Hello Forum Friends,
I am excited to bring you this May Issue of The Employers’ Voice. Over the last month, we’ve seen sweeping changes made to Indiana law. Below we have linked our legislative summary report along with additional articles and items of interest.
Enjoy, and have a great holiday weekend!
Gloria Sachdev
President and CEO, Employers’ Forum of Indiana
Policy: State Legislation
2023 Indiana Legislative Healthcare Summary
The 2023 Legislative Session wrapped during the early morning hours of Friday, April 28, at 2:46 am, just 2 days earlier than the statutory deadline for a long session.
The budget session began on Monday, January 9th and had a pace unlike many others. A total of 673 bills were introduced in the House and 138 will become law – a passing percentage of 21%. A total of 489 bills were introduced in the Senate and 114 will become law – a passing percentage of 23%. All bills have now been signed by the leaders in each chamber and the Governor.
This final legislative report will summarize EFI’s priority pieces of legislation.
Indiana Lawmakers Pledged to Force Hospitals to Lower Prices. The results are Mixed.
After threatening to take steps to curb Indiana’s health care costs, considered among the highest in the nation, state legislators ended the 2023 session with mixed results. Read the full article from IndyStar here.
Thank You Eskenazi Health for Taking the Lead on Non-Competes!
Eskenazi Medical Group goes further than the new 2023 law by removing physician non-compete agreement language in ALL physician contracts (including specialists) beginning 7-1-23. See the announcement letter here. For additional information, read this article from Indiana Public Media.
2023 Indiana Legislative Health Policy Media Coverage
To keep up with current healthcare legislation in Indiana, we maintain a weekly slide deck. Enjoy!
Enroll in RAND 5.0
Enroll Now: 5th RAND Hospital Price Transparency Study
We’re still accepting participants in RAND 5.0. After filling out the link below, a RAND project manager will reach out with instructions. It is that easy!
National Cancer Treatment Alliance (NCTA) & Community Oncology Alliance (COA) Webinar
Join the NCTA and COA on Wednesday June 7th from 2-3pm ET to hear Policy experts give updates on the latest legislation advancing in Congress and statehouses, including pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reforms, hospital markups and price transparency, the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), and more. Attendees will also hear the latest from NCTA. Register for the webinar here.
Speakers:
- Robert Baird, RN, MSA, President, NCTA
- Ted Okon, Executive Director, COA and CEO and Chairman of NCTA
- Nicolas Ferreyros, Managing Director of Policy, Advocacy, and Communications, COA
- James Lee, Senior Manager, State Regulation and Policy, COA
In the News
EFI in the News
- Patient Advocates are Hopeful About Bills Taking Aim at Hospital Prices and Drug Costs (WFYI)
- Indiana Laws Aim to Lower Health Care Costs (Fox 59)
…..find more articles in the Media Coverage section of the Forum website.
Employers
- What Employers Can Do to Make Childbirth Safer in the U.S. (Harvard Business Review)
- FTC’s Noncompete Ban Could Apply to Nonprofits, Former Staffers Say (Modern Healthcare)
- Cook Medical Cutting 500 Jobs as Part of Strategic Refocusing (IBJ)
Hospitals
- CMS Makes Changes to Hospital Price Transparency Enforcement Process (Becker’s Hospital Review)
- Ascension to Cut Services at Providence Hospital (Becker’s Hospital Review)
- Indiana University Health Sees First-Quarter Gain on Higher Revenue (IBJ)
- What is Ascension Investing in? 31 Health IT Companies in its Portfolio (Becker’s Hospital Review)
- Top U.S. “Non-Profit” Hospitals & CEOs Racked Up Huge Pandemic Profits (OpenTheBooks)
- Nonprofit Hospitals are Failing Americans. Their Boards May Be a Reason Why (STAT)
- IU Health Responds to Banner Drop Friday (The Bloomingtonian)
- Community Health Opens Rehab Hospital in Brownsburg (IBJ)
Provider & Insurance
- Social Vulnerability and Risk of Suicide in US Adults, 2016-2020 (JAMA)
- Goodman Campbell Rebuilds After Split From IU Health (IBJ)
- CVS Bolsters Primary Care With Completion Of $10.6 Billion Oak Street Health Deal (Forbes)
- Corporate Giants Buy Up Primary Care Practices at a Rapid Pace (NYT)
- KKR-Backed Envision Healthcare Plans Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Filing (WSJ)
- ‘Stunning’ Change to United’s Colonoscopy Coverage Roils Physicians and Patients (STAT)
- 2023 Medical Loss Ratio Rebates (KFF)
- How UnitedHealth Group Became the Nation’s Largest Healthcare Company (Becker’s)
Pharmacy
- First Pill for Fecal Transplants Wins FDA Approval (Ap News)
- Legal Pot Is More Potent Than Ever — And Still Largely Unregulated (KFF)
- FDA Advisory Panels Back Making Opill Birth Control Pill Available Over the Counter (NBC News)
- FDA Approves Novel Drug to Treat Moderate to Severe Hot Flashes Caused by Menopause (FDA)
Other Healthcare News
- A New, More Diverse Human Genome Offers Hope For Rare Genetic Diseases (Washington Post)
Advertising Opportunity
Is your organization looking for ways to reach like-minded professionals? Consider advertising in an upcoming issue of The Employers’ Voice! Inquire at sara@employersforumindiana.org.
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