Last modified: Thursday, January 29, 2009
Input sought on home and community-based Medicaid waivers
Stakeholders are invited to help define the design of future Medicaid waivers for Hoosiers with developmental disabilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jan. 29, 2009
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has asked the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community to host a series of community discussions to gather public opinions that will guide the development of Medicaid waivers administered by the FSSA.
The discussions will specifically address the Developmental Disabilities waiver, which is up for renewal in April, and also the Autism and Support Services waivers. Medicaid waivers provide individualized services, paid for through the government's Medicaid program, that enable people to live at home rather than in institutions.
FSSA wants to hear from stakeholders -- that is, community service providers, case managers, people with disabilities, family members, advocates and others -- anyone who has ideas about how to make Indiana's waivers the best that they can be.
There will be multiple ways to provide input during the next several months. The first is a series of community waiver conversations, to be held during February. If you are a current waiver recipient, on the waiting list, a person with a disability or a family member, or a provider of waiver services, you are invited to be part of one of three upcoming Community Waiver Conversations, to be held at the following locations:
Indianapolis -- Junior Achievement Center at 74th and Keystone Ave.
- Feb. 2, 7-9 p.m. for persons with disabilities and family members
- Feb. 3, 10 a.m.-noon for service providers
New Albany -- Holiday Inn Express at 411 W. Spring St.
- Feb. 16, 7-9 p.m. for persons with disabilities and family members
- Feb. 17, 10 a.m.-noon for service providers
Fort Wayne -- The League for the Blind at 5821 S. Anthony Blvd.
- Feb. 23, 7-9 p.m. for persons with disabilities and family members
- Feb. 24, 10 a.m.-noon for service providers
If you cannot attend the community waiver conversations, an online survey will also be available to provide input in early February. The Indiana Institute will also be conducting targeted focus groups of consumers and providers toward the end of February.
For more information, contact Vicki Pappas or Joel Fosha at the Indiana Institute on Disability and Community at 812-855-6508 or via e-mail at beheard@indiana.edu.
The Indiana Institute on Disability and Community is a research, education and service center affiliated with Indiana University Bloomington. Its mission is to work with communities to welcome, value and support the meaningful participation of people of all ages and abilities through research, education and service.
