Medical debt help bill clears Senate, splits GOP caucus

Legislation promoting charity care and payment plans for Hoosier patients — plus, protecting their paychecks and homes from medical debt collectors — now heads to the House for consideration.

By: Leslie Bonilla Muñiz

Outlets: Indiana Capital Chronicle

Published: January 30, 2026

Words: 757

Last Updated: 3 weeks, 5 days ago

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Legislation promoting charity care and payment plans for Hoosier health care patients — plus, protecting their paychecks and homes from debt collectors — advanced from Indiana’s Senate on Thursday, in a 33-15 vote that splintered the chamber’s Republican caucus. It next heads to the House for consideration.

“I’ve had two massive medical bills for having cancer two times,”said Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso. “I talked to the hospital, and I’ve got a payment plan. They …

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