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As part of INARF’s continuing commitment to ensuring members are informed, we have compiled updates on key issues and activities in which the INARF Board of Directors, Governmental Affairs Committee, and Staff have been engaged in on your behalf. During the Legislative Session, INARF will update members on the top issues twice as often, releasing an Advocacy Update approximately every two weeks. Things move fast during the Session, and your INARF team will keep you informed every step of the way. Have a question or want to share your perspective on the issues below? Please contact either Christiaan Campbell or Keith Digman for assistance. Have an issue or concern that is impacting your business that is not listed in this update? Please let us know by clicking here. Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0: The initial HIP 2.0 launch has seen relative success with about 35,000 individuals enrolling within the first few weeks. Over the next few weeks, FSSA is focusing efforts on educating community partners and seeking their support in outreach. This effort includes a toolkit with presentations, fact sheets, and other materials. While the HIP Plus and HIP Basic are currently up and moving, HIP Link – which provides an enhanced POWER account to pay premiums, deductibles, and copays in employer sponsored plans – will likely not be available until late spring or summer. Waiver Re-Write and Rate Reform Activities: There is no new information on the status of the Family Supports and Community Integration & Habilitation Waiver submissions for CMS approval. Both were submitted at the end of December, 2014, and are under review by CMS. The RHS Daily Implementation Work Group has met several times with and without DDRS staff. To date, we continue to discuss issues around loss of housemates, managing settings where not all individuals receive the RHS Daily Rate, and preserving the flexibility to shift resources from the Residential allocation into the DAYS or BMAN reserve. DDRS recently requested Work Group members review data on individuals in service to verify information on settings and provide detail on situations where the DAYS allocation exceeds the standard allocation. While the Division analyzes this data, the work group is considering methodologies to address loss of housemate and understanding variations in allocations based on Algo and setting size. Facility and Community-Based Employment Services: The VR Rate Reform Work Group continues to meet in preparation for the launch of the “Hybrid Model” on July 1. Within the Work Group, sub-groups have been tasked with working through several outstanding issues, including service definition clarification, documentation requirements, and training curricula. An Executive Briefing has been recommended in advance of state-wide training to give a high-level overview of the changes and to address budgeting question. Other Work Groups were approved by the Membership Support and Development Committee to focus on recommendations for successful transition to compliance with the CMS Final Rule and to “Move the Dial” toward community-based services. Supervised Group Living: The Extensive Supports Need Work Group is meeting the afternoon of February 19th. It is anticipated that this will be one of the last meetings of the group, as they have largely completed their work to clarify and improve policies ensuring transitions in and out of ESN homes is thoughtful and timely. Gap Analysis Project: SB 504 was heard in Senate Family & Children Services; it was recommitted to Senate Appropriations. It will likely be heard in Appropriations after crossover in the context of overall budget discussions. Wellness Coordination: INARF Staff are working with the Division to convene a work group to review and make recommendations to improve the use and implementation of Wellness Coordination. The Division is currently gathering data from Advocare that will be useful in supporting this discussion. North Willow Status: INARF continues to provide updated vacancy information to BDDS. At last report, individuals and their families are making choices regarding type of service (i.e. waiver or group home) and beginning to reach out to providers.