Indiana Governor Appoints Business Leader To Shake Up Health Care

Indiana’s Fight for Affordable Healthcare

Gloria Sachdev, a pharmacist with a heart for healthcare advocacy, has become a driving force in tackling Indiana’s high healthcare costs. Recognizing the overwhelming burden healthcare affordability places on businesses and individuals alike, Sachdev’s relentless pursuit has yielded remarkable progress in a state notorious for its elevated hospital prices.

Sachdev’s journey began with her involvement with the Employers’ Forum of Indiana, a platform where she encountered firsthand the stark reality that businesses consistently ranked healthcare affordability as their most pressing concern. This revelation ignited a fire within her, prompting a deep dive into Indiana’s healthcare pricing landscape in comparison to other states.

“This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about people,” Sachdev, 55, states passionately. “Families struggling to afford life-saving treatments, small businesses losing out on talent because of sky-high insurance premiums, and a system that seems rigged against the everyday individual.”

Sachdev’s passion fueled a series of actions aimed at bringing transparency and reform to Indiana’s healthcare system. Her advocacy has spearheaded legislative changes that directly challenge hospital consolidation and promote greater competition within the market.

Indiana’s recent efforts to curb healthcare costs have attracted national attention, showcasing a bold and unconventional approach to a nationwide crisis. By prioritizing transparency,accountability,and patient well-being,Indiana is setting an example for other states struggling to provide affordable healthcare access to their residents.

The battle for affordable healthcare is far from over, but Indiana’s commitment to change offers a glimmer of hope for a future where quality care is accessible to all, regardless of their financial situation.

Indiana’s Unconventional Fight Against Healthcare Consolidation

In a bold move against rising healthcare costs, Indiana has taken an unorthodox approach compared to other states grappling with hospital consolidation. While manny red states have largely embraced consolidation, Indiana has implemented a series of legislative measures aimed at increasing competition and transparency within the healthcare industry.

Combating Consolidation with Legislative Action

Over the past few years,Indiana lawmakers have enacted a series of bills to address the growing concerns surrounding consolidation in healthcare. These measures include:

• Banning large hospital systems from adding extra fees, known as facility fees, to bills, even when services are provided outside hospital settings.
• Restricting employers from imposing non-compete contracts on primary care physicians, allowing for greater physician mobility and competition.
• Mandating healthcare companies to report pending mergers to the state’s attorney general, fostering greater scrutiny of consolidation.

Unveiling Indiana’s High Prices

Indiana’s healthcare pricing concerns came to light in a groundbreaking 2019 Rand study analyzing hospital prices paid by private health plans across 25 states. The study revealed a startling fact: Indiana ranked first, boasting the highest hospital prices among those states.“We’re not New York City,” remarked Gloria Sachdev, expressing disbelief at her adopted state’s dubious distinction.Beschlossen, Sachdev and Indiana lawmakers sought positive change.
“When we’re highlighted like that, it certainly requires our attention,” said Chris Garten, majority floor leader in the Indiana Senate and former chair of the general Assembly’s oversight task force on health care costs.

A Shift in Viewpoint and Policy

Sachdev’s persistent advocacy resonated with Republican leaders in Indiana, who were open to exploring alternatives to the traditionally favored free-market approach in healthcare.
“I believe in a free market, too,” Sachdev stated. However, she argues that the healthcare sector differs considerably from a typical marketplace like a grocery store, where consumers have numerous options and readily accessible prices. In contrast, Indiana patients often face limited choices and a lack of price openness.

Championing Transparency and Reform

Sachdev’s efforts to bring transparency to healthcare pricing gained national momentum, prompting President Donald Trump to issue an executive order in his first term mandating hospitals to publicly disclose their prices.
“Gloria was the catalyst for getting this started,” said Christopher Whaley, a Brown University economist and co-author of the rand study.
Sachdev’s dedication culminated in her appointment by Indiana’s new Republican governor, Mike Braun, to a newly established Cabinet position overseeing the state’s healthcare agencies.This appointment positions her as a key player in shaping the future of healthcare in Indiana, leveraging her expertise and unwavering commitment to making healthcare more affordable and accessible for all.

Sachdev’s story is a testament to the power of data-driven advocacy and the impact a single individual can have on systemic change. her efforts have not only transformed the healthcare landscape in Indiana but have also served as a model for other states seeking to address the pressing issue of healthcare affordability.

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Tackling Hospital Costs: Indiana’s Bold Approach

The soaring cost of healthcare in the United States has become a pressing national issue, and Indiana is taking a proactive approach to combat it.The state has witnessed a important decline in healthcare costs,moving from the top spot to the ninth-highest in the nation,according to a recent Rand Corporation report. This extraordinary progress is attributed to Indiana’s multi-pronged strategy, which focuses on increasing competition, promoting transparency, and safeguarding patient interests.

Indiana’s Innovative Strategies

At the heart of Indiana’s approach lies a decisive ban on extra fees levied by hospitals. Shantanu Sachdev,Executive Director of the Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning,highlights the importance of this measure: “All of our efforts are really in this space of increasing competition,” he stated. This ban not only directly lowers healthcare costs but also removes the incentive for hospitals to acquire physician practices solely for the purpose of applying these fees.

Indiana’s commitment to competition extends beyond fee bans. The state actively resists hospital mergers and consolidations, especially those that could result in monopolies and inflated prices.

The Impact of Fee Bans and Increased transparency

Indiana’s fee ban has had a demonstrable impact. By eliminating these extra charges, the state has made healthcare more affordable for residents. Moreover, it has curbed the practice of hospitals acquiring physician practices solely to impose these fees, thereby promoting transparency and fairness in the healthcare system.

Standing Against COPA Laws and Protecting Patients

Recently, a proposed merger between two major hospital systems in Terre Haute threatened to undermine Indiana’s progress. This merger could have created a hospital monopoly in the city and surrounding rural areas, raising concerns about potential price increases, a phenomenon observed in other states experiencing similar consolidations. The proposed merger fueled a wave of opposition from doctors, health economists, and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). They urged the Indiana Department of Health to reject Union Health’s request to merge with Terre Haute Regional Hospital (owned by HCA Healthcare). The FTC expressed its concerns that the use of the Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) law, which shields hospital mergers from federal anti-monopoly regulations, could lead to unchecked consolidation and potentially lower the quality of care.

Sachdev’s Call to action: Learning from Past mistakes

In an op-ed for The Indianapolis Star,Sachdev,alongside renowned health economist Zack Cooper from Yale University,called on regulators to thoroughly consider the potential repercussions of mergers observed in communities where similar deals have been struck. They underscored the evidence demonstrating how these mergers can significantly impact local healthcare access and affordability.

Looking forward: The Ongoing Battle for Affordable Healthcare

Indiana’s journey provides a compelling model for addressing the nationwide healthcare crisis. By prioritizing competition, transparency, and patient well-being, the state has demonstrated its commitment to finding innovative solutions for this complex issue. Although challenges remain, Indiana’s efforts offer valuable lessons and a blueprint for other states seeking to combat rising healthcare costs, ultimately striving for a more equitable and accessible healthcare system for all.

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