We only have one week left in this short legislative session, which means bills are changing by the hour, so we have to do our best to keep up!
Senate Bill 184, the bill I am sponsoring to allow Indiana Farm Bureau to offer health benefit coverage to its members, passed the House with a vote of 93-2. I believe this new and innovative health coverage plan option for farm bureau members has the potential to be one of the most impactful items we pass this session. It will allow more health care access at an affordable cost for those who participate.
I have received multiple communications from many people about House Bill 1004, which is legislation dealing with various health care issues, including surprise billing, provider noncompete agreements, good faith estimates and site of service. The primary concern is the site of service language that would have required hospital systems to use certain forms in order to receive reimbursement, which could have resulted in much lower reimbursement amounts for services performed outside the hospital itself. That language went into the bill in the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee, and was removed on the Senate floor this week. Rest assured, I am keeping a close eye on this issue and talking with all stakeholders involved. Once the bill comes back to the House, we will take a hard look at it to make sure we have struck the right balance. My primary concern is making sure our rural hospitals stay open and competitive, and can continue to offer as many services as possible in our communities.
I recently voted in favor of Senate Bill 257, which deals with aviation safety, and I am tracking it through the rest of the process. This bill would ensure Grissom Air Reserve Base can continue to grow and not have any barriers negatively affecting its airspace. The proposed legislation says that before any energy facility taller than 200 feet can be constructed on or near a military facility, the Indiana Department of Transportation shall not issue a permit for that unless the Department of Defense has reviewed and approved it to ensure it will not have an adverse effect on their bases.
As many bills continue to change and we come to final conclusions as the session nears its end next week, I’ll keep all your comments and concerns in mind and work with others to find a positive way forward. Remember, it’s your state government, so participate in it!
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State Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Denver) represents House District 23,
which includes portions of Cass, Fulton and Miami counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
