Latest news with #HealthyIndianaPlan
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
FSSA secretary: Braun administration ‘inherited a mess'
FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob addresses a crowd at the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute's 2025 Policy Summit on May 30, 2025 to discuss the agency and Medicaid policy. (Whitney Downard/Indiana Capital Chronicle) When it comes to the Family and Social Services Administration — which oversees Medicaid alongside other state programs like child care subsidies — Gov. Mike Braun 'inherited a mess,' FSSA Secretary Mitch Roob said Friday. Roob is taking his second turn leading the agency, which has the single largest budget due to its federal funding. Previously, he led FSSA under former Gov. Mitch Daniels. Donning his now-standard 'Make Medicaid Boring Again' hat, Roob said the state had 'no other choice' than to make the program more sustainable and fiscally sound. He spoke at the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute's 2025 Policy Summit in Indianapolis. 'Very few people wear — other than (President) Donald Trump — wear their job description on their hat, but I do,' said Roob. 'That is our task for the next four years.' House GOP overwhelmingly votes to impose Medicaid work requirements Under Daniels, Roob launched the earliest version of the Healthy Indiana Plan, which covers moderate-to-low-income Hoosiers but has grown since its first iteration. HIP 3.0, on the other hand, would return to its roots and 'inject personal responsibility for able-bodied adults again,' Roob said, putting it into alignment with federal discussions on work requirements for the Medicaid program. Also in his first term, Roob said the agency conducted monthly finance reporting and other fiscal checks to tamp down on spending. He said departing from that norm in subsequent administrations is when the program went awry, pointing specifically to cost growth for applied behavior analysis therapy and attendant care. The former is a treatment sought by some parents with autistic children while the latter is a program that previously allowed parents to be paid as caregivers for their children with complex medical needs. '… that lack of accountability, that lack of paying attention to the dollars is why we had ABA therapy growing at a pace that we did. It's why we had attendant care growing at the pace that it did,' said Roob. 'It's very difficult to put that genie back in the bottle here because, in both of those cases, we had created, inadvertently, a dependency.' He never specifically named former Gov. Eric Holcomb in his criticism. In 2019, Indiana's Medicaid program spent $120 million on ABA therapy, but the program ballooned to $639 million by 2023. In response, Braun established a panel to consider cost controls earlier this month. 'If you think this is sustainable, you're budgeting at the federal level,' quipped Roob. 'Because this will bankrupt Indiana.' Similarly, attendant care costs for parents of disabled children grew rapidly during that time span. Roob said the agency spent $11 million monthly in July 2020 but the number soared to $84 million each month by May 2024, when the agency diverted parents to a structured family caregiving program that paid at a lower rate. Combined, Roob said those numbers contributed to a December 2023 state forecast determining Indiana was $1 billion short in its Medicaid budget. Providers, seniors continue to experience challenges under PathWays program 'Many folks look at the Medicaid program and they go, 'How did you get in debt a billion dollars?' Well, it's because you have so many more people receiving care and help. Because we are paying so much more for very discrete parts of the agency,' Roob said. Another program that transitioned care for elderly Hoosiers from state oversight to a contract with insurers — known as managed care entities — would 'never' be something he would pursue, said Roob. 'I have been quite clear this program … I never would implement (it),' said Roob. 'Because it's very difficult for managed care companies to manage the care of individuals who are in nursing homes. What is the value?' Early pitches said the PathWays to Aging program would deliver savings because the state would pay a flat fee for Hoosiers and private companies would manage their care, rather than Indiana paying piecemeal for every cost. However, the transition to get there 'is very difficult,' Roob said. 'We have not, today, seen the results that we are hoping for,' said Roob, adding that the state will pay $300 million extra to the companies in cost overruns this year. '… it's been painful for everybody involved so far and that pain shows signs of easing — but only signs.' Roob didn't limit his criticisms of previous administrations solely to health care programs, also saying there was 'a lack of planning' when it came to the state's child care options. Roughly 75,000 children currently receive some form of child care through the agency, an increase initially funded by federal pandemic dollars, Roob said. 'Their plan was in April of this year simply to take children off of the child care program with no particular warning,' asserted Roob. 'Gov. Braun and the legislature felt that was probably not the best answer, so they have allowed us to create a slope to slowly dr0p people from the child care program. 