Family Voices Indiana

  By Emily McKinley, Health Information Specialist If you are a follower of Family Voices’ ACA Update, you know the Health Insurance Marketplace (also known as the “Exchange”) will be opening in October for consumers to shop and purchase health insurance coverage to begin in January. Unless you’ve been in enjoying an extended foreign vacation, you’ve probably also heard enough conflicting rhetoric about “Obamacare” and premium costs to make your head spin. In fact, a recent report (July 18, 2013) released by the Indiana Department of Insurance led with “ As a result of the federal Affordable Care Act, individual health insurance rates in Indiana will increase by an average of 72% in 2014…” The media ran wild with the headline leaving many dazed and confused. Obamacare was supposed to help, right? Well, there is good news and bad news. Here is the bad news: Yes, it is likely that many people, especially young, healthy men, purchasing insurance on the Marketplace will see a prem

Family Voices Indiana is partnering with Region 4 Midwest Genetics Collaborative to offer  Care Coordination: Empowering Families  training to parents of children with genetic conditions in  Indianapolis, IN on October 1 st , 2013   from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Please share this flyer/email with your parent networks in Indianapolis and the surrounding area!!  This training is open to any parent or legal guardian of a child (birth-18) who has been identified or diagnosed with a genetic condition. The purpose of this one day training is to help parents learn: ·   How to identify a medical home ·   Techniques to organize information and find reliable resources ·   Tips to navigate health care and insurance systems ·   Skills to increase communication and coordination between multiple providers ·   How to plan early for child’s transition ·   Ideas for coping with stress and finding support ·   Advocacy skills     Location :   Riley Hospital for Children,

Family Voices shares the following information from The Arc of Indiana: To provide input to the state on the issue of a Medicaid managed care program for the aged, blind and disabled, please participate in the Aged, Blind and Disabled Study Survey by clicking on this link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/ s/ABDStudySurvey Self-Advocates of Indiana is also developing a survey to gather input specifically from people with developmental disabilities. In addition, a public input session will be held on  Friday, August 19, 9:30am  in Government South Conference Room A.  Following are the questions that you will have the opportunity to respond to in the state survey: ·           What is the most important goal/outcome that a Medicaid managed care program for the aged, blind and disabled should strive to achieve? ·           What difficulties exist in achieving comprehensive coordinated care for aged, blind and disabled Medicaid enrollees? ·           What works today in