Hamilton to hold press conference on impact of the Medicaid Waiver waitlist

Tuesday, Oct. 15, State Rep. Carey Hamilton (D-Indianapolis) will hold a press conference to discuss the devastating impact of PathWays and Health and Wellness waiver waitlists under Indiana's managed care program, PathWays for Aging. The waitlist went into effect this past April in a cost-saving effort by the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) after the $1 billion Medicaid shortfall. Hamilton will be joined by her constituent, Jo Lynn Garing, whose recently deceased grandmother, Josephine Malone, didn’t receive her waiver benefits in the transition to managed care and the waitlist put into place by FSSA. Josephine, a 103-year-old woman suffering from dementia and congestive heart failure, nearly had to move care facilities weeks before her death because she could not get off the waitlist. 

WHO: State Rep. Carey Hamilton, Jo Lynn Garing, Dan Kenyon (Executive Director of the Indiana Assisted Living Association (INALA)), and Executive Staff from Bloom Senior Living.

WHAT: Press conference to discuss the issue of the Medicaid PathWays for Aging Waiver waitlist causing vulnerable Hoosiers to lose medical care.

WHERE: Bloom at Kessler, 5011 Kessler Blvd E Dr., Indianapolis, IN 46220.

WHEN: 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 15. 

*Press interested in attending should RSVP to Courtney.bell@iga.in.gov. 

Porter comments on dismal monthly revenue report

State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement regarding today’s revenue report, which is $183.7 million below forecast: 

“Unfortunately, this is another dismal revenue report that’s well below forecast. Revenue was down in August, and that trend has continued with our revenues down significantly for September. We’re now collectively $159.4 million under the total forecast for fiscal year 2025. 

“These variances in our forecasts may be due to 2023 legislation which changed the timing of payments. In some months, we have higher collections, whereas others have significantly lower payments. Time will tell whether or not the revenue missed this month will be made up over the holidays.

“Even if we do recoup our losses, there’s no denying that we won’t have much wiggle room in 2025. Short-sighted budgetary decisions in the past, like unrestrained voucher spending, diverted funding from public resources. In this next budget cycle, we must prioritize essential long-neglected human infrastructures over unneeded investments. 

“We can still fully fund Medicaid, statewide Pre-K, our public schools and provide a property tax credit with diminished revenue. The money is there: The general fund and state surplus exist to cover unexpected deficits. It all comes down to the programs we prioritize, and I will prioritize resources that truly benefit all Hoosiers.” 

DeLaney holds press conference on status of education funding

Yesterday (Oct. 2), State Rep. Ed DeLaney (D-Indianapolis) held a press conference to discuss key findings from a report prepared at his request by the Legislative Services Agency (LSA). LSA is the nonpartisan agency responsible for assisting the Indiana General Assembly in matters of research and fiscal analysis. This report contains historical data for education expenditures dating back to 2011, the year that Republicans became the majority party in both houses of the state legislature. 

“In recent years, any discussion of education funding in Indiana turns into an argument of who is getting what between public, private and charter schools. The fact of the matter is that funding for education as a whole in Indiana has decreased since Republicans took over the legislature. According to the data in this report, total funding for schools of all types has dropped from 44.3% of the state budget in 2011, to 39.8% in 2024. 

“As stated in the Indiana constitution to which the legislature is beholden, we have two responsibilities: pass a budget and maintain a uniform system of public schools. Currently, public schools in Indiana educate nearly 90% of students. 

“It comes as no surprise that funding for traditional public schools has taken the biggest hit from the reduction in education funding, from 43.1% of the state budget in 2011, to 36.4%. As a result of cutting state funding for education, we have put pressure on property taxes charged to Hoosier homeowners. School districts have no choice but to turn to local property tax revenue to get adequate funding to continue providing students with an education.

“At the same time as these funding cuts, we have seen our state college-going rate drop alarmingly. Approximately 8,000 fewer Hoosier high schoolers each year go on to pursue post-secondary education today than would have been expected in 2011.

“The 2025 budget session is quickly approaching. While the legislature likes to get way off topic when it comes to education, it is essential that we address how much our state has devalued our education system. Instead of making teachers walk on eggshells while trying to discuss the topic of book banning, let's give them the funding they need to teach their students how to proficiently read and write. Instead of concerning ourselves with forcing university professors to pass ideological tests, let's instead focus on how to fill their classrooms with Hoosier high school graduates.” 

Click here to view the report. 

