FSSA Hybrid Update

On August 23, 2011, the Family and Social Services Agency (FSSA) gave an update to the Joint Commission on Medicaid Oversight on the “hybrid” system for social services eligibility determination.  View FSSA’s presentation here.

Progress of the “Hybrid” conversion

Five of the seven FSSA regions have transitioned to the hybrid system.  Click on the map to view in greater detail.

The two remaining regions are:

• Tippecanoe and Wayne counties, which are scheduled for roll out in late 2011
• Marion County, which is scheduled for roll out in February 2012

May 2010: More on the history of the hybrid roll out >>

Dec. 2009: FSSA presentation on privatization costs and the hybrid plan>>

System Performance Update

FSSA reported that overall performance of application processing has improved with the transition to the hybrid process.  When IBM was processing applications, FSSA reports that 77% were processed timely, whereas now 88% are processed timely.  The number of days FSSA has to process an application varies by benefit applied for.

In addition, Indiana has moved from number 53 to number 10 in the nation for reducing the number of cases inaccurately determined to be eligible.  Indiana has moved from 45 in the nation to number 12 for reducing the number of cases inaccurately determined to be ineligible.

Background

In December 2006, Indiana signed a 10-year contract with IBM to modernize the State’s eligibility process for Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), the Supplemental Nutrition and Assistance Program (SNAP), and Medicaid.  The project transferred a majority of State employees to private contractors and modified the application process to move away from an in-person caseworker system to an online application, centralized call centers, and faxing or mailing required documents.

After the failure of the “modernization” project, the state ultimately canceled the contract with IBM and is now in a court battle with the company.

Issues affecting Worker’s Compensation

On August 24, 2011, the Interim Study Committee on Insurance heard testimony on Worker’s Compensation, including current issues affecting the program and possible legislative remedies.

What is Worker’s Compensation?
Worker’s Compensation is an insurance program in which employers pay a premium to cover benefits for employees in the event of a workplace injury. With Worker’s Compensation, an employee gives up the right to sue an employer for “negligence” or “fault” in exchange for assured but limited coverage. Every state has some form of a Worker’s Compensation program.

What benefits are available under Worker’s Compensation?
If a worker is injured on the job, he or she may be entitled to a combination of three different types of benefits.

• Partial Wage Replacement
  • This is known as Temporary Total Disability and replaces approximately 66% of an employee’s average weekly wage.
  • When calculating the average weekly wage, a worker’s income is capped at $975 per week.
  • This means the maximum amount a person can receive per week while receiving Worker’s Compensation is approximately $645 per week.

• Covered Medical Treatment
  • The employer is responsible for covering 100% of the medical bills associated with the workplace injury
• Impairment Payment
  • A payment in the event that medical treatment cannot return the worker to pre-injury health, often referred to as Permanent Partial Impairment (PPI).
  • A worker’s injury is given a degree designation and is reimbursed based on the “degree” of their injury.
  • A dollar amount is assigned to each degree and these rates are set in Indiana Code.

What are current issues affecting the Worker’s Compensation system?

Lawmakers consider changes to combat sex trafficking

The Criminal Code Evaluation Commission met August 18, 2011, to hear presentations on the issues of sex trafficking and other sex offenses. Presentations detailed current statutes and penalties, the objective being to determine whether Indiana needs to change current offenses, add offenses, or change penalties.

The Office of Attorney General Deputies David Miller and Abby Kuzma presented to the committee information concerning human trafficking for sex.  The Attorney General’s Office testified that there are some deficiencies in Indiana law which will make prosecution for aspects of the offense of human trafficking difficult.  Because Indiana will be hosting the next Super Bowl, Deputy Kuzma urged the committee to act quickly to move legislation to correct the deficiencies because, as she testified, it has been shown that large events, attended mostly by men, with a party atmosphere, result in increased human trafficking for sex.

Attorneys General Nationwide are working together: For year 2011-2012, The National Association of Attorneys General made combating human trafficking a key initiative (PDF).

Thousands of Children are at risk: It is estimated that 100,000 to 300,000 children, between ages 11-14, are at risk of being sexually exploited.

Indiana law is inadequate to address issue when person trafficked is under 18:  Deputy Kuzma suggested the following changes be made to Indiana law:

• Criminalize a person who knowingly attempts to traffick a person who is less than 18.
• Insert language that lack of knowledge that the victim was under 18 is not a defense.
• Insert language that consent from a victim who is under 18 is not a defense.
• Amend language in the current law so that any adult who attempts to traffick a person under 18 years of age may be prosecuted. Current statute prohibits “. . .parent(s), guardian(s), or custodian(s). . .” from trafficking a person less than 18.

What’s Next for the Committee:  The next meeting is September 9 at 1:00pm. The committee will consider the proposed changes and if changes are adopted, the procedures necessary to expedite the passage of those changes prior to the Super Bowl on February 5, 2012.

General Criminal Code Evaluation Commission information: The criminal code evaluation commission is established to evaluate the criminal laws of Indiana. If, based on the commission’s evaluation, the commission determines that changes are necessary or appropriate, the commission shall make recommendations to the general assembly for the modification of the criminal laws.  This Commission expires December 31, 2012.

Heather’s Law: Educating students about reality of dating violence

This fall, curriculum for many students in grades 6 through 12 will include lessons on the serious reality of dating violence.

