WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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As many as 400,00 Hoosiers will not be getting new Medicaid health care coverage, despite efforts from State Senator Karen Tallian to expand the program. Her proposal was turned down and blocked on a party line vote last Monday.
“We have proposed a compromise plan. It is a plan that’s been proposed by Republican states and approved by the Democratic administration, and it’s generally known as the Premium Assistance Plan. Very simply, it takes federal dollars and uses them to buy private insurance policies for people who are in the Medicaid eligibility range,” said Tallian.
Tallian began her proposal by mentioning the people of Indiana and their thoughts on Medicaid expansion. Expanding the program to include more Hoosiers, she said, should be one the most pressing issues to be considered by the Indiana General Assembly.
“Medicaid expansion means insurance for 400,000 people,” said Tallian. “Medicaid expansion means 30,000 jobs. And Medicaid expansion means bringing Indiana’s share of the federal tax dollars back to Indiana to be spent for healthcare for Hoosiers.”
Some other states, such as Arkansas and Iowa, have approved programs similar to the one Senator Tallian proposed.
