The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals struck down an injunction on Indiana's gender-affirming care ban for Hoosiers younger than 18. The law now takes effect immediately.

Indiana's ban on gender-affirming care for minors is being allowed to take effect by a federal appeals court in Chicago. The order was issued Tuesday by a panel of justices on the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals.

House lawmakers passed a bill Tuesday that requires hospitals and other health care entities to notify the attorney general if they have a merger or acquisition that crosses a $10 million threshold.

Half of Indiana counties contain ambulance deserts - an area where residents live more than 25 minutes from where an ambulance is stationed. Ambulance providers say payment issues are one factor in that lack of access. A bill passed by the Senate would establish requirements for how health plans pay out-of-network ambulance providers.

Obstetrics care closures in Indiana contribute to the states high rates of maternal and infant mortality. A report shows the hospital system Ascension has been closing OB services at a higher rate than the national average, and Indiana is one of the states losing care in the process.

Lawmakers want to address the over consolidation of health care in Indiana. A bill passed by a Senate committee would require the attorney general to be notified of certain mergers and acquisitions.

The state is delaying the return of Medicaid premiums and expects to release its plan to restart POWER accounts in January. Some Indiana Medicaid advocates are still hoping the federal agency in charge of Medicaid will prevent the resumption of premiums before then.

Rural health leaders in Indiana want more legislative support for rural hospitals and communities. The Indiana Rural Health Association presented their advocacy priorities at their recent policy forum.

Lawmakers want to do something about Indianas high health care costs. Their first step is a task force to study why costs are so high and how they can be lowered.

IndyGo has partnered with a local nonprofit and a health care provider to expand its mobile health clinic. The clinic now offers free testing for sexually transmitted infections and a range of other services.