Supporting Students with Disabilities During School Crises

Supporting Students with Disabilities During School Crises by Family Voices Indiana on Scribd

SAVE THE DATE - DDRS Stakeholder Quarterly Meeting 6.25

The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) is pleased to announce an opportunity for all stakeholders, providers, families and individuals to engage with and receive updates from DDRS. Representatives from First Steps, Bureau of Rehabilitation Services, Bureau of Quality Improvement Services and the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services will be providing updates on the services and programs offered.  

The DDRS Stakeholder Quarterly Meetings will be an ongoing pathway to enhance communications among the division and the people they serve. The first meeting will be held:

 June 25, 201810 a.m. - 12 p.m. ETIndiana Government Center South, Auditorium402 W Washington Street, Indianapolis

A web attendance option will be available and information with a link will be sent out at a later date.

Watch for future dates as they are scheduled. We look forward to seeing you there!

Behavior Supports

We've been receiving more inquiries about behavior supports. We thought we'd share this resource and encourage you to explore the various resources:

BEHAVIOR

• Notes for Parents: When your child engages in difficult behaviors (PDF) - David Pitonyak
• 10 Things You Can Do to Support A Person With Difficult Behaviors (PDF) - David Pitonyak
• Behavior in the Early Years - Power Point Presentation (PDF) - OTAC
• Behavior in the Early Years - Blank Worksheets (PDF) - OTAC
• Behavior Data Tracking in the Classroom - Blank Form (PDF) - Patti McVay
• Behavior Planning in the Classroom - Blank Form (PDF) - Patti McVay
• Behavior Pathway Worksheet - Blank (PDF)
• Behavior Pathway Worksheet Definitions (PDF)
• Behavior Pathway Worksheet Examples (PDF)

found here: http://www.abicommunity.org/resources/inclusion_resources.html

Electronic Visit Verification (EVV) for Medicaid In-Home Services

 from Ntl FV:

The 21^st Century Cures Act, enacted last year, requires states to implement "electronic visit verification" (EVV) for Medicaid personal care services (PCS) and home health service (HHCS) provided in a beneficiary's home in order to ensure that the services are actually delivered. For details, see this page from Medicaid.gov. On May 16, the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) issued an Informational Bulletin to states to provide guidance on how to implement an EVV system.

 

Some provider and patient groups have expressed concern that the agency's interpretation of PCS and HHCS may be too broad, and that patient privacy and civil-rights protections may be too weak. See Worries Abound Over Medicaid Mandate That Caregivers Check In (Disability Scoop, 5/18/18). In order to provide more time to implement the EVV requirement, Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) introduced, on May 22, a bipartisan bill to delay for one year the date by which states must implement an EVV system for PCS. See Senator Murkowski's press release. Companion legislation was introduced in the House by Representatives James Langevin (D-RI) and Don Young (R-AK).

 

Medicaid Managed Care

• Medicaid Managed Care: Lots of Unanswered Questions (Part 1) (Health Affairs Blog, 5/3/18)
• Medicaid Managed Care: Lots of Unanswered Questions (Part 2) (Health Affairs Blog, 5/4/18)

New Rules for State Selection of Benchmark Plans to Determine Essential Health Benefits

from Ntl FV:

In April, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released the final 2019 "Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters" (NBPP), which governs insurance offered in the individual and small group markets pursuant to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The 2019 NBPP alters the way that states can establish their benchmark plans for 2020 and beyond, allowing states to establish less generous benefits packages. States that want to update their EHB benchmark for plans sold in 2020 must submit their selection to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) by July 2, 2018, and they must post a notice for public comment on a relevant state website.

 

State family leaders can provide input as their states choose their benchmark plan and thus determine the benefits required to be covered in their state. The National Health Law Program recently released a Step-by-Step Guide to Updating States' Essential Health Benefits Benchmark Plans, which can help family leaders inform the state about the needs of CYSHCN and their families. See also Overview of Changes to the Essential Health Benefits Standards in NBPP 2019 (National Health Law Program, 4/23/18) and the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) summary of relevant changes made by the NBPP and the new guidance expanding the hardship exemption from the requirement to have coverage or pay a penalty.

Anticipated Immigration Rule to Expand the Definition of "Public Charge"

from National FV:

Under current immigration regulations, people who are or may become a "public charge" - i.e., dependent on certain government programs - may be denied a visa, permanent residency or citizenship. Although no official proposal has been released yet, a leaked version of the proposed regulation indicates that it would let immigration officials deem a person to be a public charge under many more circumstances.

 

Currently, an applicant for a visa or a change in immigration status may be deemed a public charge only if they receive (1) long-term care, or (2) cash benefits --Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Under the leaked version of the proposed rule, a public-charge determination could be based on the immigrant's participation or expected participation in many more public programs AND immigration officials could consider whether any of an applicant's dependent family members-including U.S. citizen children-have received or simply sought access to government programs. As explained in this fact sheet prepared by the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) and the National Immigration Law Center (NILC), benefits that could be considered in a "public charge" determination would include, among others: non-emergency Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Affordable Care Act subsidies, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and comparable state and local programs.

 

Advocates are concerned that families that include an immigrant will be afraid to seek Medicaid, CHIP, and other benefits for their US citizen children if this regulation is finalized. In fact, advocates report that some families are already shying away from seeking such benefits.

An issue brief from the Kaiser Family Foundation analyzes the potential impact of the expected rule on the 10.4 million children in the U.S. with at least one non-citizen parent.

Aged & Disabled waiting list implementation

Aged & Disabled waiting list implementation

The Division of Aging (DA) is tasked with administering the Aged & Disabled (AD) Waiver. Based on funding available for waiver services, each year there are a finite number of slots available for AD waiver participants. With the increase in the number of participants, the DA has observed that the number of available slots for Fiscal Year 2018 is nearing capacity and will soon begin implementation of a waiting list for AD waiver services.

The DA continually monitors slot availability with intent to maintain open waiver slots.Following the start of Fiscal Year 2019, the Division estimates slots will become available on or about July 2, 2018. At this time, the Division will transition participants from the waiting list.  

Please note that once the waiting list is lifted, participant waiver status will be effective the day the participant is approved to receive services on the waiver. The Division is unable to make retroactive payments to providers for participants who are served while on the waiting list. 

The Division of Aging apologizes for any hardship this places on providers, and will wait to implement the waiting list until absolutely necessary.

Please direct any questions and/or concerns to Darcy Tower, director of provider relations, via email at darcy.tower@fssa.in.gov or (317) 234-2944.