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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowMembers of state’s health insurance plan for low-income Hoosiers will now have more access to career development resources.
The Family and Social Services Administration announced the creation of the Gateway to Work program on Monday. Only Healthy Indiana Plan members will be eligible to join Gateway to Work, which is designed to help low-income Hoosiers secure jobs.
Gateway to Work will help Hoosiers complete job applications, create resumes, and hone their interviewing skills. Some funds for the program will also go toward providing transportation to or clothes for job interviews.
“Gateway to Work and Healthy Indiana Plan are ideally matched because they give low-income Hoosiers a set of parallel tracks toward improving their health, their lives and the lives of their families,” Gov. Mike Pence said in a written statement.
FSSA Communications Director Jim Gavin said the program was submitted as part of the initial HIP 2.0 waiver last year. He said participation in Gateway to Work is not a requirement for HIP members.
“Making it mandatory would require approval from (Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), and CMS has rejected similar proposals from other states,” Gavin said.
Gavin said while only HIP members are eligible for Gateway to Work right now, it could be expanded in the future.
The state will provide $650,000 for the program, Gavin said. That money — which covers half of the program’s total cost — will come from cigarette tax revenues. Gavin said federal funds will cover the remaining 50 percent.
The FSSA said it’s sending roughly 300,000 letters to HIP customers to inform them about Gateway to Work services.
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