Abigail Ruhman
@akruhman.bsky.social
Health Reporter (in Dallas,TX).
AIR New Voices Fellow (in 2025 cohort)
Chaotic character creator (in every TTRPG).
Yapper (in most situations).
Previously: Indiana Public Broadcasting, KBIA, High Turnout Wide Margins Podcast, NLGJA Connect (2022)
AIR New Voices Fellow (in 2025 cohort)
Chaotic character creator (in every TTRPG).
Yapper (in most situations).
Previously: Indiana Public Broadcasting, KBIA, High Turnout Wide Margins Podcast, NLGJA Connect (2022)
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
"‘Do I go to a doctor?’ or ‘Do I need to pay rent?'"
The original subsidies for HealthCare.gov insurance plans are staying in place — but the enhanced subsidies will end on Dec. 31st if Congress fails to extend them.
@akruhman.bsky.social explains what it means for Texas families.
The original subsidies for HealthCare.gov insurance plans are staying in place — but the enhanced subsidies will end on Dec. 31st if Congress fails to extend them.
@akruhman.bsky.social explains what it means for Texas families.
September 22, 2025 at 6:38 PM
"‘Do I go to a doctor?’ or ‘Do I need to pay rent?'"
The original subsidies for HealthCare.gov insurance plans are staying in place — but the enhanced subsidies will end on Dec. 31st if Congress fails to extend them.
@akruhman.bsky.social explains what it means for Texas families.
The original subsidies for HealthCare.gov insurance plans are staying in place — but the enhanced subsidies will end on Dec. 31st if Congress fails to extend them.
@akruhman.bsky.social explains what it means for Texas families.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
“What happens to a nonprofit that loses that status? I have no idea,” said Sen. Jim Buck (R-Kokomo). “And that scares the bejeezus out of me.”
'Chaos to the system': Senate moves nonprofit hospital bill forward, despite impassioned debate
Republican lawmakers passionately debated legislation to tackle health care costs among Indiana’s largest nonprofit hospitals. The Senate ultimately voted to move the measure forward and return it to…
buff.ly
April 17, 2025 at 3:29 PM
“What happens to a nonprofit that loses that status? I have no idea,” said Sen. Jim Buck (R-Kokomo). “And that scares the bejeezus out of me.”
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
The “Make Indiana Healthy Again” initiative includes nine executive orders, with almost half focused on SNAP.
Braun launches 'Make Indiana Healthy Again' initiative, makes significant changes to SNAP
Gov. Mike Braun unveiled a new health initiative which makes several significant changes to Indiana’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The top U.S. health official said the changes go further than any other state’s so far.
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April 16, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The “Make Indiana Healthy Again” initiative includes nine executive orders, with almost half focused on SNAP.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Up to 2 million people could lose their health care coverage in 2026, if a recently proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is finalized.
I break down one part of this proposal here: how trans people, many of whom already live in poverty, could see higher health care costs
I break down one part of this proposal here: how trans people, many of whom already live in poverty, could see higher health care costs
Health care could get more expensive for transgender people under a new Trump rule
The proposed rule affects access to “essential health benefits” like hospitalization, mental health services and prescription drugs.
19thnews.org
April 16, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Up to 2 million people could lose their health care coverage in 2026, if a recently proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is finalized.
I break down one part of this proposal here: how trans people, many of whom already live in poverty, could see higher health care costs
I break down one part of this proposal here: how trans people, many of whom already live in poverty, could see higher health care costs
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
IDOH reports the case is an unvaccinated minor in Allen County, who is stable and recovering
IDOH confirms measles case in Allen County, first confirmed case in more than a year
The Indiana Department of Health confirmed Monday the state's first measles case in more than a year. Measles is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by a virus.
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April 8, 2025 at 1:37 AM
IDOH reports the case is an unvaccinated minor in Allen County, who is stable and recovering
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
The state indicated this week it will enter negotiations with Deloitte Consulting for its Medicaid actuarial services, replacing Milliman.
Indiana moves to replace Medicaid consulting firm after $1 billion forecasting error
The state of Indiana is preparing to replace the consulting firm it works with to help prepare its Medicaid forecasts after a forecasting miss in 2023 that put the state $1 billion off the mark for…
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April 7, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The state indicated this week it will enter negotiations with Deloitte Consulting for its Medicaid actuarial services, replacing Milliman.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
A Senate committee amended a "comprehensive plan" meant to address health care costs in Indiana.
Lawmakers remove several controversial policies from 'comprehensive' health costs plan
Lawmakers removed some of the more controversial policies — like guidelines for the 340B Drug Pricing Program and site neutrality — in the process.
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April 7, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A Senate committee amended a "comprehensive plan" meant to address health care costs in Indiana.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
The House Ways and Means Committee made several changes to the list, including adding a completely new exception.
