State Policy · IN
Indiana Lawmakers Seek Audit After Medicaid Disability Waiver Denials Jump to 6%
Democratic lawmakers in Indiana are demanding an independent audit of interRAI, an assessment tool the state's Family and Social Services Administration began using in January 2026. Disability waiver denials spiked to 6% this year from under 1% previously. The timing and scale of the increase has raised questions about the tool's calibration and impact on beneficiaries who need long-term services and supports. This matters for states using or considering similar standardized assessment tools for LTSS eligibility determination.
Why it mattersA sixfold increase in waiver denials following a new assessment tool raises operational and access questions for state Medicaid agencies managing LTSS eligibility and for health plans serving members who may lose or struggle to obtain waiver services.