Family Voices Indiana

from Indiana Assn of United Ways: Healthcare advocacy action alert On  Monday, September 25th  at 2:00pmET the Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing about the Graham-Cassidy proposal to reform healthcare coverage. The proposal puts Indiana at risk of losing $7 billion in health funding between 2020-2027 which places a large burden on the state to meet the funding gap.  More than 400,000 Hoosiers currently have healthcare coverage though our HIP 2.0 Medicaid expansion program, and we don't want to see individuals and families lose coverage that United Ways in Indiana fought with many partners to establish. This is an opportune time for United Way and community partners to fight for the health of every person in every community.  Join us in urging leaders of the Senate Finance Committee to not make any changes that impact the affordability or accessibility of healthcare coverage .  Resources for more information on the Graham-Cassidy proposal: Indiana Business Jour

by Rylin Rodgers my first picture as a mom I work in a children’s hospital. The same children’s hospital that has provided the complex care my children have needed. Today, I found myself looking at the families in the halls, knowing that their children by virtue of being here would be negatively impacted by #GrahamCassidy. For my family, and for other families who are raising children who have complex health care needs, this health care debate is personal. The ACA is not perfect, but it was a life-changing, life-saving step forward for my family and for our country.  My two children – Matthew, 20, and Laura, 17 – born with complex neuromuscular conditions, have led a life completely impacted by health policy. From birth, they have required extensive medical care, care so costly that both quickly met the annual and lifetime payment caps imposed by our very good health insurance. Matthew and Laura joined the ranks of millions of Americans whose pre-existing conditions made t

from National FV: Hello families – You have probably heard of the Graham-Cassidy bill that the US Senate will vote on NEXT WEEK.   On Monday  afternoon, the Senate Finance Committee will be holding a hearing on this bill.  The committee members and your own Senators need to know how harmful this bill will be for families of children and youth with special health care needs.    This bill is even worse than the others that the House passed and the Senate rejected earlier.  Below is an outline you can use to write your comments  and instructions on where to send them.  Please send them AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, but  no later than  Monday  at  1:00 . Please pass this message along to others who might want to send their comments – your relatives, friends, child’s health care providers/teachers, even if they are in another state. Here is a summary of what the Graham-Cassidy bill would do if it becomes law : ·           Federal  Medicaid  payments to states would be cut sign

Start now! Stand with millions of Americans in saying cuts and caps to Medicaid would be devastating to people with disabilities, seniors, women and children, and low-income Americans. Attend as many events as possible, flood social media, call your members of congress starting today! Monday September 25  CCD National Call-in Day o Everyone needs to participate; spread the word and share the Facebook event!  Finance Committee hearing at 2 pm EST o If you are in DC please attend in person: 215 Dirksen  Wear t-shirts, pins, stickers, make signs, etc. about protecting Medicaid o In DC or not, use this email to submit testimony for the hearing:  GCHcomments@finance.senate.gov.  This is where groups and individuals can send letters, testimony, video links, photos, stories, etc. Deadline for submission is Monday at 1 pm EST. Format: Written comments need to be typewritten, single-spaced, not exceeding 10 pages in length. On the first page include title and date of the

Waiver Amendments for Direct Care Staff Wage Increases Approved  On September 18, 2017, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services’ (BDDS) 1915(c) home and community-based services Family Supports Waiver (FSW) and Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) Waiver amendments.  The mandated 5 percent rate increase for specific services provided under the FSW and CIH waivers with the intent to use the rate increase to increase wages for direct care staff is  effective  October 1, 2017 . In addition to the rate increases, Indiana Code 12-15-1.3-18(f) requires actions for all authorized providers related to notifications and use of the rate increase.  Specifically, IC 12-15-1.3-18(f) requires all providers to submit written and electronic notification of its plan to increase wages to: 1) direct care staff employed by the provider; and 2) the Offi