Porter comments on December Medicaid forecast

Today, Dec. 17, the Family Social Services Administration (FSSA) gave its final forecast on Indiana’s Medicaid program before the 2025 session. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement: 

“Today’s Medicaid forecast wasn't as shocking as last year, but it still had some unfortunate elements. This year’s forecast made it clear that the FSSA’s operations, especially their cost anticipations, need to be substantially reformed. 

“Medicaid costs are projected to increase due to rising costs of care and increased utilization. Indiana isn’t an anomaly when it comes to increased costs. This is something happening across the nation as health care inflation outpaces other expenditures, even short-term inflation for the cost of food. The state funds about a third of the total cost for Medicaid, totaling over $5 billion

“Part of the reason for increased funding is Indiana’s actuary wrongfully estimated how many people would leave the program post-COVID-19. The actuary estimated that 400,000 Hoosiers would leave, which was off by a whopping 200,000. This variance is a major reason why Medicaid needs more state dollars than expected. Other factors pale in comparison to the increased cost projections. 

“Sadly, in response to rising costs, the FSSA is continuing to cut services for our elderly, disabled and children. How much more can we cut from these families? Have we not done enough damage? Other policymakers are misguided if they think we can remedy Medicaid’s rising costs by wringing out every last penny from our neediest Hoosiers. These waitlists and cuts won’t close the funding gap. 

“After many Medicaid Oversight Committee hearings and forecasts, I’m still waiting for the supermajority to step up. We need to make real-world, substantive and constructive suggestions for funding difficulties that don’t involve cutting and limiting services to our most vulnerable.”  

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