Gov. Braun defends order to stop Medicaid ads INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) – Gov. Mike Braun is defending his administration’s directive to stop advertising Medicaid programs, calling it “a broken program.”  After signing nine healthcare-related executive orders, Jan. 22, Braun said the state is, “committed to working every day to make healthcare more affordable, more accessible, and more transparent for Hoosiers … To empower Hoosiers to make better, more informed decisions.”  The governor took a limited number of questions from reporters after the signing and for the first time – when pressed by I-Team 8’s Tim Spears – addressed his administration’s directive to health plan providers (known as Managed Care Entities) to stop all radio and television advertisements for Medicaid programs.  “So, that’s a broken program. In the sense that they don’t know what to do with it out in Congress, in terms of sustaining it long-term. If that program wants to stay in place for those that can’t afford healthcare, they need to do a better job at running it as opposed to inviting more people to come onto it,” Braun said.  Along with the advertising order, Braun’s new head of the Family and Social Services Administration said he’s increasing the number of Medicaid eligibility checks from once a year to once a quarter, and plans to take steps to limit the number of people eligible for Medicaid benefits.  “We will further constrain Medicaid eligibility across pieces, all the different categories, of eligibility,” FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob said in a committee meeting this month.  Roob discussed the increased regulation of Medicaid in relation to Indiana’s enrollment numbers exceeding similar states.  But the Braun administration claims it’s not trying to lower Medicaid enrollment.  When asked if there’s a target enrollment number, Braun said, “We’re not going to litigate this here.” Braun’s Chief of Staff Josh Kelley said, “I don’t believe that premise. That we’re trying to reduce enrollment numbers.” Kelley claims the state is just doing its job ensuring everyone on Medicaid is eligible.  Health care advocates and organizations have criticized the order to end Medicaid advertising, with the Indianapolis NAACP saying, “Restricting information about Medicaid benefits undermines public health and equity.” Trade groups said the order will hurt Indiana businesses.