The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Indiana establishes a prescription drug assistance program for elderly residents
Last action · January 8, 2026: First reading: referred to Committee on Public HealthSponsor: Martin Carbaugh
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Proposed
Representative Martin Carbaugh introduced House Bill 1405 to establish a prescription drug assistance program for Indiana residents aged 65 and older, set to begin January 1, 2027. The program provides reduced-rate drug purchases, structured deductibles based on household income, and a dedicated fund, while establishing a for program fraud.
Indiana residents aged 65 and older who are not on Medicaid gain access to reduced prescription drug prices and a structured deductible and copayment system starting in January 2027, with annual enrollment fees and income-based requirements.
- The Indiana General Assembly is the state legislature responsible for enacting statutory changes and establishing state programs. context
- The division of aging operates within the state framework to administer programs supporting older adults and vulnerable populations. context
Who It Would Have Affected
Groups the bill's text would have affected, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
Indiana residents at least sixty-five years of age
Seniors must pay enrollment fees and income-based deductibles to access reduced prescription drug prices and capped copayments.
Pharmacies and pharmacists
Provider pharmacies and pharmacists must adhere to maximum charge limits, use specific claim forms, and cannot collect dispensing fees from participants.
Prescription drug manufacturers
Manufacturers selling prescription drugs in Indiana are required to enter into drug rebate agreements modeled after federal Medicaid standards.
Key Facts
You don't have to trust us. Each fact below is taken straight from the official document - click any one to see the exact passage, highlighted in the original.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible for the prescription drug assistance program?
How much are the copayments for prescription drugs under the program?
What happens to unspent money in the program fund at the end of the fiscal year?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceWhere This Stands
This bill did not become law - Died at adjournment · in House committee.
Procedural history
2 actions- Jan 8, 2026HouseIntroducedFirst reading: referred to Committee on Public Health
- Jan 8, 2026HouseAuthored by Representative Carbaugh
Version history
Only one version on file - nothing to compare yet. As later stages (committee substitute, engrossed, enrolled) are captured, the redline appears here.
View official text →Lobbying Activity
No state lobbying filings in our records match this bill. Federal lobbying reports (LDA) cover Congress, so they are not listed on state bills.
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Sponsors
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Creation of Senior Drug Assistance Program
The state is creating a targeted prescription drug assistance program separate from the existing Indiana prescription drug program, complete with its own dedicated fund and rebate structure.
Connected Entities
Sources
iga.in.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance20Lowered because this bill did not pass (its text scored 65)
- Controversy30Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz25Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools