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 with extraordinary care needs. Thanks to the bill’s passage, FSSA included a definition of extraordinary care in amendments to the Family Supports, Health & Wellness, PathWays to Aging, and Traumatic Brain Injury Waivers recently submitted to the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare. They are set to become effective on December 31 of this year. The bill also created a forum for the public to learn about the Medicaid State Plan amendment process and to continue the conversation about other supports and services that Indiana needs to consider to help this specific population of Hoosiers.
Kim Dodson, The Arc of Indiana CEO, stated, “The Arc of Indiana deeply appreciates the dedication of families who tirelessly advocated for this bill, often while managing the daily challenges of caring for their children.”
At the signing, Governor Braun shared that, through conversations with families and reading their stories, he gained a deeper understanding of the challenges of raising a child with significant medical needs at home. He called the bill an important step forward in supporting families and children.
“We extend our sincere gratitude to Rep. Ed Clere and Sen. Gregory Goode for their leadership in carrying the bill through the House and Senate, and to all who championed the legislation: Rep. Bob Behning, Rep. Greg Porter, Rep. Cherrish Pryor, Sen. JD Ford, Sen. Shelli Yoder, Sen. Spencer Deery, and Sen. LaKeisha Jackson,” Dodson said.
