House committee reviews sweeping health‑care bill to lower costs, boost transparency and curb anti‑competitive contracting

Representative Barrett, the bill's author, told the House Insurance Committee that House Bill 1003 is a comprehensive package intended to lower health‑care costs, fight fraud, expand access, increase transparency and promote competition.

“Lower cost, fight waste, fraud and abuse, enhance transparency, expand access, promote wellness, increase competition,” Barrett said in a high‑level summary of the bill’s pillars. The 43‑page proposal would, among other things, extend certain federal site‑of‑service payment neutrality policies to state Medicaid and commercial plans, require faster good‑faith cost estimates for patients, expand transparency on contracting and claims data, limit anti‑competitive contract terms, streamline provisional credentialing and revise prior‑authorization processes.

Hospital leaders raised concerns about definitions and operational impacts. Tim Kennedy of the Indiana Hospital Association and Rob McClain, CEO…