Indiana’s initial estimate for Medicaid expenses is nearly $1 billion dollars short of its now-predicted need.

Indiana’s initial estimate for Medicaid expenses is nearly $1 billion dollars short of its now-predicted need, state lawmakers learned in a report that ignited concern over the state’s budget and access to the low-income healthcare program. A December outlook found that Medicaid is predicted to need $984 million more than what was thought in April, when the state’s biennium budget was finalized. State budget director tells reporter that the forecast used to develop the budget allowed Indiana to move $525 million from Medicaid to the state’s general fund in July. The state has directed that $271 million of that money be moved back to Medicaid to address the shortfall of the last year, officials add.