Committee makes changes to HIP work reporting exceptions, Medicaid advertising ban
A House committee amended controversial legislation that will reintroduce previously halted work reporting requirements to Indiana's Medicaid expansion program.
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April 4, 2025 at 10:04 PM
The House Ways and Means Committee made several changes to the list, including adding a completely new exception.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
The current lawsuit is on behalf of a transgender teenager who was in the middle of the process to update her birth record when the IDOH guidance was issued.
ACLU of Indiana files lawsuit to challenge halt on gender change requests for birth records
The Indiana Department of Health issued guidance to local and county health departments to stop accepting gender change requests for Indiana birth records. IDOH said it was to comply with Gov. Mike…
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March 31, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The current lawsuit is on behalf of a transgender teenager who was in the middle of the process to update her birth record when the IDOH guidance was issued.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Once someone is invited off the waitlist for the Health and Wellness or Pathways waiver, they have 30 days to accept the invitation. Then, they have 180 days to complete a service plan and several assessments to start receiving services.
Indiana Medicaid waiver invitations hit capacity, more than 10,000 still on waitlists
An advocate said consistent communication with the state is especially important with the recent change to a 180 day timeline for service plans and assessments.
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March 27, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Once someone is invited off the waitlist for the Health and Wellness or Pathways waiver, they have 30 days to accept the invitation. Then, they have 180 days to complete a service plan and several assessments to start receiving services.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
The Monroe County Health Department will continue to process requests to change a person’s gender on their birth certificate, despite changes made at the state level.
buff.ly/Zk1Q7aT via @wfiu.bsky.social
buff.ly/Zk1Q7aT via @wfiu.bsky.social
How Monroe County plans to address gender change requests
The Monroe County Health Department will continue to process requests to change a person’s gender on their birth certificate, despite changes made at the state level.
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March 21, 2025 at 9:22 PM
The Monroe County Health Department will continue to process requests to change a person’s gender on their birth certificate, despite changes made at the state level.
buff.ly/Zk1Q7aT via @wfiu.bsky.social
buff.ly/Zk1Q7aT via @wfiu.bsky.social
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
As lawmakers plow through the second half of the legislative session, here's our guide to how the budget writing process works:
Indiana's 2025 budget-writing session begins Jan. 8. Here's how the process works
The 2025 session of the Indiana General Assembly, which will last about four months and include a new state budget, begins Wednesday.
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March 23, 2025 at 3:29 PM
As lawmakers plow through the second half of the legislative session, here's our guide to how the budget writing process works:
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
The House voted 87-3 on Thursday to send the bill to the governor’s desk.
Expansion to Indiana's Lifeline Law sent to the governor's desk
Indiana is a stroke of the governor’s pen away from expanding its Lifeline Law to shield more young people from underage drinking charges.
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March 24, 2025 at 1:42 PM
The House voted 87-3 on Thursday to send the bill to the governor’s desk.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Dr. Verónica Santana-Ufret said Indiana needs to move in a direction that helps connect people to OB-GYN care, but she said SCR 24 undermines medical expertise, education and training.
Advocates: Pregnancy care centers lack regulations, training to provide care for Hoosiers
The Indiana Senate passed a resolution in support of pregnancy care centers — but advocates said they have “serious concerns” about the move from lawmakers. Some OB-GYNs said it’s important to understand what pregnancy care centers are, and what they are not.
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March 21, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Dr. Verónica Santana-Ufret said Indiana needs to move in a direction that helps connect people to OB-GYN care, but she said SCR 24 undermines medical expertise, education and training.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
All it took was calling and emailing a dozen county and local health departments in Indiana to get a handful to confirm the validity of an email I was sent.
Requests made after the governor’s March 4 executive order will no longer be accepted by health departments.
IDOH halts gender change requests on birth records to comply with Braun executive order
The Indiana Department of Health issued new guidance to local and county health departments to stop accepting gender change requests for Indiana birth records.
buff.ly
March 19, 2025 at 12:09 AM
All it took was calling and emailing a dozen county and local health departments in Indiana to get a handful to confirm the validity of an email I was sent.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Requests made after the governor’s March 4 executive order will no longer be accepted by health departments.
IDOH halts gender change requests on birth records to comply with Braun executive order
The Indiana Department of Health issued new guidance to local and county health departments to stop accepting gender change requests for Indiana birth records.
buff.ly
March 18, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Requests made after the governor’s March 4 executive order will no longer be accepted by health departments.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Joey Fox, director of the campaign, said Prescription Benefits Matter is targeting consumers and employers — not members of the General Assembly.
