Medicaid Work Requirements Bill Passes Indiana Senate

STATEHOUSE–The bill that some lawmakers believe will kick some of the two million Hoosiers on Medicaid, off of the program, passed the state Senate this afternoon 37-10.

The bill will make more eligibility checks lawful.

Some Republicans believe it is time for Hoosiers who were added to Medicaid rolls during COVID, who did not actually belong on the program, to come off.

“Our rolls opened wide open because of COVID. We received additional monies for that. But, those monies ended in 2023,” said Republican State Sen. Chris Garten, of Charlestown.

Meanwhile, Democrats believe the bill is not an adequate solution to the problem and could kick qualified people off the rolls inadvertently by convaluting the eligibility requirements, creating red tape for vulnerable populations to navigate.

“Making Indiana’s Medicaid program more complicated will only increase the likelihood of eligible Medicaid members losing their coverage,” said Sen. Shelli Toder, of Bloomington. 

Sen. La Keisha Jackson, of Indianapolis, eched that comment, saying she believes if people have to wade through extensive red tape to remain on the program, eligible people might give up.

“Senate Bill 2 does not address fraud in a meaningful way,” she said. “Instead it imposes unnecessary red tape on vulnerable populations.”

Garten said he agrees that the Medicaid population is vulnerable and must be protected.

“Every dollar that is being redirected to somebody who should not be eligible is   taking a dollar away from somebody, some Hoosier who should be getting services and benefits,” he said.

The bill is now likely to become law.