Lawmakers and medical students warn SB1 changes could reduce Medicaid and SNAP access

Senator Yoder, speaking at a community legislative update, described Senate Bill 1 as a sweeping reconciliation measure that goes beyond federal requirements and “a bill of brutality” that she said will add administrative burdens likely to remove people from Medicaid and SNAP.

That concern was echoed by medical student Ethan Fairbanks, who told lawmakers he expects SB1 and related budget choices to reduce services at rural hospitals and “push hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers off of Medicaid,” increasing emergency-room visits and long-term costs.

Yoder said the bill’s language creates confusing eligibility steps — for example, rules about who counts as “medically frail” — and that notices sent to beneficiaries are often unclear. She also pointed out the state declined to participate in a federally funded summer SNAP program (a match she estimated at $5 million to $6 million) while shifting funds to hire roughly 60 state employees to address administrative penalties.

Representative Pierce and other forum participants raised procedural and policy questions about alternatives, including greater accountability and transparency at the Family and Social Services Administration, changes to managed-care contracts, and additional oversight to make notices and processes understandable to beneficiaries.

Ethan and other health-care advocates asked lawmakers to pursue legislative fixes during the interim — for instance, clearer administrative definitions, stronger provider supports, or reforms to managed care — and offered to work with legislators on proposals. Yoder said she has filed bills this year aimed at improving FSSA notices and accountability and will continue pursuing reforms.

The forum’s poll of attendees ranked healthcare and Medicaid as the top priority for interim work, underscoring community concern over the bill’s potential impact. Legislators encouraged continued advocacy and said the fall and interim periods are the opportunity to draft, refine and press for changes before the next session.