Family Voices Indiana

Welcome to the 8th edition of FV Indiana's Guide to the Legislative Session. This year brings a "short session" that will begin on January 6, 2014, and is expected to last through Friday, March 14, 2014. This session will provide many opportunities for families to be involved, share your experience, and build relationships with legislators that will impact current and future decisions. This guide is intended to be a reference issue; in it you will find information on how a bill becomes a law, definitions and translations of acronyms and information on the House and Senate leadership. We encourage you to contact your legislators, make the effort to introduce yourself, share your perspective and continue to build a relationship. Watch FV Indiana and other sources for action alerts as the session progresses. If you have information about the session to share please call us at 317.944.8982 or email info@fvindiana.org. Hot Topics for 2014 (we will update these, as n

Are you seeing our Facebook posts? We usually post each day. If you're missing them, there's a solution! In the drop down menu under the Like button, choose "get notifications". You'll be alerted of our posts just like you are when others post and comment on your own personal page. If you change your mind (we hope not), you can always turn the notifications back off again.  Each month, Family Voices Indiana provides the families we serve with a summary of the month’s hottest items. If you missed us on  Facebook  in December, here is the latest! Family Voices: Check out our Family Voices Staff Spotlights! This month’s page featured specialist Emily McKinley. Read all of our specialists’ bios on our  website . Facebook fans liked our many inspirational quotes. Be sure to check out our  page  for a pick-me-up. Also, we encourage you to share our page with friends using the share or invite features! Check our page or mark your calendar to check it aga

As we shared earlier, January 1 begins the MAGI rules for determining Medicaid eligibility. This post explains it in more detail: http://www.fvindiana.blogspot.com/2013/12/medicaid-magi-methodology-notice.html We have updated our Medicaid fact sheet to reflect these changes. It should be posted to the website soon, but we've embedded it below. We've also embedded the new Indiana Medicaid application so you know what to expect if you are applying or reapplying for Medicaid this year. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. 317 944 8982 info@fvindiana.org SS Medicaid 2014 by Family Voices Indiana Medicaid Application

As a Champion for Coverage, Family Voices Indiana shares this information from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS): Consumer Information for January 1 As the start of coverage for Qualified Health Plans approaches, CMS anticipates that some of the newly insured individuals will have questions about how to access healthcare services. CMS has posted information on  Marketplace.cms.gov  to address questions that consumers may have with the January 1 start of coverage through their selected health plan. Individuals who have insurance for the first time or have new plans beginning  on January 1  are likely to have many questions related to coverage, premiums payments, co-payments, and other issues and may need to reach their individual insurance plan. Below is information for consumers on how to access their health plans as well as education factsheets explaining how health insurance works.    What to know about seeing your doctor - http://marketplace.cms.gov/

We know there are many nonprofits from which to choose when making your end-of-the-year tax-deductible donation. We hope you will consider Family Voices Indiana as a recipient this year. Add your voice to help get the word out to more families, reach out to new partners, and provide extended support to families raising children with special health care needs and/or disabilities. CLICK HERE TO DONATE How We Put Your Gift to Work: Providing information, connections to existing resources, direct support and advocacy for families Mentoring and supporting parent leaders across the state Assisting families in negotiating the complex systems of health care service delivery and financing Please give now – together we can impact the lives of families who need assistance. Our services are FREE to families, so we rely on grants and donations to provide much needed support. If you can't afford a donation, consider asking family or friends to make a donation in your child's name. Thank