How Governor Brauns New Medicaid Rule Impacts Black, Hispanic Communities [Video]

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Gov. Mike Braun’s administration has made it an immediate goal to get people off Medicaid, a publicly funded health insurance program for people with low incomes. 

One of the state’s first strategies has been ordering all providers in Indiana to stop advertising Medicaid services.

Newly-appointed Secretary of Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration Mitch Roob discussed the measure with a state appropriations committee on Jan. 16.

“Effective upon Gov. Braun’s inauguration [FSSA] stopped advertising for Medicaid,” Roob said. “We have asked the [Managed Care Entities] to stop advertising for Medicaid.”

The order to end advertising covers radio and television ads, according to a memo.

“We will further constrain Medicaid eligibility across all the different categories of eligibility,” Roob said.

According to the Indiana Medicaid Enrollment Dashboard, Black and Hispanic/Latino Hoosiers are more likely to rely on Medicaid. It’s why Shirley Torho of the National Black Leadership Commission on Health says attempts …