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Educational Support for ADHD and Tourette's
Students with ADHD and Tourette syndrome (TS) often have unique educational needs and may benefit from school-based interventions, modifications, and supports. Some students may also be eligible for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). One pathway to eligibility is the Other Health Impairment (OHI) category.
Designed for state policymakers, health care providers, school mental health specialists, and families, this guide helps clarify how OHI eligibility applies to students with ADHD and TS.
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Youth Mental Health Awareness Event Toolkit
The Indiana Department of Health, Division of Family Health Data and Fatality Prevention created a new Youth Mental Health Awareness Event Toolkit. This toolkit is designed to support schools and community organizations in planning and implementing a Youth Mental Health Awareness event.
The goal is to normalize conversations about mental health, highlight the availability of help, and connect students to supportive adults and resources. This event aims to:
- Reduce stigma surrounding mental health challenges
- Increase awareness of common youth mental health concerns
- Highlight available support systems, including school and community resources
- Empower students to seek help for themselves or others
- Strengthen connections between students and trusted adults
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Town Halls on HIP Work Requirements
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) in partnership with Covering Kids & Families of Indiana will host a series of public town halls across the state to help Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) members, providers, and community partners learn more about upcoming HIP work requirements.
The first three town halls are scheduled for August and September. Additional town halls will be announced throughout the year.
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August 17 – Ivy Tech Elkhart
- Community Center 3 and 5 - 22531 County Road 18, Goshen, IN 46528
- Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m. ET
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September 1 – Ivy Tech Fort Wayne
- Auditorium - 3800 N Anthony Blvd. Ft. Wayne, IN 46805
- Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m. ET
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September 4 – Ivy Tech Muncie
- Fisher Building - F110 - 345 S High Street, Muncie, IN 47305
- Time: 6 to 7:30 p.m. ET
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FSSA Sending Text Messages
FSSA plans to periodically text Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) members general information about HIP Work Requirements. The text message will be sent from the phone number 43816 and will not contain or ask about case information or have an impact on an individual’s HIP benefits or application.
The first text was sent on July 31st saying “Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) Work Requirements are starting on January 1, 2027. Please visit myfssa.in.gov for additional information.”
Future texts will be shared on HIP: Information for HIP Members.
| | Applying for SSI and Work Requirements | | |
While individuals who are medically frail qualify for a mandatory exclusion from work requirements, the interim final rule released in June states medically frail persons must also specifically show that their condition makes them unable to engage in work activities. This makes it more difficult for some people to qualify for the exclusion including individuals who are applying for Supplemental Security Income Program (SSI).
SSI pays monthly cash assistance to people who are unable to work because of a disability and generally qualifies people to receive healthcare coverage through Medicaid. Once approved for SSI, Medicaid enrollees would not be subject to work requirements. The SSI application process is often lengthy and difficult during which time individuals may struggle to prove they qualify for the exemption from work requirements.
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An Issue brief from KFF, What could Medicaid Work Requirements Mean for SSI Applicants?, reviews these concerns.
- People applying for SSI are generally unable to work, but current rules could make it challenging for them to qualify for a medical frailty exclusion.
- Different requirements for Medicaid eligibility determinations mean SSI applicants covered through the Medicaid expansion could face two concurrent assessments of their ability to work: one for SSI and one for Medicaid.
- In contrast to the SSI determination process, the Medicaid interim final rule is not clear on how states should determine ability to work in the context of Medicaid work requirements. States will adopt approaches that may put Medicaid coverage at risk for some SSI applicants.
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PE Standards Changing September 3rd
The IHCP bulletin from August 4th states that performance standards for Presumptive Eligibility (PE) providers are transitioning to Indiana Code standards effective September 3, 2026. All qualified providers (QPs) that make PE determinations will be evaluated under the performance standards in Indiana Code IC 12-15-4-1.5 superseding the percentage performance standards previously applied.
New Performance Standards
- The QP notifies the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) of the PE determination no later than five business days after the date of the determination.
- FSSA receives the individual’s full Medicaid application before the individual’s presumptive eligibility period expires.
- The individual determined presumptively eligible by the QP is determined eligible for Medicaid after the full application is received.
Every violation of any of these standards counts as one violation of the QPs performance standards, and each subsequent violation of a performance standard is an additional violation. These standards supersede the percentage performance standards previously applied on a calendar quarterly basis.
Findings of violation and notices:
- First violation in a calendar year will result in a warning
- Second violation within twelve months of first violation will result in mandatory training for staff.
