Policy Update, November 21, 2014

Thank you for your interest and support. The Indiana Association of United Ways provides its Policy Update on "odd Fridays" (1st, 3rd and 5th Fridays). Contact us if you have any questions or comments about content (past, present or desired for the future).

Indiana's United Way ALICE report

Last week, we released the report that describes the circumstances for twenty-three percent (23%) of Hoosier households who earn more than the federal poverty level but less than the cost of living. ALICE stands for Asset-Limited, Income-Constrained, Employed.

View a few of the media articles:

* Courier Press, 11/10/14

* Northwest Indiana Times, 11/10/14

* Indiana Public Media, 11/10/14

* WTHR, 11/11/14 (with video)

* Journal Gazette, 11/13/14

* Vincennes Sun Commercial, 11/13/14

* MyWabashValley.com, 11/18/14 (with video)

Start a local conversation. Print the key data points, executive summary, full report (250 pages) or your county page (sorted alphabetically). What can my organization do to help address the challenges faced by ALICE households?

"On My Way Pre-K" deadline Dec. 15

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has announced it is accepting applications for the "On My Way Pre-K" prekindergarten pilot program. Four of the five counties selected to pilot the program will initiate the program in January, including Allen, Lake, Marion and Vanderburgh counties. Jackson County plans to start later in the year. Applications are accepted until December 15.

Providers of preschool programs may be public schools or community and faith-based programs that have achieved Level 3 or 4 on the Paths To Quality program, or private or nonpublic schools that meet alternate standards. Eligible providers in the first four counties may learn more here.

Families whose income is below 127% of federal poverty, who reside in one of the four counties and who have a 4-year-old planning to start kindergarten in August 2015 may apply. Applications are separate for each county. A lottery is anticipated around December 17.

Please thank members of Congress for supporting quality child care!

The Child Care Development Block Grant (S.1086) reauthorization passed the Senate with a vote of 88:1 and was signed by the President 11/19. This is a big win for children because the new law requires health and safety standards (similar to what the Indiana General Assembly passed in 2014), provides for quality improvement programs, allows low-income children to remain on the program for a year even when their parents' income or education status changes and strengthens the alignment with other early education programs. The new law authorizes appropriations through FY 2020.

Thank our members of Congress and urge their support for continued funding of quality child care.

Tools for Assisters and Navigators

A Marketplace stakeholders group has been working to provide Navigators and Assisters statewide tools for helping Hoosiers enroll in the health insurance Marketplace. Open Enrollment kicked off last Saturday and runs through February 15, 2015.

Tools for Assisters and Navigators - Remember that the State of Indiana requires people to be trained and certified as "Indiana Navigators" in order to help Hoosiers enroll.

Bookmark this page from IN211 for healthplan info.
Indiana Primary Healthcare Association Outreach and Enrollment information.
State of Indiana requirements for Indiana Navigators.
Sign up for the Cover Indiana Implementation emails.

Tools for Consumers

There are many ways to enroll. You can visit healthcare.gov, contact the national call center (1-800-318-2596), attend an enrollment event (see calendar for outreach or enrollment events near you) or meet with a Navigator.
Help is available. Trained and certified Navigators provide free, impartial assistance. Call 2-1-1 to find a Navigator near you.
Sign up for an email alert or text alert with IN211.

HIP 1 and HIP 2.0 - What was announced

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approved an extension of the Healthy Indiana Plan, HIP 1.0. This extension will allow the 62,000 Hoosiers currently enrolled in HIP to remain on HIP in 2015.

CMS did NOT approve the plan for HIP 2.0, which means that non-disabled adults with incomes between 24% and 100% of federal poverty still fall in the "coverage gap"--meaning they have no access to health insurance. They make too much for Medicaid and too little to purchase a Marketplace plan.

What do human service providers need to know?

The State is NOT accepting new applications for HIP. There is no waitlist for HIP.
The State continues to negotiate with CMS about Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0.
If you have a consumer who falls in the coverage gap (24%-100% of FPL), you may refer them to the "safety net" providers of free and sliding scale health clinics.
If you have a consumer with income near the poverty level, you may want to refer them to a Navigator to explore eligibility with a Marketplace plan.
If HIP 2.0 is approved, individuals with incomes between 100%-138% of FPL will be transitioned from Marketplace plans to HIP 2.0, though the details of that transition will not be finalized until approval.

Indiana General Assembly prepares for January 6

Last Tuesday, members of the Indiana General Assembly were sworn in, committees were appointed and the schedule was announced. To help you prepare for January, here are a few key links:

* Calendars for the Senate and the House of Representatives

* Committee lists. Chairs and membership should be updated in the coming weeks.

* Interim Study Committees - See final reports from Business and Personal Property Tax, Education, Public Health and Public Policy (gaming issues), as they each include recommendations that will likely result in bills.

* Schedule for state agency presentations before the State Budget Committee

Indiana Assets & Opportunity Network

The Indiana Assets and Opportunity Network is seeking input to shape the newly-formed statewide coalition.

Help shape the direction for the Indiana Assets and Opportunity Network with this 10-minute survey.

Readers' thoughts on the Election

Last issue, we asked for reader thoughts about the low turnout for the election. Indiana had the lowest voter turnout in the U.S. with 28%, followed by Texas, New York, Utah and Tennessee (all under 30%). States with the highest turnout had nearly 60% voter turnout.

The majority responded that they believed the turnout was low because voters feel "their vote doesn't matter" and "they didn't like the candidates."

In response to the question, "what will improve voter turnout?" suggestions included "campaign finance reform" and "making it easier to vote."

IaUW Public Policy

IaUW is a nonpartisan organization that works to advance policy principles and compromise solutions for the common good. We focus on programs and policies that help:

children prepare for and succeed in school;
individuals achieve and sustain financial stability;
individuals access quality healthcare; and
communities thrive, including a strong 2-1-1 network and charitable sector.

Our policy priorities are developed and guided by our Public Policy Committee and our IaUW members, based on their work in Hoosier communities.

Frequently Requested Links / Documents

iauw.org - Learn about the Indiana Association of United Ways, current trainings and conferences and the ways we support local United Ways/Funds, partners and communities.

IaUW Policy / Advocacy info - Review and download IaUW Policy Priorities, Third House calendar, bill lists, fact sheets, talking points and testimony.

Advocacy Action Center - Contact your member of Congress or State Legislator, provided through our partnership with United Way Worldwide.

IaUW Policy Update Archive - Read prior issues, special articles and key documents produced by IaUW related to public policy and advocacy.

NEW - Community Report Card - Check out key indicators in Education, Income and Health for your neighborhood, county or region.

IN211.org - Search for human service information available through the referral database or by calling 2-1-1. Download reports about resources, needs, gaps and trends from Indiana 211 Partnership.

NRN Calendar - Register for high-quality and affordable training for nonprofit staff and volunteers by the Indiana Nonprofit Resource Network.

Funding and Other Opportunities - Explore current requests for proposals, funding and recognition opportunities.

Indiana General Assembly

- Check the hearing or floor schedule, watch a live or recorded hearing or floor session and look up your legislators.

Library of Congress

- Look up bills introduced in Congress. Note that the THOMAS site will be maintained through 2014 and fully replaced by Congress.gov.