IndianaSB 85Second Regular Session 124th General Assembly (2026)SenateWALLET

Health care debt and costs.

Sponsored By: Ed Charbonneau (Republican)

Failed

Summary

Authorizes the attorney general to enforce provisions concerning health care debt wage garnishment and principal residence lien restrictions and establish a complaint process. Requires hospitals to do the following: (1) Offer a person who meets certain income guidelines and has received health services the opportunity to pay the charges through a payment plan that satisfies certain requirements. (2) Develop a written notice about a charity care program operated by the hospital, provide the notice to patients, and post the notice. (3) Include certain information concerning financial assistance on a billing statement. (4) Requires a hospital that reports an annual gross patient revenue of at least $20,000,000 to provide written notice and information to a person who has requested an eligibility determination concerning a payment plan or charity care. Provides that the unpaid earnings of a consumer who meets specified income eligibility requirements may not be attached by garnishment if an individual makes 200% of the federal income poverty level or less, and limits the amount to be garnished over a certain amount of the individual's disposable earnings in satisfaction of: (1) health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by the consumer; or (2) any amount of the judgment that represents health care debt determined to be owed by the consumer. Provides that: (1) health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by a consumer; or (2) in an action against a consumer in which a judgment has been entered, the amount of the judgment that represents health care debt determined to be owed by the consumer; does not constitute a lien against the consumer's principal residence for a consumer. Requires the disclosure of whether a debt is a health care debt in the execution of a judgment. Provides that in any action filed in Indiana for the recovery of health care debt owed or alleged to be owed by a consumer, the principal residence of the consumer is not liable to judgment or attachment or to be sold on execution against the consumer.

health and provider servicesthe housepublic health

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Bill Overview

No Economic Impacts Identified for this Bill

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ed Charbonneau

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Ben Smaltz

    Republican • House

  • Blake Doriot

    Republican • Senate

  • Brad Barrett

    Republican • House

  • Fady Qaddoura

    Democratic • Senate

  • Greg Goode

    Republican • Senate

  • Greg Taylor

    Democratic • Senate

  • Greg Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • J.D. Ford

    Democratic • Senate

  • Julie McGuire

    Republican • House

  • Kyle Walker

    Republican • Senate

  • La Keisha Jackson

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lonnie Randolph

    Democratic • Senate

  • Lori Goss-Reaves

    Republican • House

  • Mark Spencer

    Democratic • Senate

  • Mike Bohacek

    Republican • Senate

  • Ron Alting

    Republican • Senate

  • Shelli Yoder

    Democratic • Senate

  • Spencer Deery

    Republican • Senate

  • Vaneta Becker

    Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 33 • No: 15

Senate vote • 1/29/2026

Third reading: passed

Yes: 33 • No: 15

Bill Text

  • Introduced Senate Bill (S)

  • Senate Bill (H)

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