STATEHOUSE (Feb. 21, 2025) – The Indiana House of Representatives passed State Rep. Hal Slager's (R-Schererville) bipartisan legislation that would extend Medicaid coverage for Hoosier children seeking pediatric medical care close to home, even if that means traveling out of state.
For years, Indiana has worked to continue to alleviate the financial burden of out of state Medicaid coverage for Hoosier children living near the state line needing pediatric care. House Bill 1024 ensures they can get quality care close to home by extending the in-state Medicaid reimbursement for children's hospitals in neighboring states indefinitely.
"In Region communities, issues like Medicaid reimbursement rates have a large impact on the most innocent Hoosiers," Slager said. "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 to ensure pediatric patients covered by Medicaid in Indiana were receiving proper care in proximity to their home. For children in towns or cities close to the Indiana border, this could mean crossing into another state for high-quality medical care, which before was not reimbursed at the same rate as in-state care. The law made care in neighboring states eligible for the same reimbursement rates as in-state care and was extended in 2023 by Slager.
This extension was set to expire on July 1, 2025. House Bill 1024 would eliminate the expiration date.
"This legislation would ensure that children covered by Medicaid could continue to receive the best care at the nearest hospital," Slager said.
To learn more about Slager's House Bill 1024 as it advances to the Senate, visit iga.in.gov.
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State Rep. Hal Slager (R-Schererville) represents House District 15,
which includes a portion of Lake County.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.
