PORTER: 'WE CAN FIGHT FRAUD WITHOUT IMPACTING HOOSIERS' COVERAGE'

The following information was released by the Indiana House of Representatives, Democratic Caucus:

Written By Anna Groover

Today, Feb.23, the Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill 1. State Rep. Gregory W. Porter (D-Indianapolis) released the following statement:

"Indiana has two diverging views of Medicaid. Republicans see Medicaid as an undesired welfare program that's draining revenue growth. We see it as a necessary form of health insurance for low-income Hoosiers.

"Yet the two views agree: We don't want Medicaid fraud. I want the public to believe in the necessity of Medicaid, and fraud puts the public's support at risk.

"But we can fight fraud without impacting Hoosiers' coverage. Republicans are filling the rule books with more income checks, more applications, and more paperwork to catch potential cheaters. I offered amendments to track how many people will needlessly lose services, but Republicans don't want to know.

"Adding barriers to enrollment might deter fraudsters, and it will surely deter eligible Hoosiers. We can make reasonable efforts to prevent fraud, but those efforts are concerning when they'll result in losses of coverage for eligible Hoosiers."