SB 85: Health care debt and costs.

Official summary

Abstract published by the legislature (via Open States). Text as published by the legislature; reproduced verbatim.

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.

Sponsors

Sponsors by party (alphabetical): Democratic 7 · Republican 13

“Support” is shown only as formal sponsorship recorded by the legislature. Roll-call votes are available on the official bill page.

Recent official actions

1. February 2, 2026First reading: referred to Committee on Public Health
2. January 29, 2026Referred to the House
3. January 29, 2026Third reading: passed; Roll Call 135: yeas 33, nays 15
4. January 29, 2026Senators Walker G, Walker K, Bohacek added as coauthors
5. January 29, 2026Senator Taylor G added as coauthor
6. January 29, 2026Senator Spencer added as coauthor
7. January 29, 2026Senator Jackson L added as coauthor
8. January 29, 2026Senator Goode added as coauthor
9. January 29, 2026Senator Ford J.D. added as coauthor
10. January 29, 2026Senators Alting, Doriot added as coauthors
11. January 29, 2026Cosponsor: Representative Goss-Reaves
12. January 29, 2026House sponsor: Representative McGuire

Showing 12 most recent of 26 actions. Full history