Hoosiers Work for Health

04/09/2026

Healthcare should work for patients, not middlemen.

Right now, co-pay assistance programs meant to help patients afford their medications are being redirected into profits for insurers and PBMs.

As costs continue to rise, with out-of-pocket limits projected to reach $12,000 for individuals, these programs are more important than ever.

Carl Schmid, executive director of the HIV+Hepatitis Policy Institute, says closing the essential health benefits loophole would be a major step toward restoring fairness and protecting access to care.

Last year, America’s pharmacy benefit managers and insurers pocketed a whopping $7 billion in co-pay assistance meant for patients.

04/06/2026

When it comes to new medicines, access matters just as much as affordability.

Patients in the United States often get access to new treatments years before patients in countries with price controls. That is not an accident. It is the result of a system that supports research, investment and innovation.

If we move toward policies that mirror those other countries, we risk slower access and fewer breakthroughs for future patients.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi will arrive in Washington this week to meet with President Trump for trade discussions most policymakers anticipate will further bolster our two nations’ h

04/01/2026

Washington keeps talking about healthcare reform, but patients are still getting stuck with the bill.

A recent feature shows how an insurer’s actions led to a patient losing coverage over $0.05 and is now facing unexpected costs. These are the kinds of practices that drive up healthcare expenses and leave families scrambling.

Who is willing to stand up for patients and hold insurers accountable?

Patients need more than promises. They need action so these stories can finally STOP.

When medical bills started rolling in, a teacher’s aide in Florida wondered why her insurance suddenly wasn’t covering them. The answer? She owed a balance of 5 cents, so her insurer canceled her policy.

03/31/2026

Medical debt is one of the most common forms of financial hardship in the U.S., affecting nearly half of adults.

The 340B program was designed to ease that burden by helping hospitals stretch resources and support patients in need. But new research shows some hospitals benefiting from 340B discounts are also pursuing aggressive debt collection practices against patients, including legal action.

Patients should not be forced to choose between their health and financial stability. Strengthening oversight, improving transparency and reinforcing charity care requirements can help ensure this program works the way it was intended.

By Lisa Bercu, J.D. – Senior Director of Health Policy at NCL At a time when Americans are increasingly concerned about the cost of healthcare, a troubling contradiction is emerging within […]

03/24/2026

Indiana is a national leader in life sciences, supporting tens of thousands of high-paying jobs and driving billions in economic activity. But policies coming out of Washington could put that leadership at risk.

So-called drug price “negotiations” are actually government price setting. That approach may sound appealing, but it comes with serious consequences: reduced investment in research, fewer new treatments and slower medical progress. For Hoosier patients, that could mean fewer options and delayed access to lifesaving therapies. For Indiana’s economy, it could mean lost jobs and weakened global competitiveness.

March Madness is just around the corner, but while basketball teams jockey for tournament position, the federal government is moving forward with madness of its own.

03/20/2026

Gov. Mike Braun recently announced a $1 billion investment to accelerate growth in Indiana’s life sciences and agricultural sectors. The initiative aims to create 100,000 high-wage jobs over the next decade while reinforcing Indiana’s position as a national hub for innovation. By aligning industry, research institutions and workforce development, this effort reflects a long-term strategy for economic competitiveness.

Learn more at the link below.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Tuesday, March 17, 2026 Gov. Braun Invests Record-Breaking Commitment in Agriculture & Life Sciences, $1 Billion to Grow Over 100K New Jobs in 10 Years Investment empowers region-led growth, more jobs and higher wages INDIANAPOLIS – Governor Mike Braun today formally announce...

03/17/2026

The U.S. has historically rejected using quality-adjusted life years, or QALYs, to determine the value of medicines.

But MFN drug pricing could effectively import systems that rely on QALYs and foreign price controls to dictate what treatments patients can access.

03/13/2026

The United States leads the world in biotechnology innovation, but that leadership is not guaranteed.

A new article from STAT News highlights concerns that proposals to codify Most Favored Nation drug pricing could discourage investment across the biotech ecosystem. In fact, 26 drugs and 55 research programs have already been discontinued since 2022, raising questions about how policy decisions can shape the future of medical innovation.

For states like Indiana with strong life sciences sectors, these policy choices could affect innovation, research, and high quality jobs. Learn more below.

Health care policy often carries unintended consequences. The Inflation Reduction Act’s “pill penalty,” for example, gave small-molecule drugs — which

03/10/2026

In a new column for Newsmax, health policy expert Sally Pipes warns that “Most Favored Nation” drug pricing could bring foreign government price controls into the U.S.

Many countries use the Quality-Adjusted Life Year to determine whether medicines are worth covering, which can result in patients being denied access to certain treatments.

The piece outlines how tying U.S. drug prices to those systems could have serious implications for patient access and innovation.

Lower foreign prices are not the result of superior bargaining. They are the product of government controls. Canada, the United Kingdom, and much of Europe cap what they are willing to pay for new medicines. If manufacturers refuse, then the drug may not be available to patients.

03/02/2026

Originally designed to help low-income patients, the 340B program has grown enormously. A new study from IQVIA estimates around $1.8 B annually in markups on discounted drugs paid by state health plans. These costs show up in higher premiums and bigger state budgets, raising questions about whether the program is working as intended.

02/25/2026

Last night, during the President’s State of the Union Address, we heard renewed focus on lowering healthcare costs for American families. This is a goal we all share.

However, importing foreign price controls could threaten innovation, limit patient access to new treatments and put Hoosier jobs at risk. Indiana is a life sciences industry leader and policies that weaken investment here will hurt patients and the economy nationally.

Let’s focus on solutions that lower costs and protect innovation, access and jobs in Indiana.

We Work For Health Executive Director Dan Leonard issued the following statement in response to President Trump’s call for the codification of Most Favored Nation price controls during his State of the Union Address. “Last night, we heard again from the Administration about their plans to lower ...

02/24/2026

Maintaining America's momentum demands that policymakers resist policies that undermine research and development incentives.