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04/22/2024

REMINDER: IFDA Medicaid Legislation Became Law July 1!

IFDA Medicaid Legislation Becomes Law

April 21, 2023

On Wednesday April 20, 2023, Governor Eric Holcomb signed into law IFDA-authored Senate Bill 373 which provides a statutory increase to the amount of outside contributions a funeral home and cemetery can accept when caring for a decedent who qualifies for Medicaid-approved funeral/burial assistance.  The current maximum amount of outside contributions is $1,750 for funeral and $400 for burial.

In the Spring of 2022, the IFDA Board of Directors led by Past President Tim Yoder and current Vice-President Colin Yoder created a plan to help potentially lessen the financial impact to Hoosier funeral homes by the growing number of Medicaid assisted at-need funerals.  The result of this plan in 2023 was the introduction of Senate Bill 373, seeking statutory increase to the maximum additional/outside resource contribution amounts funeral homes and cemeteries can accept.

Led by our Vice President Colin Yoder, IFDA Executive Director Andy Clayton, IFDA lobbyist Trent Hahn of Bose Public Affairs, Sen. Eric Koch (R – Bedford), Sen. Linda Rogers (R – Granger) Rep. Mark Genda (R – Frankfort), Rep. Joanna King (R – Goshen), and Rep. Cory Criswell (R – New Castle), testimony was delivered regarding the inflationary stress funeral homes have been under, the impact of the growing need of funeral-related public assistance, and the vastly needed opportunities for relief.

The contribution cap had not been adjusted since 2009 and was unanimously accepted in each of the three-committee hearings, as well when introduced into both houses of the Indiana legislature.  This statutory adjustment takes affect July 1, 2023.  In addition to the immediate increase, beginning July 1, 2024, each cap will increase $100 annually in 2024, 2025, & 2026.  This affects only the outside contribution and not the subsidized amount.  The change is presented below:

Date Medicaid Subsidy Funeral Resource Contribution Burial Resource Contribution
Current $1,200/$800 $1,750 $400
7/1/23 $1,200/$800 $2,500 $1,000
7/1/24 $1,200/$800 $2,600 $1,100
7/1/25 $1,200/$800 $2,700 $1,200
7/1/26 $1,200/$800 $2,800 $1,300

 

A heartfelt thank you to our Board of Directors, legislators led by Sen. Koch, IFDA’s Tim & Colin Yoder, as well as our partners at Bose Public Affairs led by Trent Hahn.  Our message was delivered, heard, and understood because of the exceptional work of these individuals.  Please direct all comments/questions to Andy Clayton at 317-846-2448 or andy@infda.org.

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