STATEHOUSE (Feb. 13, 2023) – The Indiana House of Representatives advanced unanimously State Rep. Hal Slager's (R-Schererville) legislation ensuring Medicaid-covered children in Indiana continue receiving access to high-quality pediatric care close to home.
Slager said Hoosier pediatric patients covered by Medicaid need to continue receiving care at the nearest hospital even if that means crossing into a neighboring state. His legislation, which now advances to the Senate, would prevent Northwest Indiana children who rely on Medicaid from being turned away for treatment at nearby children's hospitals, and forced to travel to Indianapolis instead.
"This issue impacts families and children in our community," Slager said. "I've worked for several years to make sure local kids can be treated in Chicago, and with this legislation, that would continue. Traveling to and from Indianapolis, especially when a child is sick, is stressful and costly. These kids need to focus on getting well, and they need to be close to home."
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 successfully authored a new law to increase the 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. House Bill 1313 would simply extend the expiration date for another two years.
"While we're still collecting data on the overall cost of increasing the Medicaid reimbursement rates for out-of-state hospitals, we need to make sure the funding continues," Slager said. "This issue isn't going away and I'm committed to doing everything we can to make sure Hoosier children can keep getting care close home."
To learn more about Slager's House Bill 1313 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.
