Abigail Ruhman

Hoosiers enrolled in Medicaid – and their family members or caregivers – may have a chance to directly contribute to policy and administrative discussions. The Family and Social Services Administration is accepting applications for the Beneficiary Advisory Council.

While a high majority of Indiana patients have health insurance, a large share are considered underinsured.

The top official at the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration said the state’s new long-term care program for Medicaid members over 60 hasn’t met expectations.

A House committee amended controversial legislation that will reintroduce previously halted work reporting requirements to Indiana’s Medicaid expansion program. Among other things, the committee made changes to who is exempt from the work reporting requirements.

The Indiana Department of Health said it was notified this week the federal government canceled COVID-19 grants given to the state. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is pulling back funding from state and local health departments across the country.

Pharmacy benefits managers, or PBMs, are meant to lower drug prices by acting as a middleman between drug manufacturers and either insurance companies or employers who sponsor health plans. Advocates said employers and consumers often don’t understand what PBMs are and how they work.

Lawmakers filed several bills to further restrict abortion access and strengthen reporting requirements in Indiana. Reproductive rights advocates said even though the bills didn’t move forward, they’re concerned lawmakers will continue to pursue the policies in the future.

Indiana lawmakers want to address Medicaid spending by overhauling the state’s Medicaid expansion program. However, testimony and discussion so far has included misinformation and misleading information on the Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP. Medicaid experts and advocates break down the facts about the state and federal program.

Hoosiers have an estimated $2.2 billion of medical debt in collections — with even more on payment plans and credit cards. A proposal to introduce consumer protections against medical debt failed to advance in the Senate.

Indiana lawmakers want to address rising Medicaid costs in the state budget by overhauling the state’s Medicaid expansion program.

Emergency medical services are a critical part of the public health system. But it’s not clear if state law requires counties to provide EMS and if so, to what extent. A House committee approved legislation Thursday that would clarify that responsibility.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released data that shows a recent spike in outbreaks of norovirus — a highly contagious virus that causes vomiting and diarrhea. One expert said that spike is pretty typical for this time of year, but people can still take precautions to avoid getting sick.

All 16 of Indiana’s designated senior care organizations are now required to have a dementia outreach specialist. The goal is to create consistent access to education, treatment and care.