medicaid waivers

People with disabilities could face significant cuts to therapy services if Indiana’s proposed changes to Medicaid waivers are approved.

Indiana's proposed changes to Medicaid waivers that provide home- and community-based services are expected to take effect in December — including a significant cap on certain therapy services. But, people can still submit comments on the proposed changes until Friday.

Indiana has proposed changes to Medicaid waivers that provide home- and community-based services — including a significant cap on certain therapy services. Advocates and providers said the proposal from the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration would harm people with disabilities and isolate them from their communities.

Previously closed slots for Indiana's Medicaid waivers reopened on July 1. Indiana Those slots released by the state for the coming year will only cover about one-third of the 13,000 people still on the waitlist for home- and community-based health services.

Indiana is introducing new tools on July 1 to evaluate if children and infants qualify for home- and community-based services through Medicaid. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration said the criteria hasn't changed, but some children may no longer qualify based on the new assessment tools.

A House committee approved legislation that would bolster existing programs to “divert” people away from more expensive Medicaid programs.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration implemented a waitlist for certain Medicaid services more than six months ago — and advocates said it’s created a significant barrier to care for medically complex Hoosiers. There are more than 13,000 Hoosiers still waiting for home- and community-based services through Medicaid between two waivers.

Thousands of people are still waiting for home- and community-based health services as Indiana processes people on waitlists for Medicaid waivers. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration launched a dashboard to provide updates on the waitlists.

In April, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration implemented a waitlist for services under an important Medicaid waiver in response to last year’s Medicaid shortfall. New waiver slots will open on July 1 — but there’s still some uncertainty around whether there will be enough slots to accommodate those on the waitlist.

A proposal by Indiana Medicaid officials would drastically cut payments that thousands of families of people with disabilities relied on. State officials say it's necessary to curb ballooning utilization and plug a huge budget gap. But some families worry the changes could lead to them losing their jobs or even their homes.