Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Mike Leavitt on Dec. 14 announced the approval of a Medicaid waiver that will allow the state of Indiana to implement an innovative healthcare proposal giving approximately 120,000 low-income, uninsured residents access to critical healthcare services. Through the waiver, the state will be able to begin accepting applications for the new healthcare coverage, called the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP).
HIP was approved as a Medicaid Section 1115 demonstration project and will extend health insurance to low-income parents of children now covered by Medicaid and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, as well as childless adults. Enrollment in the plan will give participants access to a high-deductible health plan that includes an account patterned on the model of a health savings account. Benefits will include physician services, prescription drugs, home health services, inpatient and outpatient hospital services, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and preventive services. Learn more about the plan.
