State expects to extend Healthy Indiana Plan a year

  • Comments
  • Print
Listen to this story

Subscriber Benefit

As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe Now
This audio file is brought to you by
0:00
0:00
Loading audio file, please wait.
  • 0.25
  • 0.50
  • 0.75
  • 1.00
  • 1.25
  • 1.50
  • 1.75
  • 2.00

State officials are expected to sign off on a one-year extension of the Healthy Indiana Plan started by Gov. Mitch Daniels.

Family and Social Services Administration spokeswoman Marni Lemons said the state received the needed paperwork from the federal government Thursday and enrollees will not see a lapse in coverage. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services agreed to a waiver that would allow the state to continue the program unchanged for a year, she said.

FSSA has until Dec. 31 to formally accept the extension.

The Healthy Indiana program offers health savings accounts to the state's working poor in place of traditional Medicaid coverage and requires them to pay a monthly contribution to their savings account.

The program has covered roughly 100,000 residents since it began in 2008 and was offered by the state as an alternative to the Medicaid expansion in the federal health care overhaul. More than 40,000 residents are enrolled in the program now.

"The HIP program is the quintessential example of state innovation," FSSA Secretary Michael Gargano wrote in a July 25 letter to CMS. "Over the past four years, the program has demonstrated strong success."

The state originally sought a three-year extension of the program via the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' waiver process, but the federal government replied in July with an offer of one year and a request that the state end mandatory contributions from enrollees.

Lemon said the new offer allows Indiana to continue collecting a monthly contribution, but did not say why CMS reversed its position.

A CMS spokeswoman was not immediately available for comment Friday.

Please enable JavaScript to view this content.

Story Continues Below

Editor's note: You can comment on IBJ stories by signing in to your IBJ account. If you have not registered, please sign up for a free account now. Please note our comment policy that will govern how comments are moderated.

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news. ONLY $1/week Subscribe Now

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In

Get the best of Indiana business news.

Limited-time introductory offer for new subscribers

ONLY $1/week

Cancel anytime

Subscribe Now

Already a paid subscriber? Log In