INDIANAPOLIS – A priority bill for House Republicans that would penalize nonprofit hospitals charging high prices overcame opposition from two GOP caucus members and left the House on a 68-26 vote Thursday.
As introduced, House Bill 1004 would impact nonprofit hospitals charging more than 200% of Medicare prices, reversing their nonprofit status in the state and charging them taxes like their for-profit peers.
The amended version of the bill bumped that percentage up to 300%. Hospitals charging more than 265% of Medicare will be penalized but retain their nonprofit status.
“The most expensive hospitals that we have in the state have nonprofit status,” said author Rep. Martin Carbaugh, R-Fort Wayne. “We see charges of over 400% of Medicare in some cases.”
Read the rest of the Whitney Downard story for the Indiana Capital Chronicle, here.