'That doesn't minimize the fact that we're losing over 20,000 daycare slots for the children of men and women who make below 127% of the poverty level,' continued Roob. CONTACT US Additionally, the 'lack of planning and forethought by our predecessors' meant that there would be even fewer options for parents seeking child care for infants or one year olds. Part of the problem with Indiana's Medicaid spending can be attributed to the state's high health care costs, an explicit priority for Braun. Since his tenure under Daniels, Roob said the disparity between what Hoosiers pay and what they receive has worsened. 'When Gov. Daniels was in office, I used to tell people that Indiana residents were buying a Cadillac and getting a Chevrolet,' Roob said. 'Unfortunately, today, we're no longer driving Chevrolet. We are driving a used Kia.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Indiana Medicaid Changes Could Leave Gary Residents Without Coverage
New state legislation in Indiana could significantly change how Medicaid and the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) are managed. Signed by Gov. Mike Braun last week and set to go into effect on July 1, these changes are expected to affect low-income residents, including those in Gary, by tightening eligibility verification, imposing new financial requirements, and limiting outreach. In Gary, where just over 40% of residents are insured by Medicaid, these policy changes are likely to have far-reaching effects. Residents may face more frequent eligibility checks, reduced flexibility in meeting program requirements, and fewer opportunities to learn about or apply for health coverage. Community advocates have raised concerns that the combined effect of these provisions could increase the number of uninsured individuals in vulnerable populations. Below is a breakdown of the key provisions and their potential impacts. The Indiana Office of the Secretary of Family and Social Services Administration is now required to implement a wide-ranging system of eligibility verification for Medicaid recipients. The goal is to ensure that only individuals who meet income and residency requirements remain enrolled. Key provisions include: Elimination of self-attestation: Applicants will no longer be able to self-report income, residency, household size, or other qualifying details without third-party verification prior to enrollment. Monthly data matching with the Indiana Lottery Commission and Gaming Commission to flag recipients with winnings of $3,000 or more. Those found ineligible will have coverage terminated. Quarterly and annual reviews of employment, wages, and tax data from the Department of Workforce Development and Department of State Revenue. Monthly checks against records from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Department of Correction, and vital statistics to verify residency, incarceration status, and deaths. Ongoing checks using federal databases covering earnings, benefits, incarceration, and other changes in household circumstances. Any information indicating a change in eligibility status triggers a required redetermination. The state may also contract with third-party vendors for additional database searches. How it affects Gary residents: Though the intended purpose claimed for these measures is to improve program integrity, they could lead to coverage disruptions, especially among individuals whose economic or living conditions change frequently. Several amendments to HIP will create stricter requirements around work participation and cost-sharing: Work requirements are now more narrowly defined. Eligible adults must meet specified conditions such as employment, participation in job training or volunteer programs, enrollment in substance use treatment, or caring for a dependent. Full-time students and recently incarcerated individuals may also qualify for exemptions. Cost-sharing rules have been reinforced. Coverage does not begin until an initial contribution is made to a Personal Wellness and Responsibility (POWER) account. Participants must continue making annual payments — either 2% of household income or a minimum set by the state. Penalties for nonpayment: Individuals at or below 100% of the federal poverty level face reduced benefits, such as the loss of vision and dental coverage, and new co-pay requirements. Those above the poverty line are subject to disenrollment and a six-month lockout if they miss payments by 60 days or more. The law explicitly bars the state from reducing these penalties or waiving the cost-sharing requirements. How it affects Gary residents: These provisions could pose significant financial challenges for low-income households, potentially resulting in reduced access to care or loss of coverage due to missed payments. State agencies and their contractors are now barred from advertising or broadly marketing Medicaid programs. While providers may still advertise their own services, general promotion of the Medicaid program is prohibited under the new rules. How it affects Gary residents: Reduced outreach and public awareness campaigns could make it harder for eligible residents to learn about available programs or navigate the application process, particularly in communities with limited access to digital information or legal aid. The post Indiana Medicaid Changes Could Leave Gary Residents Without Coverage appeared first on Capital B Gary.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Former U.S. surgeon general shares concerns about health disparities
