Understanding Public Comments:
Your Voice, Your Impact

This page empowers you to understand, prepare, and submit effective public comments, ensuring your voice shapes policies affecting individuals with disabilities and their families.

Public input plays a critical role in shaping the services that impact individuals with disabilities and their families. Whether you’re a waiver participant, caregiver, provider, or advocate—this is your chance to make your voice heard.

A public comment is when someone shares their opinion or feedback on a proposed government action, like a new rule or policy. It’s a way for people to voice their thoughts, ask questions, or suggest changes before it is finalized. Comments can be as brief as a sentence or more detailed—what matters is that your voice is included. Whether you have feedback on one detail or the full proposal, your comment is important.

Public comments help build the official record that agencies must consider. If they fail to do so, it could impact the outcome in court. Agencies are legally required to review and respond to the concerns raised.

Learn More About Public Comments Here

Even If Nothing Changes… Your Comment Still Matters

Not all public comments lead to immediate changes—but that doesn’t mean they don’t have power. Here's how they still make a difference:

• They preserve your concerns for legal challenges. If a rule is challenged in court, your comment becomes part of the evidence. Judges look at whether agencies responded appropriately to public input.

• They show public pressure. When many people raise the same issue, it sends a strong signal to decision-makers—even if they don’t change course right away.

• They shape future policy. Agencies often revisit past comments when creating future proposals. Your voice may influence a better outcome next time.

• They build collective impact. When individuals, families, and providers speak up together, it creates a public record that’s hard to ignore.

📝 Whether it’s one sentence or a full page, your input matters. Even if nothing changes today, your comment could help change tomorrow.

 See More Why Your Voice Matters

Absolutely anyone can submit a public comment on an agency's proposed regulation. You don't need to be a lawyer, policymaker, or even an academic. You also don't have to know every single detail of the policy at hand.

If you have something meaningful to say, you're qualified to comment. Your lived experience, concerns, and ideas are valuable—and needed. If your perspective could constructively add to the conversation, please comment.

Submitting a public comment might feel like a small step—but it’s part of a much bigger process.

Here’s what typically happens next:

• • Your comment is reviewed by the state agency responsible for the proposed change (like FSSA or DDRS).

  • All feedback is summarized—agencies often group comments by theme or concern to identify common issues or questions.

  • The agency may revise the proposal based on public input before submitting it to be approved or finalizing the policy.

  • A public report or summary may be published explaining how input was considered—and what changes, if any, were made.
    
    

Even if your comment isn’t individually addressed, it still matters. Lawmakers and state officials look at the volume and content of feedback to guide decisions.

Your voice helps shape policies that affect real lives. Keep speaking up.

Learn About the Regulatory Process

Want to know when to give input on Medicaid and disability policy? Public comment notices are often posted on state agency websites. We've compiled a list of key links where you can track rule changes, waiver updates, and opportunities to submit feedback.

Here are a few websites that you may find public input opportunities for proposed rules, waiver changes, and service updates:

• Family Solutions Home Care – Policy & Waiver Input:
  Stay informed about Medicaid waiver changes, proposed policies, and public input opportunities that affect families and caregivers.
  🔗View Our Public Comment Alerts 

• Public Comment Sites & State Agency Resources:
  Looking for where to give input? We’ve made it easier by compiling the most relevant opportunities and tools in one place.
  🔗 Explore Current Input Opportunities and Key Website Resources.

👉Top of the page: See currently open public comment opportunities we’ve highlighted—focused on Medicaid and disability policy changes that directly affect families, caregivers, and providers.

👉Bottom of the page: Access official state agency links where you can find additional proposals, track future changes, and subscribe to updates yourself.

Want to stay informed about waiver changes, public comment periods, and policy updates? 

Here are simple ways to make sure you don’t miss important opportunities to speak up or stay involved. 

📬 Subscribe for Email Alerts

You can receive notifications directly by subscribing to updates from state agencies. 

These may include:

• FSSA news and rule changes

• DDRS waiver updates

• Medicaid bulletins

• Disability Rights

• Indiana Department of Health

• Public hearing notices

🧩 Community-Based Alerts

Advocacy organizations and provider agencies often share comment opportunities, including:

• The Arc of Indiana

• Indiana Family to Family

• Indiana Disability Rights

• Indiana Families United For Care

• Local councils, self-advocacy groups, or waiver support networks
  
  

🗣️ Public Engagement Opportunities

Look for invitations to join:

• Stakeholder forums

• Listening sessions

• Medicaid managed care feedback groups

• Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) advisory panels

These events are often posted on state websites, sent via email lists, or shared through provider agencies.

🕒  Stay Ahead of Deadlines

Most comment windows are short—often just 30 days. To stay informed:

• Check key websites monthly

• Subscribe to official agency updates

• Follow trusted advocacy groups on social media

• Ask your case manager or provider to forward announcements

A comment can be as brief as a sentence, address specific aspects, or respond to all aspects of a proposed regulation.

Write a Strong Public Comment in 6 Simple Steps

1. Introduce yourself (1 line)

   • “I’m a small‑town pharmacist in Indiana and this rule affects my daily workflow.”

2. Point to the exact text: 

   • Quote or cite the page / section / line you’re discussing.

   • Example: “Section II‑B, page 8, lines 12‑18.”

3. Explain the real‑world impact: 

   • How will this rule help or hurt you, your business, your family, or your community?

4. Back it up: 

   • Add a data point, study, cost estimate, or a short personal story that proves your point.

5. Suggest a clear fix:

   • Example: “Replace ‘must submit weekly’ with ‘must submit monthly’ to cut paperwork in half.”

6. Wrap up in one sentence: 

   • Restate your main point and your recommended change.
     
     

Quick Tips

• • Answer the agency’s own questions listed in the proposal.

  • Be specific—details carry more weight than “I oppose this.”

  • Stay respectful & on‑topic—tone matters.

  • Cite your sources (even a simple link or report title).

  • Omit private info—comments become part of the public record.
    
    

Copy these steps into your draft, check each box, and your comment will hit the mark—whether the rule is federal, state, or local.

 ➡️ Learn more on writing an effective public comment

These changes are still open for public comment. I’m sharing what I’ve said—and why.

These are the Medicaid waiver proposals and disability policy changes I’m actively commenting on—or have submitted comments for in the past. Current items are still open for public input, and I’m sharing my comments to help others speak up, too.

▶️ Read Current Comments
▶️ Browse Past Submissions

Have Questions or Want Help with Your Comment?

We’re here to help families and providers understand the process and take action.

📱 Call or Text: 260-209-4404

📧 Email: info@FamilySolutionsCares.com