The Silver Standard

What Indiana Providers, Advocates, and Families Need to Know A recent legal opinion issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has sparked significant concern among disability advocates, home care providers, and aging services organizations across the country. The opinion challenges a long-standing interpretation of federal disability law that has guided public policy for more than two decades and helped millions of Americans receive services in their homes and communitie

Employers in Indiana have many compliance responsibilities, and one requirement that is frequently overlooked is new hire reporting. While the process is relatively simple, failing to comply can result in penalties and unnecessary administrative headaches. For home care agencies and other employers that hire frequently, understanding Indiana's New Hire Reporting Program is essential. What Is New Hire Reporting? Both federal and Indiana law require employers to report newly hi

On June 18, 2026, the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (Indiana FSSA) issued IHCP Bulletin BT2026103, formally establishing six reasons that a member may be terminated from the Indiana PathWays for Aging waiver program. While many of these circumstances have existed in practice, the bulletin creates greater consistency in member notices and provides clearer guidance regarding waiver disenrollment. For home care agencies, care managers, and waiver service prov

Entrepreneurship, Community Wealth Building, and the Future of Culturally Competent Care in Indiana Juneteenth is a time to reflect on freedom—not only in a historical sense, but in the ongoing reality of economic opportunity, ownership, and generational wealth creation. One of the most important and fastest-growing shifts in this landscape is the rise of Black, Hispanic, African immigrant, Caribbean, Asian, and other minority-owned businesses in the home care industry. Home

The 2026 Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) Works annual seminar is scheduled to bring together Medicaid providers, state program leaders, and managed care partners for several days of education, updates, and hands-on training. This annual event remains one of the most important opportunities for enrolled Indiana Medicaid providers to stay current on program requirements, billing changes, and operational updates. Providers are encouraged to mark their calendars and watch

Indiana has recently taken a significant regulatory step affecting the home and behavioral health sector by pausing enrollment of new Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy provider agencies under the state Medicaid program. The move is part of a broader effort by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to address rapidly rising costs and strengthen oversight within the program. According to an official IHCP bulletin and multiple news reports, the state’

Family caregivers in Ohio can breathe a sigh of relief. House Bill 795, originally introduced as the SHIELD Act and later renamed the Medicaid Program Integrity and Fraud Prevention Act, generated significant concern among advocates, providers, and families who feared it could effectively eliminate Medicaid reimbursement for many family caregivers. The proposal failed to advance, meaning family members will continue to be eligible for payment under Ohio's Medicaid waiver prog

June is National PTSD Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can have on individuals, families, and communities. While PTSD is often associated with military veterans, many older adults live with trauma stemming from a wide range of life experiences, including military service, serious accidents, abuse, natural disasters, medical emergencies, violence, or the loss of loved ones. For many seniors, the effects of trauma may pe

Indiana Medicaid providers should be prepared for increased scrutiny of enrollment records over the next two years. In a recent provider bulletin, Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) announced that the Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) will be accelerating its provider revalidation efforts in response to a request from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). According to IHCP Bulletin BT202694, published June 4, 2026, the state will cond

Beginning July 1, Indiana's FAIRNESS Act (Senate Enrolled Act 76) will create new legal risks—and new compliance considerations—for employers across the state, including home care agencies, senior living communities, adult day centers, transportation providers, and other organizations serving older adults. The law makes it unlawful for employers to knowingly or intentionally recruit, hire, or continue employing individuals who are not authorized to work in the United States.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently announced a nationwide six-month moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for home health agencies and hospices. The moratorium took effect on May 13, 2026, as part of a broader effort to combat fraud, waste, and abuse within the Medicare program. For Indiana home health agencies, the impact depends on where your organization stands today. If You Already Have Medicare Certified Home Health Agency Good news: existing Me

Indiana’s Personal Services Agency (PSA) licensing process is undergoing significant changes, and agencies across the state need to prepare now to avoid delays, missed renewals, or licensing problems. The Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) is transitioning PSA licensing and renewals into the new IDOH Gateway system. This change affects new license applications, annual renewals, document uploads, payments, and agency updates. For home care agencies operating in Indiana, under

As Indiana’s population ages, dementia care training is becoming increasingly important across the entire continuum of care. Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias affect hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers, and care providers are seeing more individuals living with cognitive impairment in homes, assisted living communities, hospice programs, adult day centers, and skilled nursing facilities. Because dementia care requires specialized communication, behavioral support, safet

Indiana is entering a major demographic transformation — and the effects are already reshaping the future of home care across the state. From Indianapolis to rural communities in Southern and Northern Indiana, demand for in-home senior services is growing rapidly. Families increasingly want loved ones to age safely at home rather than move into institutional settings, while healthcare systems and policymakers are pushing for more community-based care options. At the same time

Across Indiana, more families are facing the same difficult question: how do you help an aging parent or loved one remain safely at home when they can no longer manage everything independently? For many families, the answer is not a single service, but a combination of support systems working together. More older adults today want to age in place rather than move into assisted living communities or nursing homes. They want to stay in familiar surroundings, sleep in their own

Indiana’s non-medical home care industry is closely watching developments this week following news that the Indiana Health Coverage Programs (IHCP) intends to reduce Medicaid waiver reimbursement rates for attendant care services provided by caregivers who reside in the same home as the participant receiving services. According to the now-removed IHCP bulletin (BT202673), standard Attendant Care services under Indiana’s HCBS Medicaid Waiver PathWays program would continue to

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced a major nationwide enforcement action that is already sending shockwaves through the home health and hospice industries. CMS will implement a six-month nationwide moratorium on new Medicare enrollments for home health agencies (HHAs) and hospice providers as part of a broader federal anti-fraud initiative. (cms.gov) For Indiana eldercare professionals, the announcement arrives during an already turbulent peri

For decades, CICOA Aging & In-Home Solutions has been one of Indiana’s most recognized and respected organizations serving older adults, caregivers, and individuals with disabilities. Recently, however, the organization announced a difficult transition after the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration decided not to continue CICOA as a case management provider under upcoming state changes. Reports indicate the loss of this contract funding has resulted in layoffs af

Hiring a family member to care for a client in home care is a situation that comes up frequently in eldercare—and it can be both highly beneficial and unexpectedly complex. While it may seem like the most natural fit, it requires careful consideration of clinical standards, compliance requirements, family dynamics, and long-term sustainability. Below are key benefits and potential pitfalls home care owners and eldercare professionals should weigh before approving or supportin

For many Indiana home care owners, expanding from non-medical services into skilled home health seems like a natural next step. After all, if an agency already serves seniors in the home, has referral relationships, and understands caregiving operations, adding skilled nursing or therapy services can appear to be a logical evolution. And in many cases, it can be. But transitioning from a non-medical Personal Services Agency (PSA) into a licensed home health agency is not simp