Indiana Lt. Gov. reacts to proposed cuts to money going to families with special needs
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) - A change to Indiana state rules could make it so those who can’t work full time due to caring for a family member with special needs either won’t be paid, or will be paid less.
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration runs the state’s Medicaid program. In December, they realized a projection from earlier in the year was about $900 million short of what they needed.
To offset the deficit, they proposed a number of ways to cut costs. One of these would eliminate, or greatly diminish, the amount of money going to homes caring for someone with special needs.
Carey Broerman is a single mother to seven-year-old Orion. Orion has a number of diagnosed conditions, including OTC deficiency, which causes a buildup of ammonia in the body which attacks the brain.
Orion’s care means Carey can’t work full time, so she’s used a state waiver which has allowed her to be paid for her time caring for Orion on the days she can’t work.
“It’s allowed me to make a house payment, keep our electric on, put food on the table,” said Broerman.
She says it was a hard feeling when she found out the state would be changing the program, meaning a significant cut to the money she could receive.
“Devastated,” said Broerman. “It’s almost like the world came crashing down.”
On Monday, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) held a meeting to explain their flawed projection and the proposed cuts to make up for the shortage.
Members of other state organizations, as well as state legislators, had the chance to ask questions and make comments.
“I do not understand how FSSA can allow a billion dollar misrepresentation in terms of the forecast for the budget, and that is unfathomable to me how that can happen,” said Lieutenant Governor Suzanne Crouch.
FSSA leaders said there were specific areas of the budget where enrollment and costs went beyond expected increases. They said they looked first to those areas when planning ways to cut costs.
State legislators criticized the organization for a lack of transparency as to their reasoning for making the choices they did. They felt they also didn’t have enough answers when pressed on how things would look moving forward.
“We’re going to be judged by how we cared for the most vulnerable among us,” said Crouch. “Let’s be judged in a positive way, in a positive manner.”
Carey says the replacement programs and waivers, like the proposed Structured Family Caregiving Program, wouldn’t be enough.
She says she, and parents like her, are resilient, but something like this could lead her to lose her car.
“We as families are begging, pleading, help us, help us help our children,” said Broerman.
Given the number of questions yet to be answered, Lieutenant Governor Crouch finished the meeting by asking the FSSA to pause the implementation of the new rules, which are currently scheduled to into effect on July 1.
For more information on the proposed rule changes, visit https://www.in.gov/fssa/files/ATTCandSFCRelationshipGuidance.pdf.
To view the full meeting, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wu4Nhw_MY_Q.
To submit your comments to the state, send an email to DDRSwaivernoticecomment@fssa.IN.gov.
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