- Third violation within twelve months of second violation will result in the QP no longer being qualified to make PE determinations for the Medicaid program.
Throughout the process there will be an opportunity to appeal.
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Marketplace Updates
CMS issued a new statement about how it will implement some of the policies that were recently paused or blocked by a federal court:
- In states that use HealthCare.gov, including Indiana, the open enrollment period for Plan Year (PY) 2027 will run from November 1, 2026 to January 15, 2027.
- All marketplace programs must immediately update their systems to stop removing or denying advance payments of the premium tax credit for applicants or enrollees due to failure to file and reconcile prior years’ premium tax credits. This applies to failure to reconcile a policy of any duration for Plan Years 2026 and 2027.
- The Department of Health and Human Services has re-implemented the automatic 60-day extension of time to resolve inconsistencies in household income data (known as data matching issues).
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988 Crisis Dashboard
From July 2025 through May 2026, there were 13,615 Hoosiers served by the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) recently launched a new public facing 988 Indiana crisis dashboard. The dashboard includes key metrics such as call volume, response times, and other indicators to monitor effectiveness.
If you or someone you know is currently experiencing any form of emotional distress, thoughts of suicide, a mental health or substance use crisis, please call or text 9-8-8, or chat at 988Indiana.org, to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and speak with a trained crisis specialist. This critical service is available to Hoosiers 24 hours each day and 7 days a week.
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Yearly Guidelines and Thresholds
Beyond the Basics updated their Yearly Guidelines and Thresholds chart with new numbers for Plan Year 2027.
These guidelines include:
- 2026 Federal Poverty guidelines
- Expected premium contribution
- Employer-sponsored insurance affordability threshold
- Out-of-pocket maximum
- Affordability exemption threshold for catastrophic coverage
- Tax filing thresholds
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Public Charge Regulation Toolkit
This Public Charge Toolkit from Protecting Immigrant Families has a wide variety of resources on public charge for community members, advocates, and community-based organizations.
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Friday, August 14 at 2:00pm ET
Thursday, August 20 at 6:00pm ET
Join an upcoming virtual input session to share your experiences about life with a disability in Indiana. Input directly informs the Statewide Plan for Independent Living (State Plan)—a statewide roadmap that guides efforts to improve access, opportunity, and independence for people with disabilities. When people with disabilities share their lived experiences, the plan becomes stronger, more relevant, and more effective.
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Wednesday, August 19 at 1pm ET
As part of National Immunization Awareness Month, join Healthier Generation for a webinar designed to support state-level health and education partners as they navigate today's challenges related to childhood and adolescent vaccinations. Practical insights and resources to help strengthen childhood vaccination efforts will be presented.
Participants who complete the webinar are eligible to receive 1 contact hour and a certificate of completion.
Register here.
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Thursday, August 20 from 2-4pm ET
The Fair Housing Center of Central Indiana is hosting a 2-hour virtual workshop on disability specific regulations of fair housing laws with a focus on rental transactions.
Learn more and register here.
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Wednesday, August 26 at 2pm ET
The Department of Homeland Security published a new rule regarding public charge determinations which will negatively impact certain immigrants and their families. Justice in Aging is presenting this webinar, Public Charge Final Rule: What Advocates Need to Know, to share information and resources on the changes.
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Thursday, September 3 at 3pm ET
Join the Indiana Immunization Coalition as Dr. Maurice Henein, MD, a designated civil surgeon in Indianapolis, explains the vaccines and procedures that are necessary to meet immigration requirements. The webinar is free to anyone interested in the topic.
Register here.
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Wednesday, September 9 at 3pm ET
Join the Indiana Immunization Coalition for a discussion about Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) disease along with information about RSV vaccines. Ruth Carrico, PhD, DNP, an Infection Prevention and Control Consultant, Professor and Family Nurse Practitioner, Louisville School of Medicine, will be the presenter. The event is free.
Register here.
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Thursday, September 24 from 9am - 4:15pm ET
Registration is now open for Indiana Family to Family’s virtual Heart to Heart Conference. This free annual conference is an opportunity for families and professionals to learn and connect in support of children and youth who have various health and mental health needs and disabilities. Learn more here.
| | TOBACCO PREVENTION & CESSATION | | | |
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IHCP Membership
Total Membership decreased
in June.
With 1,512,713 members, there were 16,256, or 1.06%, less members in June 2026 than in May 2026. Membership has dropped for fourteen months straight.
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