Starting in 2019, some Hoosiers covered by the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) Medicaid expansion program will be required to work, go to school, volunteer or participate in other activities up to 20 hours a week for at least eight months per year. State health officials are asking physicians and their staffs to query patients about their Gateway to Work status for January and to help educate them as the program is phased in, so they can maintain coverage.

Hoosiers eligible for HIP, Indiana’s Medicare expansion program, should have received a status letter by Dec. 10, telling them whether they are exempt from Gateway to Work, are already meeting the reporting requirements or must take additional steps to qualify. If someone has not received the letter or has lost it, they should call their health plan and ask whether they are required to participate. If they believe their status should be different than what is in their letter, they should call their health plan to discuss the issue. Examples of the notices members will receive are found here.

The Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) has also provided printable handouts to help educate patients about Gateway to Work, including FAQs and examples of reasons for exemption and activities that members may undertake to maintain HIP eligibility.

Three possible Gateway to Work statuses

Every HIP member will have one of the following three Gateway to Work statuses.

• Exempt: The  member is exempt from Gateway to Work and is not required to participate during any month in which they continue to have an exemption.
• Reporting met: The member is not exempt but is already working at least 20 hours per week. These members will not need to do anything new for Gateway to Work unless they report a change in their work status to FSSA as required.
• Reporting: Members are required to participate in Gateway to Work. These members will need to report the number of hours they spend doing activities such as work, attending classes or volunteering each month through the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) Benefits Portal or to their health plan (Anthem, CareSource, MDwise or MHS).

Three-month phase-in period

For the first six months of 2019, zero activity hours will be required. This is to help ensure the FSSA has ample opportunity to communicate with members and give them time to learn about the program, contact their health plans and find activities they can do. Gateway to Work’s required activity hours will then increase according to this schedule:

Date	Required hours
Jan. 1, 2019 – June 30, 2019	0 hours per month
July 1, 2019 – Sept. 30, 2019	20 hours per month
Oct. 1, 2019 – Dec. 31, 2019	40 hours per month
Jan. 1, 2020 – June 30, 2020	60 hours per month
July 1, 2020 – Ongoing	80 hours per month

More information about Gateway to Work is available here .