Dant Chesser shares concerns of senior community after town hall

Last week, State Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser (D-Jeffersonville) hosted a town hall to discuss the PathWays for Aging program and other concerns seniors in Southern Indiana are facing. The PathWays Waiver program has a waiting list, with 9,248 seniors currently waiting. Despite the number of open slots exceeding the number of people on the waitlist, thousands of seniors have been left without insurance to pay for vital services. Seniors also shared their concerns about high property taxes and income taxes on social security and pensions. 

Dant Chesser released the following statement after hearing from the community: 

“It’s a difficult, stressful time for many seniors in Southern Indiana. Last week, I held a town hall in Jeffersonville to hear their concerns.  Our seniors on fixed incomes are struggling with rising property tax increases, health care services and more. Our older neighbors on fixed incomes have little to no breathing room after they pay their bills. 

“Their worries have been amplified with the waiver waitlist for Medicaid’s PathWays for Aging program. Thousands of applicants are going without services, which is causing additional stress for them and their caregivers. This affects their in-home nurses and other essential services they need. I’m worried some may be forced to move while waiting on their benefits from this program. 

“Any senior who wants to age comfortably in their home should be able to make that choice. Hoosiers who have worked hard their whole lives deserve our support. The current issues facing our senior population are deeply concerning, and I look forward to discussing potential solutions at the Statehouse.”

Dant Chesser shares concerns of senior community after town hall

Last week, State Rep. Wendy Dant Chesser (D-Jeffersonville) hosted a town hall to discuss the PathWays for Aging program and other concerns seniors in Southern Indiana are facing. The PathWays Waiver program has a waiting list, with 9,248 seniors currently waiting. Despite the number of open slots exceeding the number of people on the waitlist, thousands of seniors have been left without insurance to pay for vital services. Seniors also shared their concerns about high property taxes and income taxes on social security and pensions. 

Dant Chesser released the following statement after hearing from the community: 

“It’s a difficult, stressful time for many seniors in Southern Indiana. Last week, I held a town hall in Jeffersonville to hear their concerns.  Our seniors on fixed incomes are struggling with rising property tax increases, health care services and more. Our older neighbors on fixed incomes have little to no breathing room after they pay their bills. 

“Their worries have been amplified with the waiver waitlist for Medicaid’s PathWays for Aging program. Thousands of applicants are going without services, which is causing additional stress for them and their caregivers. This affects their in-home nurses and other essential services they need. I’m worried some may be forced to move while waiting on their benefits from this program. 

“Any senior who wants to age comfortably in their home should be able to make that choice. Hoosiers who have worked hard their whole lives deserve our support. The current issues facing our senior population are deeply concerning, and I look forward to discussing potential solutions at the Statehouse.”

Garcia Wilburn joins fellow Behavioral Health Commission legislators to discuss final 2024 report, opportunities for legislative action

Today (Oct. 1), State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers) joined the three other legislators serving alongside her on the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission (BHC) and Commission Chair Jay Chaudhary to discuss the BHC's final 2024 report and its policy recommendations for improving behavioral and mental health in Indiana.

Garcia Wilburn passed a law in 2023 to require all first responders undergo mental health and resiliency training and plans to work on additional behavioral health legislation during the 2025 legislative session.

Garcia Wilburn released the following statement on today's press conference:

“The work of the Behavioral Health Commission is meaningful to me both as a clinician and researcher. I was extremely proud of the bipartisan fashion of today's press conference with State Sens. Michael Crider and Andrea Hunley and State Rep. Cindy Ledbetter, because behavioral health progress need not be partisan.

“Today, I talked about the importance of growing the behavioral and mental healthcare workforce pipeline in the short and long term. We need to create a system that works for those operating within it in a sustainable way. All 92 counties, including Hamilton and Marion Counties, are designated mental health workforce shortage areas.    

“Indiana has several barriers that prohibit certain healthcare providers from providing the behavioral health services they could be administering, so we need to work to break down the institutional silos and licensing issues that are keeping us from making progress while still ensuring patients receive quality care. I also personally want to work to provide more support to our frontline first responders so that we continue to fight the high rates of suicide, burnout and PTSD that these professions face. Finally, we need to make sure that students know that behavioral health careers are scientific, evidence-based professions that they can pursue, especially as we contemplate the high school diploma redesign.”

Pryor celebrates Pike High School teacher, Graciela Miranda, named as 2025 Indiana Teacher of the Year

Friday (Sept. 27),  the Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) announced Graciela Miranda as the 2025 Teacher of the Year. Mrs. Miranda teaches English language learners from Freshman to Senior year at Pike High School.