ANDERSON — Former United States Surgeon General Jerome Adams is concerned about the nation's health, particularly in marginalized communities. Adams expressed those some of those concerns Friday during a luncheon sponsored by the Minority Health Coalition of Madison County. He also offered his vision for forging a better way forward when it comes to providing health care services in those areas. 'We're the only rich developed nation on the planet that hasn't figured out how to deliver universal access to health care,' he said. 'One of the things I'm incredibly proud of is that when I was health commissioner of Indiana, we helped expand the Healthy Indiana Plan. 'I'm very worried that that is being reversed right now,' he continued. Adams was appointed the state's health commissioner in 2014 by then-Gov. Mike Pence, and was re-appointed in 2017 by Gov. Eric Holcomb. Adams now serves as executive director of health equity initiatives at Purdue University. He said he aspires to change the way agencies view health care. 'What happens in a hospital or doctor's office is only about 20% of what determines whether or not you're going to be healthy,' he said. 'The other 80% involves things that happen in your community — things like transportation, child care, access to healthy foods, safe spaces to exercise.' Not considering social factors, he said, will result in stagnant health outcomes. He shared a story about his 15-year-old daughter, who like many teenagers, he said, spends a lot of time on her phone. So, he sends her outside for fresh air. 'If you five miles south of where I live, Pendleton Pike, they don't have complete streets,' Adams said. 'There's gangs, she might be accosted. So, a dad tells his 15-year-old daughter to go outside, that's not a good dad. That's criminal child neglect.' He encouraged local agencies, including philanthropic organizations and business groups, to take steps to fill in those gaps. 'We want to make the healthy choice, the easier choice,' he said.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Medicaid work requirements, Indiana-Illinois boundary commission signed into law
Gov. Mike Braun signs a pair of executive orders dealing with unemployment insurance in his Statehouse office on Thursday, Feb. 27, 2025. (Leslie Bonilla Muñiz/Indiana Capital Chronicle) Gov. Mike Braun signed a whopping 56 bills into law Friday, including measures setting contentious work requirements for certain Medicaid recipients and evaluating the addition of secessionist Illinois counties to Indiana. Twenty of the bills came from the Senate, led by Senate Enrolled Act 2 — which would require enrollees under the Healthy Indiana Plan to either work or volunteer for 20 hours a week or risk losing their benefits. The proposal includes over a dozen exemptions and must also get the stamp of approval from the federal government before being enacted, however. Other Senate ideas include a handful of health bills — one reforming prior authorization requirements and a wide-ranging omnibus package — along with public safety and energy matters. One adopts a new set of eyewitness identification procedures — a move celebrated by exonerees wrongly convicted of crimes partly due to mistaken eyewitness identification. CONTACT US The Innocence Project reports that over a third of wrongful convictions stem from such errors, including Indiana's Leon Benson. Benson spent over 24 years imprisoned for a murder he didn't commit. A small modular nuclear reactor pilot program will also move forward, part of a package of bills drafted with the intention of bringing the technology to Indiana. Among the 36 House-originated bills signed Friday were three chamber GOP priorities. House Enrolled Act 1005 continues incentivizing housing construction while House Enrolled Act 1006 creates a prosecutor review board to scrutinize so-called 'noncompliant' prosecutors. The final priority measure, House Enrolled Act 1008, establishes a commission to study Hoosier absorption of secessionist Illinois counties — though such a move would also require Prairie State consent and federal approval. Other House bills set to become law following Braun's signature include an Indiana National Guard enlistment boost, a 'Medicaid diversion program,' and new pediatric cancer research grants. Additionally, a transportation infrastructure funding revamp will change how communities fund roads, bridges and more. It eases barriers to tolling and changes up the popular Community Crossings Matching Grant Program. The measure will also increase the speed limit on Interstate 465. To see the full list of newly signed bills, visit the governor's 2025 Bill Watch page. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Indianapolis Star
21-04-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Bill tracker: Lawmakers approve I-465 speed limit change, Braun signs property tax relief
