The Family Supports Waiver (FSW) is a Medicaid program in Indiana that provides limited, non-residential support to eligible individuals who live with their families or in other settings with informal support. This article explores the FSW, who can qualify for it, what services and supports it offers, and how it can compensate family caregivers.
The FSW is one of the two home- and community-based services (HCBS) waivers administered by the Bureau of Developmental Disabilities Services (BDDS) in Indiana. The FSW aims to provide person-centered and individualized supports that assist children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to live successfully in their homes and communities. The FSW has a maximum budget of $17,300 per person per year.
The target population of the FSW is individuals diagnosed with an intellectual disability, developmental disability, or related condition with an onset before the age of 22 years, and the condition is expected to continue indefinitely. Additionally, individuals must meet the Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities/Developmental Disabilities (ICF/IID) level of care, which means that they have substantial functional limitations in at least three of six major life areas: self-care, self-direction, learning, capacity for living independently, understanding, and use of language, and mobility.
To be eligible for the FSW, individuals must meet the following requirements:
Eligible individuals may receive official waiver services in conjunction with Traditional Medicaid. Official waiver services may include:
The care recipient's case manager identifies the specific services that meet the individual's needs which are then submitted by the state agency for approval and are outlined on the participant's Plan of Care (POC)/Notice of Action (NOA).
One of the benefits of the FSW is that it allows individuals to self-direct some of their services, which means that they can choose who provides their care and how it is delivered. This also means they can hire and pay their family members as caregivers for certain services, such as Participant Assistance and Care, Respite, or Community-Based Habilitation. Family caregivers paid through the FSW must meet the same qualifications and training requirements as other providers. They must also follow the rules and regulations of the Medicaid program and report their income for tax purposes.
If you are interested in finding out if you or your loved one are eligible for this program and how much you can get paid as a caregiver, please fill out this form, and we will contact you soon.
