Advocacy Works! Good News on ABA Rates!
The Arc of Indiana welcomes today’s announcement by Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Secretary Mitch Roob that the planned 10% Medicaid rate cut for Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy will be reduced to 6%. The announcement was made at FSSA’s Quarterly Financial Review meeting. Families and advocates had raised concerns that a 10% cut…
BDS establishes new process for group home to CIH waiver transition
Under a new process established by the Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS), individuals who want to transition from a Supervised Group Living (SGL) setting to the Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH) waiver must reside in an SGL setting for a minimum of 365 consecutive days before being eligible to apply for a CIH waiver. This requirement…
New – Medicaid Waiver 2026 Updates
What Individuals, Families, and Guardians Need to Know Medicaid Waivers (also called Home and Community-Based Services) provide Medicaid health coverage, as well as supports and services that help people with disabilities live at home and participate in their communities. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has approved several updates to Indiana’s Medicaid Waiver programs that take effect December 31, 2025. …
BDS Launching Review Process of High-Cost Waiver Service Plans & Guidance on Transportation
Indiana’s Bureau of Disability Services (BDS) is launching a review process of high-cost Medicaid Waiver service plans, and has also issued guidance on transportation. High-Cost Waiver Service Plans BDS has issued advisory memos for providers and families regarding review of high-cost Medicaid Waiver service plans. BDS’s memo states, “BDS is taking a proactive look at…
FSSA Announces ABA Working Group Recommendations
Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Secretary Mitch Roob has announced the recommendations of the Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Working Group, convened earlier this year to address the rapid growth and sustainability challenges of Medicaid-funded ABA therapy. The Working Group’s Process The ABA Working Group was led by FSSA Deputy Secretary Eric Miller and…
FSSA Announces End of MDwise Participation in Indiana Medicaid Programs
Nov. 12, 2025 The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has announced that MDwise will no longer serve as a managed care health plan for Indiana Medicaid’s Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) and Hoosier Healthwise programs, effective January 1, 2026. HIP covers Hoosiers ages 19-65 who meet spcific income levels. Hoosier Healthwise covers eligible children…
Medicaid & Public Policy Update Webinars
The Arc of Indiana, Autism Society of Indiana, Down Syndrome Indiana, and Indiana Statewide Independent Living Council are hosting webinars in December to provide updates on Medicaid and critical public policy issues. December 2 Protecting Medicaid: Advocacy in Action 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. ET Register December 9 2026 Disability Community of Indiana Public Policy Agenda…
H.B. 1689, Addressing Attendant Care for Medically Fragile Children, Bill Signing Celebration
Families of medically complex children, together with The Arc of Indiana, and lawmakers joined Governor Mike Braun on Wednesday, August 27, to celebrate the official signing of H.B. 1689. H.B. 1689 was introduced to address the issue of parents and spouses being reimbursed through the Medicaid Waiver program to provide attendant care to family members…
Proposed Rule to Phase Out Subminimum Wage Withdrawn
The Trump administration is withdrawing a proposed rule that sought to phase out subminimum wage employment for people with disabilities, typically at sheltered workshops. Indiana has been in the process of phasing out sheltered workshops. Approximately 1,000 people across the state currently work at a subminimum wage. A proposed Medicaid Waiver amendment, released for public…
Federal Budget Report & Town Hall Meetings
Changes Coming to Medicaid Funding The U.S. House of Representatives passed its version of the federal budget bill on May 22, 2025, with nearly $880 billion in Medicaid cuts. The Senate followed on July 1, advancing its version to the House for final consideration ahead of a self-imposed July 4 deadline. The Senate bill includes…