The General Assembly had a big week. Lawmakers handed off multiple marquee bills to Gov. Mike Braun, from property tax reform to Medicaid changes. That's because we're in the home stretch. Lawmakers intend to wrap up by the end of this week, though it's possible they'll need until April 29 ― the deadline dictated by law ― to sort out how to cut $2 billion from the budget following a dismal revenue forecast last week. IndyStar is tracking the prominent bills that are moving through the legislative process and that would impact a wide variety of Hoosiers. Here are some of the major bills that have advanced, and what happened to them last week. House Bill 1001: State budget Lead author: Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton What it does: This bill funds Indiana's government, health care programs like Medicaid, public K-12 schools and colleges for the next two years. The Senate Republicans recently pitched their version, which is broadly similar to the House's proposal but does not remove the income cap for private school vouchers and contains some transparency requirements of their elected colleagues in the executive branch. Status: The bill passed the Senate by a 40-9 vote on April 15. The House disagreed with the Senate's version, so they will negotiate a final budget in a conference committee Senate Bill 2: Medicaid eligibility What it does: The bill adds far more stringent and regular government reviews of the eligibility of Medicaid recipients and adds work requirements in order for someone to be eligible for the Healthy Indiana Plan, the state Medicaid expansion plan. In addition, if the federal government allows, it limits enrollment in the Healthy Indiana Plan. Status: The Senate gave final approval to the bill on April 17 by a 37-10 vote. It now heads to Braun's desk. House Bill 1004: Price-controlling hospitals Lead author: Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne What it does: This is one of the key bills seeking to control health care costs in Indiana. This bill does it by penalizing hospitals if they charge prices higher than a certain benchmark. While the House wanted this benchmarking to start right away, the Senate's version of the bill begins with a two-year price freeze. Both chambers' versions of the bill eventually threaten to strip hospitals' nonprofit status for overcharging, but the Senate's version invokes this threat years down the line. Status: The Senate approved the bill on April 15 by a 29-19 vote. The House disagreed with the Senate's version, so they will negotiate a final budget in a conference committee. House Bill 1461: Road funding and I-465 speed limit What it does: The bill offers a platter of tools local governments could use to beef up their road budgets. The bill also makes it easier for the state to establish more toll roads, and increases the speed limit on I-465 from 55 to 65 miles per hour. Status: The House voted 68-17 to agree to the Senate's changes to the bill. It now heads to Braun's desk. House Bill 1393: Illegal immigration notices What it does: The bill requires county jails to report individuals to their county sheriff if the person is arrested for a felony or misdemeanor and there is probable cause to believe the person lacks permanent legal status. It then requires county sheriffs to report the person to proper authorities. Status: The House gave final approval to the bill by a 58-19 vote on April 16. It now heads to Braun's desk. Senate Bill 289: Banning DEI What it does: This bill bans all state spending on diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives — from trainings to diverse hiring initiatives — at state agencies, educational institutions and health profession licensing boards. Status: The bill passed the House by a 67-27 vote on April 15. The Senate then disagreed with the House's version, so they will negotiate a final budget in a conference committee. House Bill 1006: Prosecutors Lead author: Rep. Chris Jeter, R-Fishers What it does: The bill creates a prosecutor review board to investigate complaints against prosecutors that have publicly refused to prosecute certain criminal laws. The Senate amended the bill on April 8 to remove language that would have allowed "noncompliant" prosecutors to be denied funds previously available under a House version of the bill, which Democrats saw as an attack on Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears. Status: The House gave final approval to the bill by a 61-21 vote on April 17. The bill now heads to Braun's desk. House Bill 1002: Education deregulation What it does: The bill aims to loosen restrictions for Indiana schools and education systems, including by nixing the education credential requirement for the Indiana secretary of education, changing the timing of when teachers are paid and removing certain training and professional development requirements. Status: The Senate passed the bill by a 31-18 vote on April 15. The House then disagreed with the Senate's version, so they will negotiate a final budget in a conference committee. What it does: The bill creates a bipartisan group that would explore how Illinois counties could effectively secede from their state and join Indiana by redrawing state lines. Status: The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 36-13 on April 16 and the House voted 64-23 to agree to the Senate's changes on April 17. The bill now heads to Braun's desk. Senate Bill 482: Chronic absenteeism Lead author: Sen. Stacey Donato, R-Logansport