Dive Brief:
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on Tuesday approved Indiana's plan to expand Medicaid to 350,000 uninsured individuals.
- The new plan, which builds upon the 60,000 enrollees that received care under the original Healthy Indiana Plan, allows residents to make optional contributions and have a hybrid health savings account.
- HIP 2.0 will be funded through the state's cigarette tax, hospital fees and federal Medicaid funding.
Dive Insight:
The Indiana Hospital Association responded positively to the deal, remarking that it will have a positive impact on both consumer premiums and uncompensated care:
"With fewer uninsured in Indiana, we can provide our patients with preventative care and appropriate treatment in a timely manner," IHA President Doug Leonard wrote in a statement. "This will not only improve the health status of our citizens, but will also reduce the cost of delivering services, helping to reduce health insurance premiums for Hoosiers who already have coverage."
Indiana is the 28th state (plus DC) that has expanded Medicaid.