HB 1254 Summary

• Establishes the Indiana Affordable Care Study Committee to study and make recommendations regarding state-based health exchanges, federal exchange operations, essential health benefits, and consumer access to health care providers, with annual reports due to the legislative council by November 1.

• Authorizes the Department of Revenue to set off earned income tax credits and state tax refunds of certain Medicaid recipients (with income below 100% of federal poverty level) beginning January 1, 2016, to collect unpaid out-of-pocket health care expenses under approved Medicaid waivers.

• Requires Medicaid provider reimbursement rates to be at least equal to federal Medicare reimbursement rates, or 130% of Medicaid rates for services without Medicare equivalents, beginning January 1, 2016 for certain Medicaid recipients.

• Expands the Indiana Check-Up Plan to include mental health services with Medicaid rehabilitation options, chiropractic services, dental services, and optometric services, and mandates these services be included if Medicaid is expanded.

• Directs the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning to negotiate with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for Medicaid waivers or state plan amendments by September 1, 2015, to cover expansion populations, with automatic termination if federal funding levels decrease.