Lawmakers to Get Update on Health Insurance Program
06 02 08 - 10:36
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report
The Indiana Senate and House health committees will hold an unusual joint meeting today to hear an update on the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP). Indiana Family and Social Services Agency Secretary Mitch Roob will be among those outlining the application volume for the health insurance plan and offering a revenue report. The program is funded by an increase in the cigarette tax.
(STATEHOUSE) - State lawmakers will hear an update on the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) Wednesday morning during a unique joint meeting of Senate and House health committees.
Mitch Roob, Secretary of Indiana's Family and Social Services Agency, will be among the presenters at a joint meeting of Senate and House health committees. The meeting will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. in the House Chambers at the Statehouse.
State Sen. Patricia Miller (R-Indianapolis) was a co-author the legislation - one of Indiana's most comprehensive health care reform acts in many years. At the time of its passage, she called it "one of the most important pieces of legislation she'd worked on in her legislative career."
Wednesday's report will be comprehensive, according to Roob. It will include data both on the application volume for the health insurance plan as well as a revenue report. The HIP plan is funded by a 44-cent increase in cigarette taxes approved during the 2007 legislative session.
"This is not just an update from FSSA," Roob said. "We worked with agencies across the board to provide information on all aspects within House Enrolled Act 1678. Essentially, we are doing a 'Check-Up' on the Indiana Check Up Plan."
Under the plan, people who make up to 200 percent of the federal poverty level - $20,420 for an individual and $41,300 for a family of four - could buy affordable insurance. Miller's plan put an emphasis on stopping health problems before they start by providing $500 in free preventative care. It also offered up to $300,000 of annual insurance coverage from a private company. Estimates indicated as many as 130,000 Hoosiers might benefit from the program.
Source: State Senator Pat Miller's Office