The approval of Indiana’s PathWays for Aging Program followed two public comment periods, in 2023 and early 2024. Photo from Adobe Stock.

By Joe Ulery
Indiana News Service

INDIANA — The federal agency overseeing state entitlement programs, including Medicaid, has approved Indiana’s proposed waivers and amendments for managed care and home- and community-based services.

On July 1, Indiana will launch PathWays for Aging for Medicaid-enrolled Hoosiers over 60, replacing the Aged and Disabled waiver. People under 60 will move to the Health and Wellness waiver, both managed by the Family and Social Services Administration.

Dan Rusyniak, secretary of family and social services, explained the change.

“The most important thing these waiver approvals give us is the authority to launch our Indiana PathWays for the Aging Program,” Rusyniak noted. “120,000 or so Hoosiers who are over the age of 60 and on Medicaid will be part of a program that makes it much easier to navigate health care.”

The Traumatic Brain Injury waiver will shift from the administration’s Division of Aging to the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services. Concerns have been raised about undefined caregiving tiers and reduced care hours. The administration assured Hoosiers the changes will clarify skilled respite care and caregiving tiers.

Rusyniak pointed out changes also revise payments for parental care of seriously disabled children. Parents will now receive a per diem under Structured Family Care, following a $1 billion budget correction.

“To navigate Medicaid, both state plan and waiver and potentially Medicare, by coordinating these three programs through a single health plan it makes individuals with complex medical needs better able to get the services they need,” Rusyniak stressed.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services approved the PathWays waiver for five years.