Indy Standard

The Indiana House of Representatives has passed a bill proposed by State Representative Hal Slager, aimed at extending Medicaid coverage for children in Indiana who require pediatric medical care close to home, even if it involves traveling out of state. The bipartisan legislation seeks to alleviate the financial burden on families living near the state line.

For several years, Indiana has been working to address the issue of out-of-state Medicaid coverage for children needing pediatric care. House Bill 1024 proposes an indefinite extension of in-state Medicaid reimbursement rates for children's hospitals located in neighboring states.

"In Region communities, issues like Medicaid reimbursement rates have a large impact on the most innocent Hoosiers," said Slager. "Our children getting better is the priority. That's why I have dedicated the last few years as your state representative to alleviating this cost and stress for families who need the most support."

In 2021, Slager authored a law ensuring that pediatric patients covered by Medicaid in Indiana received proper care near their homes. For those residing close to the border, this often meant crossing into another state for quality medical care, which was previously not reimbursed at in-state rates. This law allowed such care to be eligible for similar reimbursement rates as in-state services and was extended by Slager in 2023.

The current extension is set to expire on July 1, 2025. However, House Bill 1024 aims to remove this expiration date altogether.

"This legislation would ensure that children covered by Medicaid could continue to receive the best care at the nearest hospital," stated Slager.

Further information about House Bill 1024 as it progresses to the Senate can be found at iga.in.gov.