ARTICLE
Systems changes and initiatives, workforce issues, and quality as an outcome will be the three overarching areas of focus for INARF’s 2016 Administrative and Legislative Agenda. Over the past few months, the INARF Governmental Affairs Committee identified issues facing the industry within each area of focus, developed and approved the list of priorities, and sent them to the INARF Board of Directors for final review and approval. The INARF Board approved the agenda on October 23, 2015. INARF’s top three legislative priorities for 2016 include expanding training concerning interactions with individuals with disabilities for some safety and health care professionals, increasing employment opportunities for Hoosiers with disabilities through the State Use Law, and maintaining tax credits, deductions, and exemptions important to INARF members. Creating enabling legislation for the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act and encouraging legislation to address the needs of children in the First Steps Program are two other legislative priorities. INARF has also identified issues that need to be addressed administratively. One issue, developing a long-range plan for sustainable funding, has been converted into a workgroup, which will also focus on DSP workforce-related issues. INARF will continue to work with the Family and Social Services Administration to address issues related to shared living, building upon the work started by the INARF Shared Living Workgroup in 2013 and 2014. Finally, INARF will partner with the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) to explore incentives to support the transition of individuals with disabilities out of traditional group home services into Medicaid waiver programs. For more information and to read the full 2016 INARF Administrative and Legislative Agenda, click here. If you have any questions or comments, contact the INARF office.