State agency plans aggressive new budget method to control growing Medicaid costs

Over the course of a decade, Indiana’s per-enrollee costs for certain Medicaid recipients are expected to surge by 43% and 72% for lower-income and elderly Hoosiers, respectively.

That’s according to an analysis by the Family and Social Services Administration shared on Wednesday by Secretary Mitch Roob, who is leading the agency for a second time. Another agency leader also provided an update on state child care costs during an hours-long quarterly fiscal update.

Expenses for Healthy Indiana Plan enrollees could grow from $2.9 billion in 2017 to $7.5 billion in 2027 — while per-enrollee costs grow from $7,403 and $10,599, or 43%.

“Now, that’s a lot of money, but those dollars are primarily funded through the hospital assessment fee,” Roob said. “So, candidly, the General Assembly is le