Healthcare Providers Push Back At Braun's Medicaid Directive
Healthcare Providers, Lawmakers Push Back At Braun’s Medicaid Directive
Source: Photo: Eric Berman/WIBC)
STATEHOUSE — Healthcare experts believe Gov. Mike Braun’s plan to overhaul Medicaid will do little to accomplish the goals he has for the program.
Indiana’s Medicaid program is facing a $1 billion funding shortfall and Braun has called the program “broken.” He said on Wednesday that in order to fix the issues plaguing Medicaid, the state needs to restrict the number of people it adds to the program going forward.
Braun hopes to accomplish that by directing all Medicaid providers in Indiana to stop advertising their products on radio and TV.
Milele Kennedy, executive director of Gennesaret Free Clinics, tells WISH-TV that limiting the amount of information available to Hoosiers about Medicaid will not change the status quo much and will leave more people uninsured.
“People are already unclear about the options available when it comes to health care,” she said. “Many of the people that come through our doors don’t know what the resources are and just need immediate help.”
Gennesaret Free Clinics serves thousands of people without insurance. The nonprofit saw a 50% increase in patients in 2024. U.S. Census data shows more than 8% of Hoosiers are uninsured, which is roughly 500,000 people.
“Receiving information for health care benefits is vital for the population that we serve,” Kennedy added. “What we want to ensure is that we advocate for those that need assistance, and figure out how we can all work together to ensure that those who need access can continue to receive it.”
“A program cannot be broken that provides health care for 2 million Hoosiers, from young ones up to senior citizens,” said State Rep. Greg Porter (D-Indianapolis). “You complain about the cost (of Medicaid), but you’re going to create a pathway of higher costs by not advertising and people getting sicker and ending up in emergency rooms.”
Braun’s office said on Wednesday that the governor’s directive does not have a goal of removing people who are currently on Medicaid.
