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An opioid epidemic. High smoking rates. Health care provider shortages. Indiana faces serious public health challenges. Side Effects Public Media provides in-depth coverage of these issues and more.

Medicaid Work Requirements, Children's Insurance: A Conversation

This week Indiana Public Broadcasting's All IN show hosted a discussion on Indiana's recent move to suspend its Medicaid work requirement program, and on the rising number of uninsured children across the state. The show was in partnership with Side Effects Public Media. 

All IN guests included Mark Fairchild from Covering Kids and Families, Adam Mueller from Indiana Legal Services, and Joan Alker from the Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. 

READ MORE: Indiana Suspends Medicaid Work Requirements Amid Lawsuit

A report from Center for Children and Families revealed that the percentage of uninsured children in Indiana increased to 6.6 percent in 2018. This trend falls in line with national numbers. 

"Indiana is the only state in the Midwest to have a higher uninsured rate than the national average," Alker says. 

Until Indiana suspended its Medicaid work requirement program, an estimated 70,000 people were expected to report work, volunteer or other activities to the state. If they failed to do that, they would lose health coverage. The state program, which has been challenged in federal court, was suspended recently.