(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana lawmakers are moving forward with a Republican-backed bill that would tighten rules for food assistance and Medicaid, with supporters saying the changes are needed to prevent fraud and control costs.
The proposal would require some Medicaid recipients to meet new work requirements and would increase checks for people receiving food assistance through SNAP. It would also lower the amount of savings or assets someone can have and still qualify for food aid, a change state analysts say could remove about 3,000 people from the program.
The bill also includes language barring undocumented immigrants from receiving state food assistance, though advocacy groups say federal law already prevents that and argue the provision targets a very small number of legally present immigrants.
Republican sponsors say the bill is meant to make sure benefits go only to those who truly qualify and to protect taxpayer dollars. State officials estimate the changes could save about $600,000 in administrative costs over the next few years.
Groups that work on hunger and poverty issues warn the bill could increase paperwork and mistakes, potentially costing the state far more if federal error limits are exceeded.
Indiana's food assistance error rate is already close to the threshold that would require the state to start paying millions of dollars toward benefits.
Democratic lawmakers oppose the bill, saying it does not address rising costs for families and could make it harder for low-income Hoosiers to get help.
The bill is now in the Senate Appropriations Committee, with no hearing date scheduled yet.