1. One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1)
It passed the House on May 22, 2025. The bill includes deep Medicaid cuts (nearly $800 billion over a decade), caps on provider taxes, work requirements for nondisabled adults, and restrictions on gender affirming and Planned Parenthood services. Indiana Medicaid funding and rural hospital viability could be severely affected.
2. Senate “Doc Fix” (H.R. 1)
This is under Senate consideration. This provision seeks to stabilize Medicare physician payments beyond 2026 by tying updates to inflation, but it won't undo the 2.83% cut of January 2025. The legislation could remove incentives for value-based care, prompting pushbacks from some primary care providers.
3. Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act (S. 1640 / H.R. 879)
Introduced in May 2025, with similar bills in the Senate and House, the legislation could repeal the 2.83% Medicare cut and apply a 2% increase from June to December 2025. The AMA backs this bill; it could help practices and alleviate inflationary costs.
4. Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act of 2025 (H.R. 3890)
Recently introduced in Congress, the proposal would create 14,000 additional Medicare-funded GME slots over seven years and codify rural residency programs. It could help Indiana address its physician shortage.
5. Proposed Medicaid Cuts by Senate Republicans (H.R. 1)
The Senate Finance Committee’s proposed revision of H.R. 1 would reduce Medicaid spending by up to $1 trillion over ten years, cap provider taxes at 3.5%, institute work requirements and tighten eligibility. Indiana’s rural hospitals and Medicaid patients face heightened risk.
6. Elijah Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act (H.R. 3)
This bill would authorize Medicare to negotiate drug prices and cap Part D out of pocket costs. If enacted, it could lower prescription expenses for Indiana patients and reduce administrative complexity for prescribing physicians.
7. Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (H.R. 1916)
This bipartisan bill requires private insurers to cover the diagnosis and treatment of congenital anomalies and birth defects. It extends coverage for pediatric reconstructive services, benefiting Indiana practices in those specialties.
8. Equality Act (H.R. 15)
The legislation would prohibit discrimination in federally funded programs (including hospitals and clinics) based on gender identity or sexual orientation. It would help guide non-discrimination policies in Indiana’s healthcare settings.
9. Healthcare Cybersecurity Act (S. 1851)
The Senate bill under consideration would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to coordinate to provide cybersecurity training and resources to health care providers.
10. Physician Payments Sunshine Act Amendments / Aggregate Spend Initiatives
New legislative proposals would extend transparency and limit industry payments to physicians. Indiana practitioners should prepare for possible expansion in Open Payments reporting.
Why These Bills Matter to Indiana Physicians
- Payment stability & practice survival: Medicare “doc fix” (items 2 & 3) and Medicaid rollback (items 1 & 5) directly affect revenue streams.
- Workforce expansion: Additional GME slots in Indiana (item 4) may ease shortages.
- Patient access & cost: Drug pricing reforms (item 6) and congenital anomaly coverage (item 7) improve affordability and care scope.
- Anti-discrimination & data security: Equality and cybersecurity rules (items 8 & 9) ensure equitable, safe patient environments.
- Transparency obligations: Sunshine Act enhancements (item 10) may impose new reporting duties.
Next Steps for Indiana Physicians
- Track bill status — especially in the Senate Finance and House Budget committees.
- Engage with AMA — coordinated advocacy could help open payments and payment stabilization.
- Inform practices — prepare for compliance with cybersecurity and transparency laws.
- Monitor workforce opportunities — leverage potential GME expansions.