Indiana underestimated Medicaid cost by nearly $1 billion, new report says

Indiana's initial estimate for Medicaid expenses is nearly $1 billion 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 Zachary Jackson told The Associated Press the forecast used to develop the budget allowed Indiana to move $525 million from Medicaid to the state's general fund in July.