Increased First Steps Reimbursement Rates

Dear First Steps stakeholders,

During the 2019 legislative session, the Indiana General Assembly included an additional budget appropriation for the First Steps program of $6.6 million. Pursuant to section 2 of House Enrolled Act 1542, First Steps must use 50 percent of this additional appropriation, or approximately $3.3 million, to support increased provider rates. HEA 1452 also directs First Steps to distribute 40 percent of the additional appropriation to System Point of Entries’ contracts and no more than 10 percent to the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services for infrastructure expenses.
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Effective July 1, 2019, the Division of Disability and Rehabilitative Services (DDRS) is increasing First Steps reimbursement rates as follows below. The new rates will apply to all dates of service on and after July 1. The Central Reimbursement Office (CRO) is working to update the billing system with these new rates, as quickly as possible. It is anticipated that the updates will be complete by the end of July.

If possible, providers are encouraged to delay July billing until at least July 27, 2019, to avoid the need to re-process claims. However, once the billing system updates are complete, the CRO will run a report to identify providers who billed before the new rates were available in the system. The CRO will manually resubmit those claims, reprocess them to adjust for the new rates, and providers will be paid the difference. A list of the increased Frist Steps reimbursement rates is available by clicking here.
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The DDRS is a program of the Indiana Family & Social Services Administration. If you have questions about DDRS programs and services, visit us online at www.DDRS.In.gov.