INDIANAPOLIS – It’s a new way to pay for health care in the state of Indiana, and this week you’ve got a chance to tell state officials what you think about the proposed plan, called HIP 2.0.
The public is invited to a series of meetings to learn more about Gov. Mike Pence’s new Healthy Indiana Plan. The first meeting was held Wednesday morning at Government Center South.
Pence unveiled his concept earlier this month to take federal Medicaid funding and use it to expand the current Healthy Indiana Plan. The new version would aim to cover 350,000 low-income or uninsured Hoosiers. Currently HIP covers about 40,000 people in the state.
Pence is looking for support from Hoosiers before he and other state leaders submit the plan to the federal government for approval. The state is essentially asking for a waiver to use the federal Medicaid funding for a state-run program.
“Though it differs from expansion as contemplated by the Affordable Care Act, we believe it is a viable alternative,” testified Paul Chase, deputy director of Covering Kids and Families of Indiana.
“As we complete the public input process, we feel very comfortable that the framework we outlined over the last several weeks is the right framework,” said Gov. pence. “It’s in the best interest of Hoosiers.”
There is a draft of HIP 2.0 online where the public can provide feedback via email.
Another public meeting is scheduled for Thursday, May 29, at 1 p.m. at the Indiana Statehouse, Room 156-B.
After the 30-day public notice and comment phase, a finalized version of the waiver will be submitted to the federal government in June.
