Braun administration makes conflicting comments on future of Medicaid – WISH TV Indianapolis, IN

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – The Brown administration is sending mixed messages about the future of Medicaid.

The newly appointed Secretary of Family and Human Services has told health insurance providers to stop advertising the Medicaid program, but Brown's chief of staff said there is no effort to reduce enrollment.

“[Braun said] I said, “Please don't promote this,” and the next day or so he said, “Oh, we're trying to be transparent.” I literally laughed,” said Annie Warner of Columbus, Indiana.

Warner, who is visually impaired and on Medicaid, already struggles to get help. While Medicaid covers Warner's basic needs, she says Indiana's program doesn't cover all the assistive technology for the visually impaired that is covered in other states.

“They treat us very badly,” Warner said.

While Warner believes coverage should be expanded, the Brown administration has announced plans to order providers to stop advertising for the Medicaid program, increase eligibility checks, and further restrict access. .

This week, when I-Team 8's Tim Spears asked Brown's chief of staff, Josh Kelly, about enrollment targets, Kelly responded that even though Gov. Mike Brown called it a “broken program,” He denied attempts to reduce enrollment.

“The premise that we're trying to reduce enrollment is incredible,” Kelly said. “We are working to make sure those who are registered are eligible.”

But last week, Family and Social Services Secretary Mitch Lube said the Brown administration would “further restrict Medicaid eligibility across the board and across different categories of eligibility.”

Even Warner knows it won't match.

“They're not being transparent,” Warner said. “They say one thing and do another.”

Health advocates told News 8 that these new tactics for administering Medicaid could have a negative impact on public trust and public health.

When I-Team 8 reached out to Brown's publicist, Griffin Reed, he did not directly address the conflicting comments, instead saying in a statement: To the Hoosiers who need it most. ”

The Brown administration supports legislation that would tighten Medicaid regulations. Including SB2 That would add an additional 20 hours of work requirement. The cease-and-desist order is estimated to cost Indiana businesses millions of dollars, but health advocates fear it will increase the number of uninsured Hoosiers.

Indiana has struggled to manage its Medicaid budget, which covers more than one in four Hoosiers, leading to a $1 billion shortfall in recent years.