INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — In a memo obtained by I-Team 8, Indiana’s Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has instructed Medicaid providers to cease all radio and television advertising of Indiana Medicaid programs. The providers, known as Managed Care Entities (MCE) are health insurance companies or organizations offering health plans.  These groups include providers such as Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, United Healthcare, Cigna, etc. In the memo, the FSSA says it is re-evaluating the practice of allowing MCEs to advertise their Medicare programs: “At this time, we request you immediately stop any television and radio advertisements of Indiana Medicaid Programs. Please confirm your acknowledgment and compliance. This is time sensitive and requires your immediate attention and response.” Indiana State Rep. Ed Delaney (D-Indianapolis) says there’s pressure in the statehouse to reduce the number of people on Medicaid, which right now totals roughly two million people across Indiana. In an interview with News 8, he questioned whether the Braun administration’s decision to stop advertisements is an attempt to keep people uninformed about their benefits, describing it as “trying to shrink the pool [of recipients] by shrinking information.” “That’s not something I think we should be doing. It’s just unfair to people. And I think it leads to worse public health,” Delaney said. Indiana Medicaid programs include: Traditional Medicaid for Hoosiers under the age of 60 with low income. Healthy Indiana Plan – For low-income Indiana residents between the ages of 19 and 64 who aren’t eligible for Medicare or another Medicaid program. Hoosier Healthwise – For children up to age 19 and pregnant women. Hoosier Care Connect – For Indiana Health Coverage programs members age 65+, or with blindness or disability. Click here for a full list of Indiana Medicaid programs. The memo directs MCEs to acknowledge the request by the end of the business day Friday, and to provide the state with a list of all Indiana Medicaid marketing and advertising materials. No reason was given for the mandate to cease advertising. News 8 will continue to follow this story, including coverage of how this mandate will affect the Indiana business community.