Under IC 4-22-2-24, notice is hereby given that on April 14, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., at the Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Conference Center Room 4, Indianapolis, Indiana, the Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services will hold a public hearing on a proposed rule amending 405 IAC 5-17-2 to modify the prior authorization requirements for all nonemergent inpatient hospital admissions that are not covered by Medicare.

To comply with the provisions of IC 4-22-2-24(d)(3), the agency further states that the changes are necessary in order to avoid a budgetary shortfall and to remain within the available Medicaid appropriation. The proposed rule will require provider to submit prior authorization for inpatient hospital admissions. Most providers currently submit prior authorization for other Medicaid benefits, so this requirement will not be completely new to provider business practices. However, providers will incur administrative expense for completing prior authorizations for members.

All parties interested in the rule are invited to attend the hearing and offer public comments. In lieu of attendance at the hearing, written comments may be sent to: IFSSA, Attention: Kristina Moorhead, 402 W. Washington St., Room W374, P.O. Box 7083, Indianapolis, IN 46207-7083. Correspondence should be identified in the following manner: "COMMENT RE: LSA Document #10-791, INPATIENT HOSPITALIZATION PRIOR AUTHORIZATION". All written comments concerning the rule received by OMPP will be available for public inspection at the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, 402 West Washington Street, Room W374, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Copies of the proposed rule and this notice are now available and may be inspected by contacting the director of the local county division of family resources office, except in Marion County, where public inspection may be made at 402 West Washington Street, Room W374, Indianapolis, Indiana.

Copies of these rules are now on file at the Indiana Government Center South, 402 West Washington Street, Room W374 and Legislative Services Agency, 100 North Senate Avenue, Room N201, Indianapolis, Indiana and are open for public inspection.