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FSSA Announced
Priority Waivers
Friday, September 14, 2007
In a landmark
action, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration has
announced a plan to bring support services to over 1,600 young
adults with developmental disabilities between the ages of 18-24
over the next 10 months. The agency has announced that the Support
Services Medicaid Waiver (SSW) will have a priority category for
young adults who have left high school.
The first target is young people who left school in the 2006-2007
school year. 500 SSW slots are reserved for these individuals. An
additional 1,100 SSW slots for young adults, 18-24, who have left
school are planned to be released September, 2007- June, 2008. FSSA
plans to offer the Support Services Waiver to future eligible
students leaving high school. Key to implementing that plan is the
future support of the Indiana General Assembly.
In November, 2007 an additional 100 Support Services Waiver slots
will be released to people on the waiting list, based on date of
application. In addition, FSSA has announced that 711 Developmental
Disability Waiver slots and 55 Autism Waiver slots will be released
to those on waiting lists. Priority slots will also be provided to
caregivers age 80 and older and for emergency cases.
The Support Services Waiver can provide developmental supports, job
preparation, respite and family support up to a cap of $13,500 per
year. To be eligible for a Medicaid Waiver, individuals must meet
Medicaid disability, income, and resource requirements, and “level
of care” requirements under the Waiver.
The Arc of Indiana Waiting List Committee began working on this
issue in 2006 by identifying how the state could begin prioritizing
services to the more than 15,000 people on Medicaid Waiver waiting
lists, as well as those who never knew to apply for services.
Families and self-advocates recommended that waiting lists and the
need for services be addressed in three ways: services to those ages
18-24 who have left or are leaving school; caregivers age 80 and
older who continue to care for loved ones at home; and continuing to
bring people off the waiting list based on date of application.
Families should immediately contact their local BDDS office to apply
for this new priority category for the Support Services Waiver.
Applications for Medicaid should be made at the local office of
Division of Family Resources. You can find the BDDS Office locations
on The Arc of Indiana website www.arcind.org. |
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