Healthier Indiana Insurance Program Bill Passed

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(STATEHOUSE) - The House Public Health Committee passed an amendment to the Senate’s Healthier Indiana Insurance Program bill that breathes life back into a previous House plan.

Representative Charlie Brown says the amendment adds most of the elements of House Bill 1008 without the source of funding through an increase the cigarette tax. Brown says it is currently unclear as to how the initiatives would be funded, however the Senate authors of the bill have stated they will determine those answers in a joint committee.

Several other amendments were proposed but were withdrawn to be reintroduced during the second reading on the House floor. The committee passed the amendment on a vote of 11-to-1.

Some aspects of the amendment include an increase in the Medicaid family eligibility family income limit, 12 consecutive months of children's health insurance program and Medicaid eligibility for qualifying children, and an allowance for small businesses to offer health insurance through the state employees health insurance program.

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