Families have begun reporting that they are being told that for Medicaid members receiving Medicaid Waiver services and home health services, the direct care staff person for each service cannot be the same individual. Please note that this does not exclusively affect Attendant Care and Structured Family Care (SFC). It pertains to all waiver services.…
Medicaid
Notice of State Plan Amendment for Applied Behavioral Analysis Coverage
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration published a notice of proposed changes to methods and standards governing Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) coverage and policies. The public notice period is from February 25, 2026, through March 27, 2026. The notice follows recommendations made by the ABA Task Force. FSSA – OMPP proposes to submit a…
Waiver Amendment Public Comment Period Extended & Webinar Opportunities
On February 12, the Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS) announced the opening of the public comment period for upcoming amendments to the Community Integration and Habilitation waiver, Family Supports waiver, Health and Wellness waiver, Traumatic Brain Injury, and 1915 b(4) waivers. On February 18, BDS announced the public comment period has been extended through March…
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 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…
Holding On Through the Changes: What Indiana’s Medicaid Shifts Mean for Families
On July 2, an Indiana mother opened the letter she had dreaded. Medicaid had denied the waiver services her son depended on for nursing care. Her choices were unthinkable: quit her job to provide care full-time or risk her child’s health without the support they’d been promised. This is what “policy change” looks like—not in…
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…