Wednesday, February 28, 2024
Senate Republicans have been working to lower health care costs for Hoosiers for the last several years, and this year is no exception.
Senate Bill 9 would improve transparency on consolidation amongst the state's health care systems to maintain and increase competition in Hoosier communities.
When health care systems in a community merge, prices often increase because of lower competition. SB 9 requires a notice be provided to the Indiana Attorney General's office when health care entities merge or make an acquisition and the value of that transaction is $10 million or more. This would provide oversight and better understanding of what is happening in health care markets across Indiana.
This legislation was a recommendation of the Health Care Cost Oversight Task Force, which was created in 2023 through House Enrolled Act 1004.
In 2023, the task force compared health care costs to those in other states and looked at ways to lower health care prices for Hoosiers.
The General Assembly also passed laws in 2023 to help reduce health care costs, including measures to increase competition and lower prescription drug costs.
Senate Enrolled Act 7 bans non-compete agreements for primary-care physicians in Indiana, which increases the number of doctors in the state and allows more patients to keep their preferred doctor if the physician changes employers.
Senate Enrolled Act 8 lowers prescription drug costs by requiring insurers to pass rebates that companies negotiate with drug manufacturers to the customers.
To learn more about these and other bills filed in recent years, click here.
