# Indiana SB 173: Health care matters.

Indiana SB 173, Health care matters., is a Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026) Senate bill sponsored by Tyler Johnson (Republican); status failed, last action 2026-01-15 (Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations) (as of 2026-11-01).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB173-2026
- As of: 2026-11-01
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: Indiana SB 173
- State: Indiana
- Session: Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)
- Title: Health care matters.
- Status: failed
- Chamber: Senate
- Introduced: 2026-01-05
- Last action: 2026-01-15, Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations
- Sponsor: Tyler Johnson (Republican)
- Cosponsors: 2
- Subjects: health and provider services, appropriations
- Touches household money: no
- Economic provisions PRIA read: 0

## Summary

Prohibits: (1) the state employee health plan; (2) the Medicaid program; (3) an accident and sickness insurance policy; and (4) a health maintenance organization individual or group contract; from imposing a time limit on the amount of anesthesia time for a medical procedure or otherwise restricting or excluding coverage or payment of anesthesia time. Modifies the definitions of "charity care" and "community benefits" for purposes of certain hospital reporting requirements. Requires additional reporting of information by nonprofit hospitals to the Indiana department of health (state department). Requires the report to be posted on the nonprofit hospital's website and the state department's website. Increases the penalty for failure to file the report and changes the time frame in which the penalty may be assessed. Specifies that any penalty be deposited in the local public health fund. Allows for certain practitioners to provide neuroplastogen treatment concerning qualified patients with life threatening conditions if certain requirements are met. Allows for research to be conducted on neuroplastogen access. Requires reporting of adverse events and annual reporting of patient statistical information concerning the neuroplastogen treatment. Provides for immunity when treating using neuroplastogens. Requires a clinical peer to disclose certain information for a peer to peer review of an adverse determination. Prohibits a utilization review entity from using artificial intelligence as the primary means for making adverse determinations. Prohibits a health insurer from engaging in certain downcoding practices and sets forth conditions for downcoding a claim. Authorizes the department of insurance to enforce the downcoding requirements and impose certain penalties for a violation. Prohibits an insurer, pharmacy benefit manager, or other administrator of pharmacy benefits from designating a prescription drug as a specialty drug unless certain conditions are met.

## Bill overview

No economic impacts identified for this bill.

## Sponsors and cosponsors

- Sponsor: Tyler Johnson (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Ed Charbonneau (Republican), Senate
- Cosponsor: Liz Brown (Republican), Senate

## Actions (5)

- 2026-01-15: Committee report: amend do pass adopted; reassigned to Committee on Appropriations (Senate)
- 2026-01-08: Senator Brown L added as third author (Senate)
- 2026-01-08: Senator Charbonneau added as second author (Senate)
- 2026-01-05: First reading: referred to Committee on Health and Provider Services (Senate)
- 2026-01-05: Authored by Senator Johnson T (Senate)

## Bill text

- Introduced Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0173/versions/SB0173.01.INTR?format=pdf)
- Senate Bill (S): [PDF](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0173/versions/SB0173.02.COMS?format=pdf)

## Related bills

- SB 179: Indiana department of transportation. (signed)
- SB 204: Various education matters. (signed)
- SB 185: Alcohol and tobacco matters. (signed)
- SB 80: Code publication. (signed)
- HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales. (signed)
- HB 1406: Tax and fiscal matters. (signed)

## Sources
- [Introduced Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0173/versions/SB0173.01.INTR?format=pdf)
- [Senate Bill (S) (PDF)](https://api.iga.in.gov/2026/bills/SB0173/versions/SB0173.02.COMS?format=pdf)

## Related
- [SB 179: Indiana department of transportation.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB179-2026)
- [SB 204: Various education matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB204-2026)
- [SB 185: Alcohol and tobacco matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB185-2026)
- [SB 80: Code publication.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB80-2026)
- [HB 1424: Farm and homestead food sales.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1424-2026)
- [HB 1406: Tax and fiscal matters.](https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-HB1406-2026)
- [Indiana bills](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana/bills)
- [Indiana state hub](https://policyrisk.com/states/indiana)
- [All state legislation](https://policyrisk.com/state-bills)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/state-bill/IN-SB173-2026 (as of 2026-11-01).