What it does: The bill prohibits a public school from expelling or suspending a student because they are chronically absent or habitually truant and expands the number of days for a school to hold an attendance conference about a student's absences from five days to 10. It also requires the Department of Education to establish best practices for student discipline on chronic absenteeism. Status: The bill passed the House by an 82-15 vote on April 15. The Senate then disagreed with the House's version, so they will negotiate a final budget in a conference committee. Senate Bill 516: IEDC transparency changes What it does: The bill would require the Indiana Economic Development Corporation make mandatory notifications to local governments if the quasi-government agency seeks to purchase 100 acres or more in a community and provide annual reports on Innovation Development Districts, like the LEAP project in Boone County. Additionally, the bill creates a new entrepreneurship and innovation office and a new role of president of the IEDC. Status: The Senate unanimously gave final approval to the bill on April 16. The bill now heads to Braun's desk. House Bill 1007: Small nuclear reactors Lead author: Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso What it does: The bill provides a state tax credit for expenses incurred in manufacturing small modular nuclear reactors in Indiana. The bill could result in costs shifted to utility customers to pay back project expenses before construction starts. Status: The bill passed the Senate by a 36-13 vote on April 15. It now goes back to the House, which will decide whether to agree to the changes. The following bills have either been signed by the governor or finished the legislative process. Senate Bill 1: Property taxes Lead author: Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle What it does: The bill saw a massive overhaul when it passed the House and now includes local government finance reforms in addition to property tax relief. Senate Bill 1 limits how much local governments can raise their property taxes, provides new property tax credits for Hoosier homeowners and allows most cities and towns to establish their own local income tax rates. It also requires school districts to share tax dollars with certain charter schools. Status: Braun signed the bill into law April 15 after the Senate voted 27-22 to agree with the House's changes. Senate Bill 10: Student voter ID What it does: The bill bans college students from being able to use their student IDs as a form of acceptable voter identification at the ballot box. Status: Braun signed the bill into law on April 16. It goes into effect July 1. House Bill 1041: Transgender athlete ban What it does: This is virtually the same bill lawmakers passed in 2022, which banned transgender girls from participating in girls' K-12 sports. This year's bill extends that ban to collegiate athletics. Status: Braun signed the bill into law on April 16. It goes into effect July 1. Senate Bill 451: Income tax cut Lead Author: Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle What it does: The bill would further decrease Indiana's individual income tax rate if state revenues grow by more than 3.5% compared to previous years. Status: Braun signed the bill into law on April 16. It goes into effect July 1. House Bill 1208: Sheriff's commissary fund Lead author: Rep. Greg Steuerwald, R-Avon What it does: The bill would tighten oversight of commissary funds of county jails, requiring more stringent reporting and training. The bill comes in the wake of the scandal involving former Clark County Sheriff Jamey Noel, who last year was sentenced to 15 years in prison related to taking improper payments from the fund. Status: Braun signed the bill into law on April 10. It goes into effect July 1. House Bill 1137: Red Flag expungement Lead author: Rep. Ben Smaltz, R-Auburn What it does: The bill would allow for a judge to seal and expunge someone's "red flag" record if a court determines the person to no longer be dangerous. It would only allow a law enforcement officer acting within their job duties to see the sealed record. Currently, if a person's weapons are seized and a court determines they are not dangerous the case remains public, which advocates say has cost people jobs and other opportunities. Status: Gov. Braun signed the bill into law on April 3. It goes into effect July 1. Senate Joint Resolution 21: Constitutional Convention Lead author: Sen. Andy Zay, R-Huntington What it does: The resolution is part of a multi-state effort to compell the U.S. Congress to call a convention to amend the U.S. constitution, specifically to enact term limits for people who serve in the U.S. House or U.S. Senate. However, any aspect of the constitution could potentially be amended under such a convention. Status: The resolution passed the Indiana House on March 17 by a 66-30 vote after being passed earlier in the session by the Indiana Senate. It goes into effect immediately because resolutions do not require the signature of Gov. Mike Braun. There was no movement on the following bills last week. Senate Bill 475: Physician noncompetes Lead author: Sen. Justin Busch, R-Fort Wayne What it does: Lawmakers tried in 2023 to outlaw noncompete agreements for Indiana doctors — contracts that