healthcare costs

The 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly ended on April 25.

Price limits, nonprofit status threats for Indiana’s 'big five' hospital systems sent to governor

Abigail Ruhman

Indiana’s largest nonprofit hospital systems will face limits on how much they can charge for care under legislation headed to the governor.

Rep. Brad Barrett (R-Richmond) said finding a landing spot on the site of service language took the entirety of the legislative session, but it allows lawmakers to implement a policy that was passed two years ago.

'Comprehensive' health costs plan sent to governor despite access to care concerns

Abigail Ruhman

Lawmakers approved the final version of a “comprehensive plan” meant to address health care costs in Indiana.

Lawmakers said the policy is targeted at the “big five” systems in Indiana — Indiana University Health, Parkview Health, Franciscan Health, Community Health Network and Ascension Health. The large nonprofit hospital systems would have to cap their prices starting in July and not exceed that cap through June 2027.

Indiana’s ‘big five’ hospital systems could face two year price freeze

Abigail Ruhman

Under the Senate Appropriations amendment to House Bill 1004, Indiana’s largest nonprofit hospital systems would not be allowed to exceed the prices set before January 1, 2025.

One of the policies lawmakers removed from House Bill 1003 would have require hospitals and facilities to charge the same prices for services regardless of the location.

Lawmakers remove several controversial policies from 'comprehensive' health costs plan

Abigail Ruhman

A Senate committee amended a "comprehensive plan" meant to address health care costs in Indiana.

The legislation is part of the Senate GOP’s legislative priorities. The bill now heads to the full Senate for consideration.

Bill looks to clarify financial responsibility in employer-sponsored health plans to tackle costs

Abigail Ruhman

The goal of the bill is to increase transparency and lower health care costs.

The intent behind the report is for stakeholders, such as policymakers, experts and business owners, to have as much context as possible when they are making decisions.

Indiana's total health costs near national average, but differ in other key areas

Abigail Ruhman

A new report found that Indiana resembles other states on measures like insurance premiums, health spending by Medicaid and Medicare, and insurer market concentration.

Sen. Andy Zay (R-Huntington) is not a part of the task force, but spoke to his fellow lawmakers on the legislative committee about some concerns he had from the audit. He said the data suggests the current structure increases costs.

Lawmakers direct focus to PBMs as they tackle Indiana’s high health care costs

Abigail Ruhman

The purpose of PBMs is to lower drug prices by acting as an intermediary between health insurers, drug manufacturers and pharmacies.

Lobbyists and task force members listen to presentations at an Oct. 8, 2024 meeting of the Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force with a focus on PBM spending.

Lawmakers scrutinize 'black box' of state pharmacy benefit manager spending

Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle

The benefits of pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) spending remained murky for lawmakers with the Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force, who spent hours listening to presentations about PBM oversight and contracting.

Republican Mike Braun weighed in on some of the most contentious statehouse battles in his wide-ranging health care proposal.

Braun health care plan builds upon legislative action that previously failed

Whitney Downard, Indiana Capital Chronicle

Republican candidate for governor Mike Braun released a six-prong health care plan on Thursday.

State lawmakers directed the Indiana Department of Insurance to create the All-Payer Claims Database in 2020.

Indiana launches All-Payer Claims Database, aims to provide greater transparency in health care

Brandon Smith

Hoosiers can now get an idea of how much individual medical procedures cost in Indiana, including average prices at various hospitals.