from The Arc of the US: Congress is moving fast to deeply cut and cap Medicaid. The proposed cuts are putting Medicaid’s “optional” and “waiver” benefits at risk. Medicaid law requires that all states provide services such as doctor visits, hospitalization, nursing home care, and others. Other critical services for people with disabilities are not required by law (i.e. optional benefits) but are allowed if the state chooses to provide them and follows federal requirements. What are Optional Benefits? The federal/state Medicaid program allows states to provide a wide variety of optional services in addition to the mandatory services. Once a state includes an optional service as part of its state plan, benefits must be about the same, available throughout the state, and people get to choose their providers and plans. States provide many different services and supports as optional benefits, such as: · Prescription Drugs · Clinic services ·
Family Voices Indiana is a family-led organization that provides information, education, training, outreach, and peer support to families of children and youth with special health care needs and the professionals who serve them.