New educational campaign hopes to clarify role of pharmacy benefit managers in health care
Pharmacy benefits managers, or PBMs, are meant to lower drug prices by acting as a middleman between drug manufacturers and either insurance companies or employers who sponsor health plans. Advocates…
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March 11, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Joey Fox, director of the campaign, said Prescription Benefits Matter is targeting consumers and employers — not members of the General Assembly.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
One of Gov. Mike Braun's two executive orders directs executive branch agencies to “enforce the biological binary” of gender.
Advocates say Braun executive orders tell transgender Hoosiers: 'You don't belong here'
Gov. Mike Braun signed an executive order Tuesday to align with federal moves to ban transgender women and girls from playing sports. Advocates say the orders are products of a nationwide campaign of…
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March 5, 2025 at 4:29 PM
One of Gov. Mike Braun's two executive orders directs executive branch agencies to “enforce the biological binary” of gender.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Braun said he won't make "mandates" for paid parental leave, but he said more established companies should "aspire" to provide it.
Gov. Mike Braun expands paid parental leave benefits for state employees
Gov. Mike Braun signs an executive order to extend paid parental leave benefits for state employees.
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March 4, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Braun said he won't make "mandates" for paid parental leave, but he said more established companies should "aspire" to provide it.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Reproductive rights advocates said even though the bills didn’t move forward, they’re concerned lawmakers will continue to pursue the policies in the future.
Further restrictions for Indiana's near-total abortion ban died. Advocates remain concerned
Lawmakers filed several bills to further restrict abortion access and strengthen reporting requirements in Indiana — which already has a near-total abortion ban. Reproductive rights advocates said…
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March 4, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Reproductive rights advocates said even though the bills didn’t move forward, they’re concerned lawmakers will continue to pursue the policies in the future.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Several bills still moving forward in the Indiana Statehouse include language related to the 340B program.
Several Indiana health care measures focus on the 340B Drug Pricing Program. What is it?
Several bills this session deal with a federal program known as the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Lawmakers say the measures tackle health care costs, but some health leaders say lawmakers may…
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March 3, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Several bills still moving forward in the Indiana Statehouse include language related to the 340B program.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
It's the midpoint of Indiana's legislative session and there's still a whole lot of session left.
Trying to keep up on statewide news? Join our text group, the Indiana Two-Way! We'll text you every Thursday morning with headlines and you send us questions to inform our reporting.
Trying to keep up on statewide news? Join our text group, the Indiana Two-Way! We'll text you every Thursday morning with headlines and you send us questions to inform our reporting.
IPB News: The Indiana Two-Way
The Indiana Two-Way is a Thursday morning text service from Indiana Public Broadcasting News. It shares the latest statewide news updates from the week straight to your phone. We also want you to…
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February 28, 2025 at 2:15 PM
It's the midpoint of Indiana's legislative session and there's still a whole lot of session left.
Trying to keep up on statewide news? Join our text group, the Indiana Two-Way! We'll text you every Thursday morning with headlines and you send us questions to inform our reporting.
Trying to keep up on statewide news? Join our text group, the Indiana Two-Way! We'll text you every Thursday morning with headlines and you send us questions to inform our reporting.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Johnson said he worked with fiscal experts to bring the cost of the bill down, but the fiscal note didn’t reflect that.
Author pushes back against fiscal concerns as Senate passes prior authorization bill
The Indiana Senate approved a stripped down version of a prior authorization reform bill Thursday. The legislation was heavily amended over fiscal concerns. But, the author of the bill said he…
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February 28, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Johnson said he worked with fiscal experts to bring the cost of the bill down, but the fiscal note didn’t reflect that.
Reposted by Abigail Ruhman
Testimony and discussion, so far, has included misinformation and misleading information on the Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP.
Experts, advocates challenge misinformation from lawmakers on Medicaid, HIP overhaul bill
Indiana lawmakers want to address Medicaid spending by overhauling the state’s Medicaid expansion program. However, testimony and discussion so far has included misinformation and misleading…
buff.ly
February 27, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Testimony and discussion, so far, has included misinformation and misleading information on the Healthy Indiana Plan, or HIP.
I’ve kept track of inaccurate and misleading information shared during debate on SB 2 (the HIP overhaul). I spoke with experts and advocates to address it ahead of the second half of session — which starts next week.
Medicaid is complicated, but accurate information makes it easier to understand.
Medicaid is complicated, but accurate information makes it easier to understand.
Experts, advocates challenge misinformation from lawmakers on Medicaid, HIP overhaul bill
Indiana lawmakers want to address Medicaid spending by overhauling the state’s Medicaid expansion program. However, testimony and discussion so far has included misinformation and misleading informati...
www.wboi.org
February 27, 2025 at 5:13 PM
I’ve kept track of inaccurate and misleading information shared during debate on SB 2 (the HIP overhaul). I spoke with experts and advocates to address it ahead of the second half of session — which starts next week.
Medicaid is complicated, but accurate information makes it easier to understand.
Medicaid is complicated, but accurate information makes it easier to understand.