Family Voices Indiana

Family Voices shares the following information about Indiana's Medicaid Expansion plans: Now posted on the state’s ACA website ( www.in.gov/aca ) is a letter dated April 30, 2013 from CMS to FSSA Secretary Minott confirming that CMS has received the state’s update and supplement to its HIP Waiver extension application (first submitted on 2/13/13 and resubmitted on 4/11/13) and determining that the extension request has met federal requirements for a complete request (the state having now received public comments and submitting a summary of the stakeholder feedback as a supplement to the original extension application).  The letter is found at: http://www.in.gov/aca/files/ Complete_Extension_Request_ Letter_IN.pdf . According to the letter, this triggers the 30-day Federal comment period, beginning on April 30, 2013 and ending May 30, 2013.  CMS will not act on the extension request until 15 days, at a minimum, after the conclusion of this public comment period.  CMS wi

Each month, Family Voices Indiana provides the families we serve with a summary of our hottest Facebook posts. If you missed us on  Facebook , here is the latest! Awareness: April is Autism Awareness month. Chances are, you know someone who is affected by autism. For more information, check out  http://www.autismspeaks.org/  and  http://www.handsinautism.org .  We also encourage you to read the many featured posts and blogs on our Facebook page written by individuals affected by autism. National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to recognize that we each play a part in promoting the social and emotional well-being of children and families in communities. Learn more here:  http://www.childwelfare.gov/preventing/preventionmonth/ . Donate Life Month, dedicated to people who have given so many a second chance at life and encouraging others to sign up as organ, eye and tissue donors. Learn more at:  www.organdonor.gov . Occupational Therapy Month. Many families want t

Family Voices Indiana shares the following summary of the budget bill from the Indiana Hospital Association: 2013 Session Ends with Passage of Budget Bill The 2013 session of the Indiana General Assembly ended after midnight on Friday. While most of the news coverage of the budget bill focused on the battle over Gov. Pence’s income tax cut, HB 1001 contains key health care provisions. Important budget provisions are summarized below: HB 1001: Biennial State Budget (Rep. Tim Brown, Sen. Luke Kenley) While the budget bill does not mandate an expansion of coverage through Medicaid or any other program, it does contain some relevant provisions. It requires a transfer in the next biennium of $250 million to the Medicaid Contingency and Reserve Account from the state’s General Fund. Funds will also continue to accrue to the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) Trust Fund. Another $225 million will be deposited in this fund from cigarette tax revenues over the next two fiscal years, adding to a bal