Indiana Medicaid Proposal Sparks Passionate Public Comment

Indiana has applied for a 10-year extension of its Medicaid health insurance program, known as the Healthy Indiana Plan. This fairly routine move sparked passionate public commentary on Tuesday afternoon. 

The state is looking to continue its Healthy Indiana Plan largely unchanged but with additional flexibility. The state also applied for a five-year extension of a waiver that allows for better reimbursement of substance use disorder services. 

At a public hearing Tuesday afternoon, nearly a dozen people voiced support for the extension. But some called for an end to policies like a work requirement and mandated contributions into a health savings account. 

Those who commented included representatives from Managed Health Services, Indiana Hospital Association and The Concerned Clergy of Indianapolis. 

Hairstylist Melodie DeMarco, a member of activist group Hoosier Action, wants administrative requirements of the Healthy Indiana Plan to be streamlined. 

"Some of the situations I’ve encountered were being kicked off medical coverage because I failed to turn in a paper," DeMarco says. "I’ve just jumped through a lot of hoops to make sure my kids and I still have medical coverage." 

Written comments on the extension can be submitted to the state Family and Social Services Administration through Dec. 6.