1. (a) The office of the secretary of family and social services shall study service provider and systems point of entry reimbursement rates for recipients of early intervention services.
2. (b) The office may contract with a vendor to conduct the rate study required under subsection (a).

3. (c) The rate study required under subsection (a) must include the following:

   1. (1) A comprehensive review, evaluation, and analysis of the current revenue sources, payment methodology, and fund recovery systems for programs and services provided under this chapter. The requirements of this subdivision must include the following:

      1. (A) The use of the following in gathering the required information:

         1. (i) Data collection.
         2. (ii) Surveys.
         3. (iii) Focus groups.
         4. (iv) Meetings.
         5. (v) Interviews of state program personnel, contractors, state and local agency partners, and stakeholders that are relevant to the analysis.
      2. (B) An analysis plan that at least identifies key personnel and information sources and develops an interview model and other tools.

      3. (C) Analysis of early intervention rules, regulations, and fiscal policy, including a comprehensive review of Indiana's current policies, processes, revenue sources, and research on other states' systems and policies.

         If the review, evaluation, and analysis under this subdivision are performed by a vendor, the vendor shall prepare a report with the vendor's findings and provide the report to the office of the secretary, the division of disability and rehabilitative services, and the council.

   2. (2) The identification of potential revenue sources for programs and services provided under this chapter and the development of a plan for use of the identified sources and revenue to maximize funding for early intervention. The plan under this subdivision must include the following:

      1. (A) A proposal for new reimbursement methodologies or modifications to current methodologies to address any concerns identified through the revenue, payment methodology, and fund recovery system analysis. Any proposal under this clause must comply with federal and state laws and regulations for any identified funding source.
      2. (B) The integration of stakeholder input into any recommendations under this subdivision.

      3. (C) Recommendations concerning the:

         1. (i) administration;
         2. (ii) service delivery; and

         3. (iii) financing;

            of programs and services provided under this chapter.

   3. (3) A comprehensive rate and time study and the development of a detailed report containing responsible and sustainable recommendations for compensation of all early intervention services provided under this chapter, including system point of entry (SPOE), local planning and coordinating councils (LPCC), intake and service coordination, and provider agencies and direct service providers. The study under this subdivision must include at least monthly meetings with the office of the secretary that discuss the progress of the study under this subdivision. The study must include the following:

      1. (A) The examination of fiscal management and provider accountability for services rendered to a child and families under this chapter through the use of the following:

         1. (i) Data collection.
         2. (ii) Surveys.
         3. (iii) Focus groups.
         4. (iv) Meetings.
         5. (v) Interviews of state program personnel, contractors, state and local agency partners, and stakeholders that are relevant to the analysis.
      2. (B) A market analysis, cost instrument, and time study tool design.
      3. (C) Provider notification and training.
      4. (D) Cost instrument and time study facilitation.
      5. (E) Analysis and recommendations through the use of methods described in clause (B) concerning current rates, alternative rate structures, fiscal impact, and methodology to address increased costs and inflation.
   4. (4) Consultation with the Indiana state department of health and the division of mental health and addiction to determine the projected number of children who will need early intervention services in the next five (5) years as a result of exposure to addictive substances.
   5. (5) The identification of provider and systems point of entry service gaps throughout Indiana.
   6. (6) The number of health care professionals needed to provide services in the next five (5) years to all children eligible for early intervention services.

4. (d) The office shall present the results of the fiscal analysis completed under this section to the state budget committee not later than October 31, 2018. The report to the state budget committee must include the following:

   1. (1) An estimated number of all children in the next five (5) years who will need early intervention services, including children born with prenatal substance abuse exposure.
   2. (2) The identified provider and system point of entry service gaps throughout Indiana.
   3. (3) An estimated number of service providers needed to meet the needs of all children eligible for early intervention services in the next five (5) years.
5. (e) This section expires June 30, 2019.

As added by P.L.209-2018, SEC.6.