The Transition to Waiver Reset: Upcoming Changes to the Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS) Waivers
Since 2018, Indiana’s Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS), Bureau of Disabilities Services (BDS), has been working on big improvements to the way we support people with disabilities. While there have been many changes, the guiding principles behind these improvements have stayed the same—we’re focused on enhancing quality and providing more inclusive services.
BDS currently oversees four separate Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and has been making a series of updates to support better alignment across the waiver programs while making enhancements in response to feedback from individuals and families and legislative directives. To truly meet the needs of Hoosiers with disabilities, BDS recognizes that small changes won’t be enough. Instead of simply redesigning the current waivers, BDS plans to create entirely new waivers that effectively serve people across all disabilities and levels of care.
These new waivers will:
- Be designed from the ground up to meet diverse needs.
- Focus on the person, not the disability
- Use a consistent framework to ensure fair and effective use of resources.
- Focus on supporting each person in building connections and achieving their vision of a full and meaningful life.
This ambitious Waiver Reset gives BDS the opportunity to clear the slate and create a system that provides the best and most appropriate support for people with disabilities in Indiana. There are several steps along the road to Waiver Reset. The graphic below provides a high-level overview of current and upcoming changes to waivers that help set the stage for Waiver Reset in 2027.
Stakeholder feedback
BDS thanks individuals, families, providers, advocates, and other community members for their time and efforts to provide valuable and informative feedback as we forward. To submit input about Waiver Reset, please email DDARSWaiverReset@fssa.in.gov and check back for additional opportunities to share your thoughts as we continue to move forward.