Ind. House panel considers Medicaid expansion

INDIANAPOLIS — A legislative committee is ready to consider a plan that would pay for an expansion of Medicaid using the state’s Healthy Indiana Plan and federal block grants.

The House Public Health Committee plans to vote Monday on a Senate bill that contains much of what the Statehouse’s Republican leaders have called for as they consider enrolling roughly 400,000 low-income residents in Medicaid. The Senate bill would direct Gov. Mike Pence to seek a waiver and federal block grants to run the expansion.

Indiana’s legislative leaders and Pence have balked at expanding Medicaid using the traditional program. But they have suggested expanding the program using a state-run program. The state-run alternative has become popular in Republican-led states but has not yet been approved by the Obama Health and Human Services Department.