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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe state of Indiana has received federal approval to continue for 10 more years its Healthy Indiana Plan medical savings account that enrolls more than 572,000 low-income adult Hoosiers.
Gov. Eric Holcomb announced the approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Monday.
“State innovation is an opportunity to test out ideas for delivering our ultimate goal of better health and well-being, and we encourage states to continue working with us, like Indiana has, to tailor their programs to their unique needs,” U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said.
The program engages members to be active participants in their health care coverage. In 2018, members made more than 545,000 visits for preventive services, and mammograms and vaccinations are at record highs for members. The program combats Indiana’s top contributor to chronic disease — smoking — by waiving copays and covering all therapies.
The program is funded by Medicaid. After the Affordable Care Act passed in 2010, Indiana won approval to transform HIP into the state’s Medicaid expansion program. The federal government provides 90% of the funding.
However, a multistate lawsuit would eliminate the Affordable Care Act. The suit is scheduled to come before the U.S. Supreme Court on Nov. 10, and the court is expected to rule before its term ends in June.
Typically, the state’s waiver to renew HIP is reviewed and approved every three to four years. The HIP approval marks the first time the federal agency has approved a state’s Medicaid waiver for a comprehensive health benefits program for a period of ten years.
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