INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Pence has directed state agencies to act on all three initial recommendations provided by the governor’s task force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment and Prevention. At the first task force meeting in September, a list of action items were discussed and accepted for recommendation to the governor. Today, the governor took the following actions:

• Directed FSSA to determine the feasibility of pursuing a Medicaid Section 1115 Demonstration Waiver for individuals with drug use disorders to broaden Indiana Medicaid benefit packages to provide a more comprehensive continuum of covered services and care.
• Directed all state agencies to raise awareness of the existence of Aaron’s law, (SEA 406-2015), which the governor signed into law this year to allow individuals to obtain and administer lifesaving overdose intervention drugs. He asked agencies to consider how their agency may be directly or indirectly involved in the carrying out of this law and any constituencies that can be notified and educated.
• Directed the Department of Workforce Development to work closely with existing youth assistance programs and identify best practice models to replicate these programs statewide.

“When I established the governor’s task force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention, I asked the members to act with urgency to develop recommendations to confront the scourge of drug abuse that is affecting communities all across our state, and I’m grateful that they’ve done just that,” said governor Pence.

“In the first month of their deliberations, the task force has provided these initial recommendations, and I have directed our agencies to aggressively and creatively move forward on implementation. As the task force continues to move forward, Hoosiers can be confident that my administration is committed to addressing drug abuse in a comprehensive manner. I thank the members of the Task Force and all those who have provided counsel and guidance in this important process and I look forward to continued recommendations.”

The next meeting for the Governor’s Task Force on Drug Enforcement, Treatment, and Prevention is Oct. 15. For additional information about the Task Force, including a list of resources, post-meeting recordings, minutes, presentation materials and upcoming agendas, visit www.drugtaskforce.in.gov.