Good news for Indiana residents! The Governor Holcomb and his administration has taken steps in hope of avoiding any loss of federal Medicaid expansion dollars necessary to continue HIP coverage till 2021, regardless of efforts to repeal or changes to come to the Affordable Care Act!. So thankful for a state government that watches the road ahead! May other states find Indiana’s leadership in healthcare helpful in their own solutions!
“State officials refused to say whether the expansion would continue if Congress repealed Obamacare and eliminated funds for Medicaid expansions. If that happened, it’s unlikely states would have the money to make up for the lost federal aid.
“Indiana’s effort to continue its Medicaid expansion demonstrates how states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act — even Republican-controlled ones — are counting on additional federal dollars to pay for those expansions. It also reflects deadline pressure: They can’t wait for Congress to finish its debate over the future of the health law because they need to set budgets and programs now for next year.
“According to Indiana’s request, continuing the Medicaid expansion will cost Indiana $1.5 billion but bring $8.6 billion in federal funding from 2018 to 2020.
“‘Indiana has built a program that is delivering real results in a responsible, efficient, and effective way,’ Gov. Eric Holcomb, a Republican, said in a statement. ‘I look forward to maintaining the flexibility to grow this remarkably successful tool and to preserve our ability to respond to the unique needs of Hoosiers.’
“Several other states including Kentucky and Ohio are considering adopting features of Indiana’s Medicaid plan.” Source: Kaiser Health News. To read more Click Here.
