STATEHOUSE (April 27, 2023) – State Rep. Hal Slager's (R-Schererville) bill ensuring Northwest Indiana families will continue having access to children's hospitals in neighboring states is now law.
House Enrolled Act 1313 prevents Northwest Indiana children who rely on Medicaid from being turned away for treatment at nearby out-of-state children's hospitals and forced to travel to Indianapolis instead.
"For over a decade, I've worked to ensure Northwest Indiana families continue to have access to children's hospitals in neighboring states," Slager said. "These families should not have the added stress of traveling when all they seek to do is get their children treated locally by doctors they know and trust."
Previously, out-of-state hospitals treating Hoosier children received reimbursement through Indiana's Medicaid program at a much lower amount than an in-state hospital received for providing the same care. This meant some Region children had to travel to Indianapolis to receive treatment.
In 2021, Slager authored a new law to increase reimbursement rates for out-of-state hospitals, which addressed the issue, but the state funding will expire on July 1.
Slager said the funding expiration date was put in place because the state wanted to determine the overall costs incurred by increasing reimbursement rates before continuing the funding. With this law, the expiration date is simply extended for another two years.
To follow legislation signed into law by the governor, visit in.gov/gov/newsroom/2023-bill-watch/.
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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.
