Employers who sponsor health plans typically utilize administrators, like pharmacy benefits managers, to facilitate those plans. But, that doesn’t mean those intermediaries have to act in the best interest of the plan sponsors. A Senate committee approved a bill Wednesday that would change that.

Health care facilities are barred from hiring employees who have been convicted of certain criminal offenses, including felony convictions within the last five years related to “controlled substances.” Lawmakers want to introduce an exception for peer support professionals.

An Indiana-based health network paid a $345 million settlement in 2023 after accusations that physicians received incentives for referrals – which goes against federal law. Now, state lawmakers want to make that practice a violation of state law as well.

Senate Republicans want to overhaul the Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP, citing concerns around the Medicaid forecast. Lawmakers might need support from the federal government to implement part of the bill — but even with that support, it would likely have no impact on the forecast.

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun was sworn in on Monday and his administration has already made changes to the Medicaid program. The most significant change involves how often the Family and Social Services Administration checks whether people are still eligible.