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Federal Gov't To Conduct Emergency Evaluation Of Indiana's HIP 2.0

State of Indiana
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http://www.in.gov/fssa/hip/

The federal government will perform an emergency evaluation of the health care program for low-income Hoosiers. 

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services or CMS will explore whether enrollees have difficulty accessing care because of one of the program’s features.

When Indiana and the Obama administration agreed on the terms of HIP 2.0 last year, the state was allowed to forego what’s called “non-emergency medical transportation,” meaning Indiana doesn’t have to cover transportation costs for services like chronic care visits and regular dialysis appointments. 

The federal agency now wants to evaluate whether that waiver creates a barrier to care – essentially, whether Hoosiers can’t make their appointments because the state won’t cover the costs to get there. 

A study earlier this year by an independent evaluator hired by the state found that less than 6 percent of HIP 2.0 enrollees whose transportation isn’t covered by the program cited that as the reason they missed an appointment. 

Now, CMS is going to do its own evaluation – something Gov. Mike Pence in the past has criticized.  Pence has said two evaluations, one by the independent group, the other by the federal government, will create confusion and uncertainty.  

Brandon Smith is excited to be working for public radio in Indiana. He has previously worked in public radio as a reporter and anchor in mid-Missouri for KBIA Radio out of Columbia. Prior to that, he worked for WSPY Radio in Plano, Illinois as a show host, reporter, producer and anchor. His first job in radio was in another state capitol, in Jefferson City, Missouri, as a reporter for three radio stations around Missouri. Brandon graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor of Journalism in 2010, with minors in political science and history. He was born and raised in Chicago.
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