08/26/2025
🚨The State Ombudsman, Matt Rodway, has indicated that he wants to hear directly from families and clients about how the proposed therapy hour caps would affect them.
📧Email: Matt.Rodway@fssa.in.gov
📞Call: 317-503-1217
When encouraging families or clients to connect with him, please share the following key points they may want to highlight in their conversations or letters:
• Hour caps do not reflect individual needs. Therapy should be tailored to each person, not rationed.
• Recreation Therapy and Music Therapy improve health, independence, and social skills for many waiver participants.
• Limiting therapy hours may increase long-term costs by reducing preventive supports, which can lead to higher hospitalizations and crisis interventions.
• Policy decisions should include input from therapists, families, and self-advocates who understand the real-world impact.
• Families and participants face barriers accessing alternative services like DIH or PAC and need strong allies to ensure their voices are heard.
Important Guidance for Families
To make their advocacy as effective and respectful as possible, please suggest that families:
✅ Use clinical language (e.g., “Recreation Therapy helps my loved one manage anxiety and build coping skills” rather than “provides emotional support”).
✅ Refer to therapy sessions as clinical treatment (e.g., “sessions” or “interventions”), not simply “outings.”
✅ Focus on skills, outcomes, and health improvements rather than general enjoyment or entertainment.
✅ Avoid cussing, venting, or blaming the state. Keeping communication professional and respectful will ensure their concerns are taken seriously.
RTI is excited to have this opportunity for families and individuals to provide direct feedback. There is a handout above that can be shared with families.
There is only have THIS week and NEXT before the state is required to submit their decisions to CMS so please make contact with those families quickly and encourage them to call or email ASAP.
