The Family and Social Services Administration proposed cuts to a program that supports care for children with disabilities in response to a $1 billion shortfall. Indiana's lieutenant governor and families of medically complex children are calling for the FSSA to pause the implementation of the cuts.

A bill that would update Medicaid policy was not called down for a second reading Thursday ahead of the deadline.

An amendment to the bill specifies that hospitals must have a subdermal option available, which many providers say could limit patient choice and access.

The lieutenant governor and several lawmakers have called for the Family and Social Services Administration to pause proposed cuts. The proposed cuts would affect caregivers providing attendant care as legally responsible individuals.

Around 50 people gathered at the Indiana Statehouse to protest proposed changes to the state’s Medicaid programs. The changes would end payments that thousands of families of adults and kids with disabilities relied on.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will not take action on Indianas authority to charge premiums for Medicaid at least for now. Medicaid advocates asked CMS to prevent the return of premiums in 2024. CMS said taking away this authority now would be too disruptive, but it reserves the right to take action in the future.

Indiana agencies say previous estimates of Medicaid expenses fell nearly $1 billion short of its now-predicted need.

Indiana's Medicaid program will cost about $1 billion more in the current state budget than previously expected.

The state is delaying the return of Medicaid premiums and expects to release its plan to restart POWER accounts in January. Some Indiana Medicaid advocates are still hoping the federal agency in charge of Medicaid will prevent the resumption of premiums before then.

The state is changing how it handles long-term care for Medicaid members 60 years or older through its Pathways for Aging program. State officials also highlighted the success of a program meant to address one of the leading causes.