amounts. Staying in contact with your insurance carrier and the Program can help prevent payment issues, lapses in coverage, or cancellation.
Case Management Corner
New Annual Participant Update Coming in December
Beginning in November, our Case Management Team will introduce a new Annual Participant Update for all participants and families.
Once a year, your Case Specialist will connect with you to comprehensively review and update important information about the participant's needs and circumstances. This will help us keep our records current and accurate and identify Program benefits or resources the participant may be eligible for.
Your Case Specialist will contact you when it's time for your annual update. We look forward to another opportunity to stay connected, learn about changing needs, and make sure families are aware of the support available through the Program.
Patient and Caregiver Nursing Form Reminder
If you currently have a previous nursing order form on file, a new Patient and Caregiver Nursing Form must be completed when your current order reaches its expiration date.
Once the new Patient and Caregiver Nursing Form has been submitted, it only needs to be resubmitted if there are changes to the participant's care needs, nursing services, or caregiver information.
The current Patient and Caregiver Nursing Form is available on the Virginia Birth Injury Fund website.
Policy Pulse
Caregiving Policy Development Update
Work on our caregiving policy proposal continues and remains a top priority, but finalizing the proposal is taking longer than we originally anticipated. We are seeking legal guidance on several complex questions to ensure the proposed changes align with the Program's governing statute, including recent legislative changes.
We know how important these changes are to families and understand the desire to see them move forward. While we do not yet have a firm timeline, our commitment to applying approved caregiver rate increases retroactively to July 1, 2026, has not changed.
Once we receive the necessary guidance and finalize the proposal, we will pick up where we paused in the process, including soliciting family input, review and approval, and implementation. We will continue to keep families informed as this work progresses and appreciate your patience as we work through these important questions carefully.
New Program Capabilities
Established in early 2026, our new Policy & Quality team brings together three important functions – policy, data, and quality – to help strengthen how the Program serves families. At the heart of all this work is one of our core values: Trustworthiness. We are building trust by operating with integrity, transparency, and accountability, developing clear policies in alignment with the law, ensuring data is accurate, consistent and useable, and ongoing evaluation to make thoughtful decisions and continually strengthen how we serve families.
This month, we're highlighting our growing Quality function and how it supports more consistent, effective, and continuously improving Program operations. Our growing Quality function is helping the Program strengthen not only compliance, but also how we design, evaluate, and continuously improve our work. To start, the Program's Quality function focuses on three key areas: process design and improvement, policy and regulatory compliance, and performance and continuous improvement.
That work is already underway. We've piloted several internal audits to identify opportunities for improvement and have taken a close look at key processes as we prepare for CARES. This includes finding ways to simplify processes, reduce unnecessary manual steps, build important requirements into the new system from the start, and help requests move more smoothly.
As our Quality program continues to grow, it will give us better ways to understand what's working, identify where we can improve, and make the experience of working with the Program simpler, more consistent, and more seamless for families.
Systems Spotlight
CARES System Update
Development of our new CARES system continues to move forward. Phase 1 will launch in October, beginning with the module that supports the provider assessment process, or, in other words, how the Fund is funded.
We're also developing an early prototype of the family-facing CARES portal. If you're interested in reviewing the prototype and sharing feedback, please contact your Case Specialist, who will connect you with Kim Uccellini, Chief Program Officer and executive sponsor for CARES.
Meanwhile, the CARES development team continues working closely with Program staff to define requirements and design the next set of capabilities, with Phase 2 planned for spring 2027.
Important Program Update: New Email Address Domain
This October, the Program will transition to the Virginia Information Technologies Agency (VITA) technology environment, bringing our technology infrastructure more closely in line with other Virginia state agencies.
This transition gives the Program access to the Commonwealth's established technology infrastructure, standards, resources, and support, while also strengthening areas such as data security, privacy, cybersecurity, and system reliability.
As part of this change, Program staff will begin using new .gov email addresses. Emails ending in @vbip.virginia.gov are legitimate communications from the Program.
No action is required at this time. Please continue using the Program contacts and email addresses you currently have. Messages sent to existing staff email addresses will continue to reach us during the transition, and we will communicate any future changes in advance.
Thank you for your patience and support as we make this transition.
Employee Spotlight
Meet Razaz Ali
Each month, we will take a moment to highlight the people who make our work possible. This month, we'd like you to introduce you to Razaz Ali, Quality Analyst at the Program.
"Before joining the Program, I worked as a medical billing specialist at an OBGYN office in Richmond while earning my bachelor's degrees. I graduated from VCU with degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology and joined the Program in the Benefits department. I now serve as a Quality Analyst in Policy & Quality, where I help make sure processes are consistent, accurate, and work well for families.
I also work with healthcare providers as part of our provider relations efforts, including connecting with providers about the Program's physician assessments. My experience working in an OBGYN office has been especially helpful in building those connections and understanding the provider's perspective. I'm also currently working toward my Certified Professional in Healthcare Quality (CPHQ) certification."
Thank you for all you do for the Program, Razaz!
