Pre-Admission Screening/Nursing Home Placement

Indiana's Pre-Admission Screening Program (IPAS) was started in 1983 to ensure that, before an individual is placed in a nursing facility, all alternatives have been explored and to prevent premature or unnecessary placements in nursing facilities.  The State Legislature was also concerned about rising Medicaid costs and the increasing number of seniors.  The IPAS program monitors nursing facility admissions to insure that placements are appropriate.  Individuals are helped to stay at home by assisting them with accessing In-Home and Community services that are necessary to avoid or delay nursing facility placement.

IPAS is a process that consists of an application, a comprehensive assessment of needs, a plan of care, and a finding or decision concerning the most appropriate placement for an individual. The application will initiate an appointment with the Options Counselor/Case Manager member of the IPAS Team.  The Options Counselor/Case Manager will meet with the patient and family if possible, to discuss medical problems, how much help is needed with activities of daily living, and alternative services that could be provided at home.  Based on the assessment and knowledge of alternative services available in the patient's area, the IPAS Team recommends either nursing facility, continue living at home or other alternatives.  The final determination of eligibility is made by SWIRCA & More after careful consideration of all recommendations.

By law, all persons, regardless of income or resources, must participate in IPAS for admission to an Indiana nursing facility.  A person may agree or refuse to participate.  However, refusal to participate results in a penalty of non-payment by Medicaid of per diem costs for up to one year.  In addition, state and federal guidelines do not allow a person who requires a PASRR/Level II (an assessment required for those with mental illness or mental retardation/developmental disability) to refuse to participate in IPAS. 

Application for IPAS can be made through the nursing facility, hospital (while inpatient), and at the local Area Agency on Aging.  Referrals for in-home IPAS assessment may be made to the ADRC (Aged and Disabled Resource Center) at (812)464-7817.  It is the responsibility of every nursing facility in Indiana to inform each individual seeking admission that there is an IPAS program, what it is and the penalty for non-participation.