Around 50 people gathered at the Indiana Statehouse to protest proposed changes to the state’s Medicaid programs. The changes would end payments that thousands of families of adults and kids with disabilities relied on.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will not take action on Indianas authority to charge premiums for Medicaid at least for now. Medicaid advocates asked CMS to prevent the return of premiums in 2024. CMS said taking away this authority now would be too disruptive, but it reserves the right to take action in the future.

Indiana agencies say previous estimates of Medicaid expenses fell nearly $1 billion short of its now-predicted need.

Indiana's Medicaid program will cost about $1 billion more in the current state budget than previously expected.

The state is delaying the return of Medicaid premiums and expects to release its plan to restart POWER accounts in January. Some Indiana Medicaid advocates are still hoping the federal agency in charge of Medicaid will prevent the resumption of premiums before then.

The state is changing how it handles long-term care for Medicaid members 60 years or older through its Pathways for Aging program. State officials also highlighted the success of a program meant to address one of the leading causes.

State officials said Indiana's lack of access to obstetrics care is growing, which is driving the state's high infant and maternal mortality rates. Some lawmakers said more funding and better Medicaid reimbursements could help keep birthing centers open.

A legislative committee directed to make recommendations on the states Medicaid program approved its final report without any recommendations. The committee chair says their work will inform recommendations ahead of planning for the 2025 state budget.

The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration is applying for a new Medicaid waiver that would expand access to nursing facility alternatives. The waiver will be open to public comment until Dec. 14.

Some Indiana lawmakers raised concerns about the proposed Medicaid reimbursement rate for a common behavioral treatment for people with autism. They say it could put access at risk. The director of Indiana Medicaid formally presented the new rate at a State Budget Committee meeting Friday.