Bill > SB0534

This bill requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply for a special Medicaid waiver known as a Section 1115 demonstration waiver (or another appropriate waiver) that would allow Medicaid to reimburse recipients for food and meals. Specifically, the bill mandates that before September 1, 2025, the state must submit an application to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services seeking this waiver, which would expand Medicaid coverage to include food expenses. The waiver provision is time-limited, with the section set to expire on December 31, 2026, indicating this is intended as a temporary pilot or exploratory program to test the potential benefits of providing food reimbursement through Medicaid. Such a waiver could help address food insecurity among Medicaid recipients by recognizing nutrition as a critical component of healthcare and potentially reducing healthcare costs by improving beneficiaries' overall health through better access to nutritious food.

Budget and Finance

https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2025/bills/senate/534/details