prevent doctors from taking jobs at competing hospitals within a certain radius. The compromise that year was to only apply this to family doctors. This year, Senate Bill 475 attempts the ban for all physicians, again, hoping it will encourage competition and reduce prices in the health care market. Status: The bill passed the House on April 9 by a 71-23 vote, but then on April 10, the bill's author disagreed with the House's changes. The bill will go to conference committee. Senate Bill 143: Parental rights Lead Author: Sen. Liz Brown, R-Fort Wayne What it does: The bill restricts government entities, including school districts and the Indiana Department of Child Services, from intruding on parental rights or keeping information from parents, unless there is a compelling governmental interest. Status: The Senate officially agreed to the House's changes on April 8. The bill is now on Braun's desk. Senate Bill 4: Water pipeline oversight Lead author: Sen. Eric Koch, R-Bedford What it does: The bill prohibits the construction, operation, purchase, sale and lease of a long-haul water pipeline unless the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission signs off on it. However, the Citizens deal to provide water to the LEAP district in Lebanon is exempted from those rules. Status: The Senate agreed to the House's changes by a 45-2 vote on April 8. The bill is now on Braun's desk. The following bills are now dead. House Bill 1531: Immigration enforcement penalties What it does: The bill gives the governor power to withhold funding from local governments if the attorney general determines the entity does not comply with federal immigration enforcement. It says federal immigration law can be enforced by local, state and federal officials. The bill also prohibits employers from knowingly hiring someone who is not legally allowed in the U.S. Status: This bill died after it failed to receive a hearing in the Senate's Committee on the Judiciary. Republican Sen. Liz Brown, who leads that committee, released a statement on March 31 in which she expressed reservations about how to enforce the bill. Senate Bill 11: Social media for minors Lead author: Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores What it does: The bill requires parental consent for social media use for people under age 16, and allows Indiana's attorney general to sue social media operators that don't comply. Status: This bill died in the House after it failed to receive a hearing before the deadline for bills to pass legislative committees on April 10. Senate Bill 523: Chaplains in public schools Lead author: Sen. Stacey Donato, R-Logansport What it does: The bill would allow public schools to hire or bring in on a volunteer basis religious chaplains, with an eye toward alleviating the burden on school counselors. Status: This bill died in the House after it failed to receive a hearing before the deadline for bills to pass legislative committees on April 10. Senate Bill 13: Spinning Lead author: Sen. Jim Tomes, R-Wadesville What it does: The bill makes intentional and reckless skidding while driving, known as 'spinning', a Class B misdemeanor and increases the penalties further if the spinning endangers, injures or kills another person. If the bill becomes law, a person found spinning could have their vehicle seized in a civil forfeiture. Status: This bill died in the House after it failed to receive a hearing before the deadline for bills to pass legislative committees on April 10. Senate Bill 518: Sharing property tax dollars with charter schools Lead author: Sen. Linda Rogers, R-Granger What it does: The bill would require all traditional public-school districts, including Indianapolis Public Schools, to share property tax revenue with charter schools in their attendance boundaries, if 100 or more kids leave the traditional district for charter schools, starting in 2028. Status: The language from Senate Bill 518 was amended into Senate Bill 1, the signature property tax relief bill. Senate Bill 284: Shrinking early voting Lead author: Sen. Gary Byrne, R-Byrneville What it does: The bill would have shrunk Indiana's period for early in-person voting from 28 days to 14 days. It died on Feb. 19 after Byrne said he did not have the support to advance the bill. Status: Died in the Senate on Feb. 19 after the author did not open it for amendments by the deadline. Senate Bill 201: Closing Indiana's primaries Lead author: Sen. Mike Gaskill, R-Pendleton What it does: By requiring voters to register with a political party in order to vote in that party's primary, this bill would have made Indiana a closed-primary state. It died on Feb. 19 after Gaskill said he did not have the support to advance the bill. Status: Died in the Senate on Feb. 19 after the author did not open it for amendments by the deadline. House Bill 1432: Online gambling Lead author: Rep. Ethan Manning, R-Logansport What it does: The bill would have allowed people to play online poker and other casino games virtually and allow the Hoosier Lottery to operate virtually as well. Status: The bill died after not receiving a hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee before the Feb. 17 deadline. Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Brittany Carloni at Follow her on Twitter/X @CarloniBrittany. @kayla_dwyer17.
