Indiana Medicaid Cuts Spark Protests and Controversy
Indiana is cutting a program that pays family members to care for elderly or disabled loved ones, including children with severe disabilities, due to a nearly $1 billion Medicaid budget shortfall. The state's Medicaid office identified the program as an area of unanticipated spending growth, estimating that the change, along with other measures, will save $300 million a year. Families impacted by the cut have until July 1 to find a non-family caregiver or transition to a new service model that pays a fixed daily stipend, causing financial strain and uncertainty for many families.