Hoosiers weigh in on Medicaid expansion

Of the more than 200 public comments submitted on the proposal to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, some came from enthusiastic backers of Gov. Mike Pence's plan, including the Indiana Hospital Association and some individual physicians.

"As a physician who has practiced in a socioeconomically challenged area of Indiana for almost 25 years, the Healthy Indiana Plan 2.0 offers the best approach to help patients/families above the poverty level," wrote Dr. Thomas S. Whiteman of Muncie Otolaryngology Associates.

Taking a more public approach to making their views known, the Indiana Hospital Association and six other health advocacy groups held a news conference in Indianapolis on Thursday urging swift approval of the plan.

Of those who offered their views in writing, others told the government that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should require changes to the plan, particularly reducing the costs that would be borne by recipients.