According to the Indiana Youth Institute, 12.1% of young people in Indiana report being hit, slapped or physically hurt on purpose by a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Approved by the General Assembly in 2010, Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 316 required the Indiana Dept. of Education, in collaboration with organizations that have expertise in dating violence, domestic violence and sexual abuse, to develop or identify curriculum models by July 1, 2011, and to assist schools with the implementation of dating violence education programs and policies. The IDOE has published materials and response policies for schools to begin using this school year.

Debbie Norris and Sen. Earline Rogers join Gov. Mitch Daniels at the table during the signing of Heather's Law in April 2010.

The bill was authored by Senator Earline Rogers (D-Gary) and named in memory of Heather Norris, a young Indiana woman who was brutally murdered by her estranged high school boyfriend in 2007.  The driving force for passage of the new law was Debbie Norris, mother of Heather Norris. Heather’s Law was developed through a collaboration of community service providers including Domestic Violence Network, Indiana Coalition Against Sexual Assault, Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Children’s Bureau, Washington Township Schools, and the Indiana Department of Education.

Read more about the history of this legislation>>

July unemployment rate up again to 8.5%

On Friday, the Indiana Department of Workforce Development (DWD) announced that Indiana’s unemployment rate for July 2011 rose slightly again to 8.5 percent.  Indiana’s unemployment rate continues to sit below the U.S. rate of 9.1 percent, and stands lower than neighboring states Illinois (9.5 percent), Ohio (9.0 percent), Kentucky (9.5 percent) and Michigan (10.9 percent).

• County with the highest unemployment rate: Fayette 12.0%
• County with the lowest unemployment rate: Dubois 5.6%

Employment Report (LAUS)

• Labor Force Estimates for U.S., Indiana, MSAs, Counties, Cities
• Ranking of Indiana Counties by Unemployment Rate
• Indiana County Map with Unemployment Rates

Jobs Report (CES)

• Seasonally – Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Non-Seasonally – Adjusted Employment Table for Indiana
• Detail Employment Listing – Statewide & MSAs

Budget Briefs: Department of Child Services Budget Breakdown

Tasked with protecting Indiana’s children from abuse and neglect and enforcing child support collection, The Department of Child Services (DCS) faces questions whether significant budget cuts and reversions have affected the agency’s ability to perform its duty.

The services provided by the Department of Child Services can be broken into two categories: services for child welfare and enforcement of child support orders.

In the most recent budget, child welfare services are funded via The Family and Children General Fund line item. Those services include:

• Out of home placements of children and in-home services
• Child abuse and neglect investigations
• Juvenile justice operations
• Foster care and family preservation payments

Some programs with individual line items include:

• Adoption Services and Assistance>>
• Healthy Families Indiana>>
• The Independent Living Program>>
• Child Welfare Assistance>>

IDEM’s Annual “State of the Environment”

The Environmental Quality Service Council (EQSC) met on August 4 to hear the Indiana Department of Environmental Management’s (IDEM) 25^th annual “State of the Environment” presentation. IDEM also outlined its cost of service and revenues during the meeting.

• Read More: IDEM’s 25th Annual State of the Environment Report (PDF)>>

The Commissioner of IDEM, Thomas Easterly, presented the council with the findings of IDEM’s annual report, including information on Indiana’s compliance with air quality standards, water quality standards, pollution control and contamination control.  In addition, the report detailed the status of Indiana regarding standards set by the EPA.  IDEM’s presentation to the council concluded with a fiscal overview of the Department.

Legislators consider changes to state’s marijuana policies

What's your opinion? Take the poll on marijuana policy reform.

The Criminal Law and Sentencing Policy Study Committee met last week to hear testimony on potential policy reform in how state law addresses marijuana. The study was proposed by State Senator Karen Tallian (D-Portage) and approved for study during the 2011 legislative session.

At the hearing, Sen. Tallian discussed Indiana’s current laws regulating marijuana. She also briefly outlined the need for sentencing reform from her experience in Indiana’s courtrooms, witnessing firsthand the burden low-level offenders unnecessarily placed on the penal system. She then turned the hearing over to public testimony.

Download Sen. Tallian’s presentation>>

Public testimony generally fell into three categories; those advocating Indiana’s criminal code concerning low-level marijuana usage is too aggressive and needlessly clogs jails; those who see the legalization of marijuana as a means to achieving a regulated, taxable commodity; and those offering personal experience of the medical benefits of marijuana.

Marijuana policy reform poll

Soybeans sizzle at the Indiana State Fair

A single soybean only reaches about a quarter of an inch in length, but the crop has hit the big time this year at the Indiana State Fair.  2011 is the “Year of the Soybean” at the state fair, and activities and information about the crop abound.

The soybean industry had a value of $3.1 billion in Indiana last year. Aside from traditional uses like animal feed, the crop is now being used to create biofuel and candles. Check out soybean recipes and fun facts here.

The face of soybeans at the Indiana State Fair will be mascot Bennie the Bean.  You can follow him on twitter (@benniethebean) for live soybean activity updates at the fair.

This year the fair will run from August 5 – 21.  Ticket, concert and livestock information can be found at http://www.in.gov/statefair/fair/.  Follow @IndyStateFair on twitter for the latest updates from the fair and chances to win free general admission and concert tickets.

Fact Source: Informa Economics Photo credit: Indiana State Fair