State Rep. Cherrish Pryor released the following statement:

“I am unbelievably proud to have the 2025 Teacher of the Year, Graciela Miranda, in my district. When the top three finalists were announced, I had the pleasure of sitting in on Mrs. Miranda’s class while she went through a lesson. It was remarkable to see her passion for education and creating life-long learners shine through as she spoke to her class. In that lesson, Mrs. Miranda used her own upbringing as a first-generation college graduate to impart on her students that there is nothing they cannot achieve if they work hard and dream big.

“What stood out most to me about Mrs. Miranda was how deeply she cares for each and every student. It was clear that her students see that as well. After the announcement on Friday, I was touched to see a group of her students run up to Mrs. Miranda and pull her into a big group hug. The reaction from all the students in the room just shows that Mrs. Miranda is seen as an inspiring figure throughout the school.

“With over 64,000 teachers in our state, it is an honor to have one of Pike High School’s own recognized as the best. Congratulations, Mrs. Miranda! Thank you for all that you do for your students and our community.”

Errington responds to threats against Indiana schools this week

This week, middle and high schools across the state have received unrelated security gun threats from students, forcing school closures and delays. These threats have affected schools in cities from all corners of the state, including Crothersville, Mooresville, Valparaiso, Center Grove, Lafayette, Marion, Anderson and Indianapolis. Police have made more than 20 juvenile arrests in response to these threats.

State Rep. Sue Errington (D-Muncie) released the following statement in response:

"Indiana is experiencing a crisis. The longer we continue to ignore it, incidents like these will continue to occur.

"When a student threatens a school and their peers, there is clearly more going on behind the scenes. The 2023 Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicates that 33.7% of Hoosier students say they experienced poor mental health, while 47% reported feeling sad or helpless. If our kids feel backed into a corner, they are likelier to lash out and make destructive decisions.

"We must also address how students are gaining access to dangerous weapons like guns. In Muncie, you can hop over to a gun store, retail store or even the fairgrounds to purchase a firearm. Almost anyone can buy a gun in Indiana, and in turn, these weapons end up in the hands of children.

"My Democratic colleague State Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis) and captain in the Marion County Sheriff's office, has repeatedly authored safe storage legislation that would require gun owners to lock up their firearms. Gore has reintroduced this piece of legislation each year since 2021, and every time the majority has stopped the legislation dead in its tracks. This legislation has the potential to save lives and we need to appeal to lawmakers on both sides of the political spectrum to get this done.

"Last session, I offered an amendment to HEA 1235 that would have restored control to local governments, allowing cities and towns to regulate firearms. HEA 1235 it strips local control from cities and towns to be able to hold manufacturers accountable for deaths and injuries resulting from guns. This too, was dismissed by Republicans.

"When students from Burris Laboratory School brought their concerns to the Statehouse this past session, they were met with a holstered gun mockingly waved in their faces by a Republican legislator. If members of the General Assembly are comfortable flashing firearms directly at children, then how can we expect students to treat the issue seriously? Until all legislators treat this issue with the seriousness it deserves, we can expect a continued rise in violent incidents.

"We cannot continue to look away while children are at direct risk on school grounds. The answer isn't just increased security and active shooter drills or arming teachers. It is ensuring all Hoosier students are heard, supported and receive the care they deserve. It is prioritizing sensible legislation to keep weapons away from children.

"I will not stand idly by while our schools are threatened with senseless violence. To the students and school faculty affected by these threats, I stand with you. I will continue to put pressure on the Republican majority to adopt policy on this multifaceted issue."

Gore, IMPD celebrate first Green Alert resulting in successful location of a missing veteran

On Monday (Sept. 16), a statewide Green Alert was issued following the disappearance of a veteran in Southwest Indianapolis. As of yesterday (Sept. 19), 44-year-old Justin Cavin has been safely located by detectives from the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD). During the 2024 legislative session, State Rep. Mitch Gore (D-Indianapolis) authored House Enrolled Act 1021 to establish the statewide Green Alert system for missing, at-risk veterans. This week marks the first successful use of the Green Alert System since it launched on July 1 of this year. 

“When I authored House Enrolled Act 1021, I knew that if it helped bring one at-risk veteran home safely then all of my time in the General Assembly would be well worth it,” Gore said. “The safety of Hoosier veterans should be a top priority for the state, and creating an alert lets our veterans and their families know that if they go missing, we will find them. This week, we saw the Green Alert system used to bring a veteran home to their loved ones.

“I am so thankful that we were able to safely locate Mr. Cavin after his disappearance earlier this week. Specifically, I want to thank Indiana State Police's missing person clearinghouse and the detectives of the IMPD for working together to successfully administer the first Green Alert. Getting this law passed and signed into effect was important, but for it to have a positive impact in Hoosiers' lives, we needed the leadership of our public safety agencies to put it into action with care and precision, just as they did here. It's important that we care for and support our veterans both at home and abroad.” 

