Nearing end of legislative session, Garcia Wilburn provides health care policy update

State Rep. Victoria Garcia Wilburn (D-Fishers), an occupational therapist and member of the House Committee on Public Health, provided an update on health care industry legislation as Indiana's 2025 legislative session nears its close.

Garcia Wilburn voted for Senate Bill 475 today, April 24. Now that SB 475 has passed the state House of Representatives and Senate, it heads to the governor's desk for signing.

SB 475 aims to lower health care costs and improve patient outcomes by prohibiting hospitals or hospital systems from entering into noncompete agreements with physicians if the agreement interferes with the physician's ability to treat their patients. Garcia Wilburn has previously applauded federal efforts to eliminate noncompete agreements.

Garcia Wilburn issued the following statement upon the bill's passage out of the House:

"The patient-physician relationship is key to delivering good health care outcomes, and hospital-enforced noncompete contracts get in the way of the best possible care for patients. It's fair for patients to want a doctor they trust. It's also fair for physicians to want good working conditions and satisfactory pay. Noncompetes make these two needs stand in conflict with each other. All too often, patients are forced to lose a trusted provider because that provider decides they need to leave the hospital system and are forced to move away because of their noncompete's terms.  

"SB 475 is an important step toward delivering better health care outcomes and working conditions for Hoosiers, ensuring healthy competition and lowering costs. I was proud to support it."

Additionally, Garcia Wilburn voted against legislation to overregulate hospitals and drive up patient costs. House Bill 1004 creates more administrative workload and paperwork for nonprofit hospitals that provide essential Medicaid services to the neediest Hoosiers.

"Transparency is a noble principle, but transparency without action doesn't actually lower costs or improve outcomes for Hoosiers. House Bill 1004 will be harmful to the hospital systems in our communities without any clear benefit to patients. I would like to see all health care entities working together for the betterment of consumers and will continue working toward this goal next session."