FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kellyn Harrison, Press Secretary
Kellyn.Harrison@iga.in.gov
317-232-9894
STATEHOUSE (March 4, 2024) — A bill authored by State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) that would promote competition in Indiana's health care system to help lower costs for Hoosiers will now move to the governor's desk for final consideration.
Senate Enrolled Act 9 would require health care service providers, health insurers and other health care entities to issue a 90-day notice of mergers or acquisitions more than $10 million in value to the Indiana attorney general for review. The attorney general could then review the notice for any antitrust concerns.
"Hoosiers spend too much of their hard-earned money on health care, partially because of a lack of market competition in our health care space," Garten said. "Senate Enrolled Act 9 would improve transparency on health care mergers and acquisitions so our state can take necessary steps to consider what impact these business deals could have on Hoosiers' access to affordable health care services."
SEA 9 is a direct result of recommendations the Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force made during the 2023 interim. The task force, which Garten chaired, studied reasons why Hoosiers continue to pay among the highest health care costs in the nation. Testimony during task force meetings highlighted the role market consolidation plays in driving up health care costs.
The bill is also a product of Garten's collaborative work with health care stakeholders and experts to create a merger review policy for Indiana that allows the state to monitor potential antitrust issues. SEA 9 would be an effective method to accomplish that and be considerably less intrusive than laws in states that require approval for mergers because it requires only notice.
"Our state is committed to improving Hoosiers' access to high-quality health care, but affordability continues to be a glaring issue," Garten said. "As a conservative, I want to see a thriving, competitive market that drives down prices through consumer choices, and today we are far from that goal because market consolidation has gone unchecked for years. Senate Enrolled Act 9 would take a step in addressing this problem."
To track bills on the governor's desk, click here.
To learn more about this bill and other legislation Garten is working on this legislative session, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Sen. Chris Garten (R-Charlestown) represents Senate District 45,
which includes Clark County and portions of Floyd County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
