House Republicans pass bill to cut access to Medicaid, Bauer fights for vulnerable Hoosiers

Today, April 8, the Indiana House of Representatives passed Senate Bill 2, the Republican plan for Medicaid, by a vote of 66-28. The bill aims to slash participation in the Medicaid Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) program by increasing eligibility checks, establishing work requirements and limiting marketing for its services.

State Rep. Maureen Bauer (D-South Bend) released the following statement on the bill’s passage:

“I’m grateful that my amendment language to exempt full-time students from the proposed work and volunteer requirements was accepted in the Committee on Ways and Means. However, I remain deeply concerned about the sweeping authority this bill gives the Secretary of the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) to restrict advertising for HIP. When paired with political theater - like wearing a MAGA-style hat before a Senate committee - it starts to look less like a public health strategy and more like an attempt to advertise D.C.-style politics here in Indiana. Hoosiers deserve genuine support, not out-of-state playbooks.

“Advocates, including representatives from The Arc of Indiana and the Logan Center, voiced serious concerns and called for additional protections for individuals with disabilities - concerns that went unaddressed by the majority.

“This legislation poses significant risks that we must not overlook. There’s a persistent misconception that Medicaid enrollees are committing fraud. In reality, they are often the victims, not the perpetrators. Less than 0.1% of the money recovered from Medicaid fraud is attributed to Medicaid members themselves. Meanwhile, whistleblower lawsuits allege that managed care entities have defrauded the state for ‘tens, likely hundreds' of millions of dollars.

“Rather than address these systemic issues, SB 2 adds to the administrative burden already inflating Medicaid costs—costs that often exceed the actual cost of care. We must reduce inefficiencies, not create new barriers that prevent people from accessing health coverage.

“Instead of feeding into misguided provisions and focusing on real solutions that protect our most vulnerable Hoosiers, we should be building a stronger Medicaid program- not tearing it down.”