Ind. Providers Secure ARPA Fund Eligibility

Industry advocates work to ensure that Indiana HME providers qualify for ARPA relief funds equaling 8.1% of their qualified Medicaid billing.

• By David Kopf
• Nov 03, 2022

Industry advocates have notched another win when it comes to the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA): this time in Indiana. Hoosier State providers are now eligible for a grant equal to 8.1 percent of their qualified Medicaid billings.

Indiana HME providers that had at least $500 in Medicaid billings in 2021 and that currently serve Medicaid beneficiaries should submit an online attestation by Nov. 18. They must submit one complete attestation Form for each Medicaid Provider ID.

The distribution of funds should take place before the end of January 2023, according to the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration’s (FSSA) HCBS Enhanced FMAP Spending Plan page. FSSA says that the relief will be calculated based on both fee-for-service and managed care claims, according to a report from AAHomecare. (Other resources from FSSA include a FAQ and presentation slides.)

The Source of the Funds

Passed in 2021, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) can benefit healthcare providers by providing $195 billion to states to mitigate economic harm related to the pandemic and by increasing the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for certain home and community-based services (HBCS) by 10 percent. 

As part of a broad push to secure state-level ARPA funding, the Great Lakes Home Medical Services Association, the American Association for Homecare, and The National Coalition for Assistive and Rehab Technology (NCART) first contacted the Medicaid programs in Indiana, Michigan and Illinois in June 2021 to explain the relief funds and how they can be used.

The Great Lakes Association leaders continued to make the case over the following year to secure relief for HME providers, and finally secured the funding.

“The work that Kam Yuricich [the Great Lakes executive director] and the Great Lakes Association has put into developing a strong working relationship with FSSA leaders has led to substantial relief for Indiana HME suppliers,” said Laura Williard, AAHomecare’s vice president of payer relations. “AAHomecare has devoted considerable effort to understanding the ARPA funding opportunities and supporting our state and regional association partners in advocating for a share of this relief. We will continue to support leaders in other states as they work to secure similar results.”

“HME providers across the country deserve the recognition and financial relief for their vital role in keeping patients safe at home during the height of the pandemic,” Yuricich said. “The strain on staff and operations was difficult, and achieving ARPA funding relief has been a high priority for the association in all of our states. We’re grateful for the support of FSSA and Medicaid Director Allison Taylor for this Stabilization Grant opportunity for Indiana HME providers, and we’re continuing efforts in Michigan and Illinois.”

The two other states where providers have secured ARPA funding are Massachusetts and Ohio.