 “This first-ever green alert highlights the crucial role we all play in protecting our veterans. I am incredibly relieved that Mr. Cavin has been located safe. This successful outcome demonstrates the power of community awareness and collaboration by law enforcement agencies,” said Chief Chris Bailey. 

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Summers reacts to data on child fatalities, demands preventative action

Today (Sept. 18), the Interim Study Committee on Child Services met to discuss updates from the Indiana Department of Health and Indiana Department of Child Services (DCS) on child fatalities in our state and solutions to combat the issue.

In 2022, 4,422 Hoosier children between the ages of zero and 17 died as a result of injuries, which include homicide, drowning, suicide, and transportation accidents. According to DCS, 308 deaths were investigated, and in 61 of these cases, the cause of death was confirmed to be caused by abuse or neglect. The same data shows that 67% of these children were three or younger.

“We aren't doing enough to move the needle to help Hoosier children,” State Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) said. “As legislators, we have a duty to protect the most vulnerable. Children are entirely dependent on the adults in their lives. When an adult fails as a guardian, it is the child who is left to face the consequences.

“We need to be proactive instead of reactive to protect our children. If we want to reduce the number of child deaths in our state, we must invest in combating risk factors that heighten the risk of abuse, such as low-familiar income, mental health and substance abuse. Our state has continually failed to do so, and the cost is our children's lives.”

Jackson ‘deeply concerned’ about Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities report

Wednesday, Sept. 18, the Interim Study Committee on Child Services met to discuss the latest Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities Report.

State Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D-Hammond), a member of the committee, released the following statement: 

“No matter how you look at it, the data shown in the latest Child Abuse and Neglect Fatalities report is deeply disturbing. Every single child lost to the cruelty of abuse and neglect is a heart-wrenching tragedy. The numbers have been far too high for far too many years. 

“According to this report, between 2016 and 2022, 421 children lost their lives due to mistreatment by the people trusted to care for them. The number of fatalities was consistent year after year. I am concerned about the qualifications of those investigating these tragedies as they just continue to happen at the same rate.   

“These investigations seem to be just checking the boxes. The well-being and lives of children should not be simplified down to a box to check. 

“Thirteen of the children that died this year had previous involvement with the Department of Child Services. Those deaths could have been prevented. We need to take a deep look at our current system and make changes that will provide greater protection for our most vulnerable population. 

“No child or family should ever be put through this horror. As a state, we need to put all possible resources into protecting Hoosier children from falling victim to these tragedies.” 

Pfaff demands FSSA take accountability for leaving Hoosier seniors out to dry

This July, the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) launched the PathWays for Aging home- and community-based service (HCBS) Waiver for eligible Hoosiers aged 60 or older. According to the FSSA, the Medicaid managed care program was intended to improve the health and well-being of aging Hoosier populations. However, since the program's launch, many eligible Hoosiers have been left on a waitlist with no end in sight.

The PathWays Waiver has a total of 10,500 slots for newly eligible seniors, and 9,247 Hoosiers are currently on the waitlist. Despite the number of open slots exceeding the number of people on the waitlist, the FSSA is only filling 800 of those open slots each month from the waitlist. The thousands of Hoosiers remaining on the waitlist have been left pathless without adequate support or communication.

“With the thousands of applicants on the waitlist, this means that the FSSA plans to let Hoosier seniors wait an entire year to finally receive government services they've been paying into their entire lives,” State Rep. Tonya Pfaff (D-Terre Haute) said. “Now, these same seniors are left without answers as they are forced to wait months for critical services.”

“I recently contacted the FSSA asking them to send a representative to assist concerned seniors at the Silver Birch assisted living in Terre Haute. This request was denied. The FSSA did not explain why they could not send a liaison to meet with these residents. Instead, the FSSA advised the individuals at Silver Birch to wade through a sea of red tape if they want any answers. The apathy shown by the FSSA towards our Hoosier seniors is unacceptable. I will do everything in my power to ensure that our seniors get the support they so desperately need.

“Left without any guidance or transparency from the FSSA, those stuck on the waitlist are now at risk of becoming unhoused and losing access to essential services. This is as irresponsible as it is unconscionable. It is unacceptable to allow the FSSA to take advantage of our vulnerable senior population by refusing to help them get the care they need.  Until the FSSA takes accountability for the mess they made, my office will continue to do what we can on behalf of affected seniors.”