Family Voices Indiana

Recently, I had the opportunity to visit Bridgeport, West Virginia and join the experts behind the Mountaineer Autism Project for their 2018 conference. The conference brought together families of children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and the providers who serve them. I helped kick things off by outlining the Medicaid benefits for children with ASD, and I thought I’d some of the same resources with readers of SayAhhh!. Medicaid’s pediatric benefit, known as Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment ( EPSDT ), offers all children in Medicaid the services they need to grow and thrive. EPSDT is especially important for children and youth with special health care needs, including children and youth with ASD, because the benefit must be tailored to each individual child. Under EPSDT, states must provide all coverable and medically necessary services. By “coverable,” the law means all the benefits that it is possible for Medicaid to pay for (see list in the Social

  Waiver amendments update    The Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) submitted amendments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for the Community Integration and Habilitation Waiver and Family Support Waiver on April 27, 2018. Before submission, several updates and content changes were made in response to the comments received during the public notice period. DDRS received a total of seventeen comments, all noting the importance of the rate increase for case managers. Based on the recommendations, the Wellness Coordination service definition was clarified in regards to nursing, to align with the Structured Family Caregiving definition for consistency. For Residential Habilitation or Participant Assistance and Care, application of the 40 hour rule was explained in greater detail.   Questions were received regarding the proposed case management rate changes, while several comments reflected support and agreement of the rate changes.

Problems with Your HIP 2.0 Health Insurance?  Are you experiencing problems with your POWER ACCOUNT payments?  Are your POWER ACCOUNT payments unaffordable?  Are you having trouble with your eligibility?  Are you experiencing long delays getting your application processed?  Have you recently lost HIP Plus coverage?  Have you recently lost ALL coverage? Indiana Legal Services is a non-profit free legal services provider. Feel free to contact us for an intake at: (844) 243-8570 between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. Eastern. (9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Central).

from National FV: President Requests Rescissions in CHIP Funding On May 8, the president sent a "special message" to Congress under a seldom-used 1974 law which establishes a  special process  through which an administration can propose rescinding appropriations that have already been enacted. Congress has a total of 45 continuous legislative days to act on the proposal under special "fast-track" procedures. During this time period, the president can withhold the funding. If Congress does not approve the rescissions  within 45 days , the president must release the funds.   The president's May 8 special message proposes spending cuts of $15.4 billion through 38 rescissions in a number of federal departments and agencies. Among the proposed rescissions are two that would cut $7 billion from the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). One of the proposed rescissions would cut about $5 billion from "leftover" funds that were set aside in

Join advocates across the country and call your Member of Congress to urge them to  vote NO on H.R. 2, the Farm Bill !  The Threat This bill threatens to deny food assistance to 2 million people across the country and harm the millions of children who rely on the federal nutrition programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), for access to consistent, healthy food.  The Importance SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, helps feed 19.9 million children—more than 1 in 4. It prevents children and families from going hungry, improves overall health, and reduces poverty among families receiving the benefit.  SNAP is an extremely effective anti-poverty program; in 2016 SNAP lifted more than 1.5 million children out of poverty, more than any other government program.  What We Need You To Fight But H.R. 2 would impose rigid work requirements and make harmful changes to state options that simplify SNAP eligibility requirements in order to improve access to

Attend an Upcoming State Plan on Aging Stakeholder Event! The Division of Aging is working to gather feedback on Indiana’s 2019-2022 State Plan on Aging.  The Plan is available here:  https://www.in.gov/fssa/da/ 5479.htm .  This May as we celebrate Older Americans Month, we want to give everyone a chance to  Engage at Every Age , be involved and share his or her experiences. Assuring we accommodate as many people as possible, we will be hosting regional events in various Indiana locations: SWIRCA & More 16 West Virginia Street Evansville, IN   47710 RSVP Here:  http://bit.ly/ INAgingEvansville Friday, May 18, 2018 1-2:30 p.m. CDT Ivy Tech Community College – South Bend Cafeteria Room 109 – Ivy Cafe 220 Dean Johnson Blvd South Bend, IN 46601 RSVP Here:  http://bit.ly/INAgingSouthBend Thursday, May 24, 2018 1-2:30 p.m. CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions 4 th  Floor Conference Room 4755 Kingsway Drive, Suite 200 Indianapolis, IN 46205 RSVP H