Indiana News

Lawmakers from both parties are thinking about huge potential cuts in federal funding as they write this year’s state budget.

Indiana Medicaid paid more than $14 million for Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, therapy service in 2017. But just two years later, it paid $120 million. Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order to convene a work group to address improper payments and rising costs while still protecting the service.

House Republicans rejected every effort by Democrats Wednesday to adjust the state budget bill.

A measure advanced by House lawmakers this week would change Indiana’s Teacher Appreciation Grant program and increase those stipends. But some lawmakers said the bill will restrict the number of teachers who can receive them.

A "comprehensive plan" to address health care costs was approved by the House Tuesday. The bill tackles costs from more than just one angle — including a prior authorization policy that was removed from a Senate bill last week.

Indiana lawmakers want to address rising Medicaid costs in the state budget by overhauling the state’s Medicaid expansion program. The Senate approved legislation that would make several significant changes to the Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP.

Public education leaders demonstrated their displeasure for proposed education bills this week with 200 cookies inside the Indiana Statehouse and a hot pink sign that announced a $5 billion bake sale.

Indiana House lawmakers passed a measure to ban transgender women from competing in collegiate sports Tuesday. The bill seeks to codify a recent executive order from President Donald Trump.

The Indiana Senate passed a bill Monday that would define natural gas and propane as clean energy sources. Senate Bill 178 now moves to the House for consideration.

The Family and Social Services Administration made changes to its proposal to reign in Medicaid spending on a common behavioral treatment. The agency is keeping the lifetime limit on Applied Behavioral Analysis, or ABA, therapy but is introducing coverage tiers based on need.