IndianaIndiana requires officials to seek approval for separate assisted living program
State officials were required to seek federal approval by September 1, 2026, for a separate Medicaid assisted living program for older adults needing nursing home care.
What it does
State officials had to seek federal approval by September 1, 2026, for a separate Medicaid assisted living program for adults 60 or older who need nursing home care. If approved, slots currently used by assisted living recipients would move.
From July 1, 2027, certain Medicaid recipients must get care through a program that pays for each service on their 100th straight day in a nursing facility.
People receiving Medicaid home and community care can ask providers for service records and plain-language statements of services billed for them. They must report errors within 45 days of receiving either.
For adults 60 or older who need nursing home care and are not moving from another waiver, Indiana had to seek federal approval for a home care spending cap no higher than nursing home costs.
State officials must work with home health providers and their association on a way to pay for home health care, then send the plan to lawmakers by November 30, 2026.
Argument forRequested service records and plain-language statements of services billed could help people spot care billed to Medicaid that they did not receive.
Argument againstIf approved, the spending cap could limit home care choices for adults 60 or older who need nursing home care and are not transferring from another waiver.
More detail
Indiana officials must ask federal health officials to approve a separate Medicaid assisted living program. The program would cover adults at least 60 years old who need a nursing home level of care. Federal approval is required. If granted, officials must transfer slots currently used by people receiving assisted living services to the separate program. The application was due September 1, 2026, and requests a July 1, 2026, start.
Affected recipients must receive Medicaid through a program that pays for each service. It covers Medicare-eligible Medicaid nursing facility residents and adults 60 or older who receive listed Medicaid services because of age, blindness, or disability. Starting July 1, 2027, this applies on the 100th consecutive day of nursing facility care.
Providers must supply requested service records and plain-language statements of services billed; recipients must review what they receive and report errors. It covers people receiving Medicaid home and community care services. A recipient's legal guardian may request service records. Providers must give service records on request at most once per calendar quarter and itemized statements of services billed on request at most twice per calendar year. Case managers must help recipients review and resolve errors when asked. Recipients have 45 days after receiving a record or statement to report errors or differences between billed and received care to the state office, provider, or another appropriate organization.
Indiana officials must seek federal approval for a spending limit per person on home and community care. It would cover adults at least 60 who need a nursing home level of care and are not moving from another home and community care waiver. The limit could be no higher than nursing home care costs. Federal approval is needed before it applies. The request was due September 1, 2026. This section expires July 1, 2028.
State officials must develop a home health payment method and send it to lawmakers. The plan concerns payments for home health services. Officials must work with a home health services association and home health providers. The plan is due November 30, 2026. This section expires December 31, 2027.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Mar 12Signed by the Governor Mike BraunBecame Law
- Mar 12Public Law 160Major
- Mar 5Signed by the President Pro TemporeMajor
- Mar 2Signed by the President of the SenateMajor
- Feb 27Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the Senate; Roll Call 325: yeas 46, nays 4
- Vote recorded HB 1277 - Crider. Result: pass.Upper
- Vote recorded HB 1277 - Barrett. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 27Rules Suspended. Conference Committee Report 1: adopted by the House; Roll Call 416: yeas 96, nays 0
- Feb 27CCR # 1 filed in the SenateMinor
- Feb 27CCR # 1 filed in the HouseMinor
- Feb 27Signed by the SpeakerMajor
- Feb 25Senate advisors appointed: Busch, Yoder, Brown L
- Feb 25House conferees appointed: Barrett, Shackleford
- Feb 25House advisors appointed: Goss-Reaves, Slager, Lopez, Bauer, Porter
- Feb 25Returned to the House with amendmentsMinor
- Feb 25Senate conferees appointed: Crider, Jackson L
- Feb 25House dissented from Senate amendments
- Feb 25Motion to dissent filedMinor
- Feb 24Third reading: passed; Roll Call 250: yeas 47, nays 0Passed Senate
- Vote recorded HB 1277 - Crider - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Second reading: amended, ordered engrossedMinor
- Feb 23Amendment #2 (Ford J.D.) failed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 23Amendment #1 (Qaddoura) failed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 23Amendment #3 (Crider) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 23Amendment #8 (Brown L) prevailed; voice voteMajor
- Feb 19Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Feb 12Senator Charbonneau added as cosponsor
- Feb 12Senator Randolph added as cosponsor
- Feb 10Senator Becker added as cosponsor
- Feb 5First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider ServicesMinor
- Feb 5Pursuant to Senate Rule 68(b); reassigned to Committee on AppropriationsMinor
- Feb 5Senator Busch added as cosponsor
- Feb 5Senator Brown L added as second sponsor
- Feb 3Referred to the SenateMinor
- Feb 2Third reading: passed; Roll Call 180: yeas 93, nays 0Passed House
- Vote recorded HB 1277 - Barrett - 3rd Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 2Senate sponsor: Senator Crider
- Jan 29Second reading: ordered engrossedMinor
- Jan 27Committee report: amend do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 14Representative Slager added as coauthor
- Jan 13Committee report: do pass, adoptedMinor
- Jan 13Representative Porter added as coauthor
- Jan 13Representative Goss-Reaves added as coauthor
- Jan 13Recommitted to Committee on Ways and Means pursuant to House Rule 126.3
- Jan 6Authored by Representative Barrett
- Jan 6First reading: referred to Committee on Public HealthIntroduced
HealthcareDisability RightsGovernment & Ethics