Make an Impact: Shape Indiana’s Medicaid Policies

The Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy Working Group, created under Executive Order 25-31, is inviting families, providers, and community members to attend in-person listening sessions across the state this July.

These sessions are a chance to share your experiences with ABA therapy in Indiana, voice concerns, and help shape future recommendations on cost containment strategies. Your feedback will directly inform how ABA services are evaluated and potentially improved.

Listening Session Dates & Locations

📅 Wednesday, July 10
🕒 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT / 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET
📍 Ivy Tech Valparaiso – Room D226
3100 Tech Dr., Valparaiso, IN 46383

📅 Tuesday, July 15
🕒 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET
📍 Ivy Tech Richmond – Room 1239
2357 Chester Blvd., Richmond, IN 47374

📅 Thursday, July 24
🕒 2:00–3:00 p.m. CT / 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET
📍 Ivy Tech Evansville – Room 107
3501 N First Ave., Evansville, IN 47710

Additional Information

 Read the official announcement about the listening sessions and the purpose behind the Working Group’s efforts.

 👉 More about the ABA Workgroup

📢 Press Release Announcing Listening Sessions

Public Input Encouraged:
Community members are welcome to share their experiences, concerns, or suggestions by emailing: abaworkgroup@fssa.in.gov 

Public Comment Opportunity – Vocational Rehabilitation Rule Changes (460 IAC 14.1)

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) and the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) are asking for public feedback on major changes to Indiana’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program rules. These changes involve replacing the old rules (460 IAC 14) with new rules under 460 IAC 14.1.

This is the second and final chance for the public to provide comments before the rules are finalized. DDRS has already reviewed earlier feedback and made some revisions. You can now view:

• The updated proposed rule

• Public comments previously submitted

• DDRS’s responses to those comments

🔔 Deadline to submit comments: Monday, August 4, 2025 (by close of business)

📬 How to Submit Comments:

Option 1: By Mail

Send to:
Amanda DeRoss, Office of General Counsel
FSSA – 402 W. Washington St., Room W451
Indianapolis, IN 46204
Label your letter: “COMMENT RE: LSA Document #24-82”

Option 2: By Email

Send to: amanda.deross@fssa.in.gov
Subject line: COMMENT RE: LSA Document #24-82

Option 3: Speak at the Public Hearing

🗓️ Date/Time: August 4, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. ET
📍 Location: Indiana Government Center South, Room W451
💻 Remote option available via Zoom (link is posted in the public notice)

✅ Your voice matters. Now is the time to speak up to help shape how Indiana supports people with disabilities through its VR program.

Public Comment Opportunity – Proposed HCBS Waiver Amendments (CIH, FSW, Health & Wellness, TBI)

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has opened a public comment period from July 9 to August 8, 2025 for proposed changes to several Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waivers.

This opportunity is part of the ongoing BDS Waiver Re-set project aimed at improving and aligning services for individuals with disabilities. FSSA is collecting feedback on amendments to the following waivers:

• Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH)

• Family Supports Waiver (FSW)

• Health and Wellness (H&W) Waiver

• Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Waiver
  
  

These changes will not take effect until December 2025, but your input now is essential. The public comment process ensures that individuals, families, caregivers, and providers have a chance to weigh in before the changes are submitted to the federal government (CMS).

What’s Being Proposed?

Some of the major proposed changes across all waivers include:

•  Adding Benefits Counseling as a new service

• Combining Home Modifications with the Home Modification Assessment

• Limiting paid caregiver hours to 40 hours/week per caregiver for relatives or legal guardians

• New self-direction options for certain services

• Technical updates to make the waivers easier to understand and more consistent across programs
  
  

Specific waiver updates include:

CIH & FSW:

• New Level of Care (LOC) assessment tool

• Restructuring behavior services; eliminating Intensive Behavioral Intervention (IBI)

• New limits on Music & Recreational Therapy

• Ending facility-based prevocational services

• Adding DSP training and registry requirements
  
  

Health and Wellness Waiver:

• Removing certain licensing requirements (HHA/PSA) for services like Attendant Care and Transportation

• Ending the Participant-Directed Home Care Services (PDHCS) pilot and replacing it with a new model

• Adding Extended Services
  
  

TBI Waiver:

• Shared staffing option for individuals living with housemates

• Renaming and aligning employment services

• Removing HHA and PSA license requirements from several services
  
  

 How to Participate

• Summaries of the proposed amendments are posted on the BDS Waiver Re-set webpage 

• The full proposal is on the Waiver Drafts Website 

• Instructions for submitting comments will also be posted that day 

• Comments can be submitted from July 9 through August 8, 2025