Hoosier Health Matters

Hoosier Health Matters
Season 2, Episode 2
Date: 1/16/2026
Title:  SB1 will kick people off medicaid, Gabe and Tracey argue about SB 221, and new batshit ACIP members

00:00- Intro
1:02- Indiana receives $207 million rural health fund grant
2:05- The flu is still bad. Get vaccinated if you aren't already.
2:59- U.S. set to lose measles eradication status
4:25- 2 new batshit members of ACIP
5:20- House of Representatives vote to pass ACA subsidy extension (using a discharge petition!)
7:00- SB1 will make many more uninsured Hoosiers by making work requirements even more stringent
13:30- SB 282 is a good bill that would regulate medical spas and compounding pharmacies
14:45- SB 221 would permit pharmacists to test and treat some thigns and Gabe and Tracey argue about it
19:40- Check out the Good Trouble Bill Tracker and kudos to David Ives for setting it up for GTC!
20:23- Little things- tell someone about a bill that has gotten a hearing, and donate something to a candidate starting a campaign
21:26- Wrap up
Thanks for listening!
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Hoosier Health Matters
Season 2, Episode 1
Date: 1/9/2026
Title:  Indiana opts out of Sunbucks again, the vertical flu graph, and a fast-moving legislative session
00:00- Intro
1:08- Indiana opting out of SunBucks program, because they can't afford the $5 million to bring in $70 million to feed hungry children during the summer despite a newly announced $5 billion surplus
3:02- There is a lot of influenza in Indiana right now. If you aren't vaccinated yet, get vaccinated now.
5:06- HHS changes vaccine schedule recommendations to mirror Denmark. Which is like going offroading in a Porsche.  Which is stupid. Follow the AAP vaccine schedule.
8:47- Overview of the bills filed thus far for the 2026 session
10:50- Check out the Good Trouble Bill Tracker
11:33- Bills heard this week: SB 91 (Tracey's favorite bill) extends Indiana needle exchange program (GTC supports, passed out of committee), SB 90 clarifies consent around sensitive exams for medical procedures (GTC supports, passed out of committee), SB 51 requires a postpartum visit be scheduled prior to discharge for medicaid patients (GTC supports, no vote taken), SB 139 provides jury duty exemption for breastfeeding women (GTC supports, passed out of committee)
14:07- Tracey's least favorite bill- SB 1 enshrines the ban on soda and candy for SNAP beneficiaries
15:21- Gabe's favorite bill- HB 1014 requires training in order to do ultrasound (which is a problem for crisis pregnancy centers). Gabe's least favorite bill- SB 174- outlaws employers to require vaccines or masks (including hospitals) and would disallow fluoride in water systems (dumb). 
20:08- Look for GTC weekly emails with statehouse updates and share with a friend; also share the GTC bill tracker with those you care about
20:55- Wrap up
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Hoosier Health Matters
Season 1, Episode 31
Date: 12/19/2025
Title:  A legislative prep episode featuring a tenderloin
00:00- Intro
2:00- Indiana eschewed a redistricting push, 31-19
3:55- Indiana appellate court denies injunction in TPR case (this is good news)- and you can see the IDH's aggregate terminated pregnancy reports here
5:27- ACIP removes the recommendation for Hepatitis B vaccines at birth- a recommendation based more on vibes than science- good info here
7:23- ACA subsidy kerfuffle continues and unlikely to be resolved by Jan 1- one of the issues with this subsidy is a battle over enforcement of the Hyde Amendment
9:23- Sugary drinks no longer able to be purchased with SNAP benefits in Indiana
10:06- 2026 legislative session boot camp, featuring a bill about tenderloin sandwiches
subtitle:
How a bill becomes a law in Indiana
Find all of the bills currently filed here
25:31- Little things to do this week (mostly good vibes this week)
Thanks for listening!
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Hoosier Health Matters
Season 1, Episode 30
Date: 12/5/2025
Title:  Taxing cigarettes reduces smoking (who knew?) and an interview about a direct cash assistance program for pregnant women
00:00- Intro
1:21- The redistricting saga continues (and will be resolved by our next episode)
3:48- New tobacco tax has reduced tobacco consumption and increased tobacco tax revenue
5:24- Strain of H3N2 influenza has drifted and may be more infectious this season- check out the Indiana influenza dashboard (which is awesome)
7:00- CDC now officially says we can't say vaccines don't cause autism (which is just dumb)
8:40- The new principal deputy director of the CDC is a quack
10:06- A memo in the FDA suggests 10 kids have died of COVID vaccine without providing any details or evidence or anything
11:35- An interview with Ben Tapper about the BIRTH fund program, which is giving direct cash assistance to hundreds of pregnant women in central Indiana
37:49- Little things- donate to good orgs (and email [email protected] if you donate to GTC in someone's name and want a card to give them) and CALL YOUR LEGISLATORS about redistricting
'39:09- Wrap up

Thanks for listening!
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Hoosier Health Matters
Season 1, Episode 29
Date: 11/14/2025
Title:  Indiana Freezes Childcare Vouchers, Legislators Target Mifepristone, and Why Syringe Exchange Matters
00:00- Intro
2:15- we will not have an episode the week of Thanksgiving- will drop the week after (December 5)
2:28- Special Session to start November 18, end before December 12 and it will be a part of the 2026 session
5:09- Indiana freezing childcare vouchers until 2027- leaving 31,000 families on a wait list
7:15- Letter to the White House from 55 Indiana legislators calling on a review of the safety of mifepristone is ideological hand-waving dressed up as a scientific question
11:00- The federal shutdown furloughed 50 Indiana Department of Health workers 
12:25- SNAP legal drama was dramatic
16:13- Interview with Alan Wichey, CEO of Damien Center, and Dr. Shane Avery, a physician from Scott County who was involved in the 2015 HIV outbreak- we talk to them about syringe exchange programs (you can get more info and help pass the law to allow Indiana to continue syringe exchange programs at www.protectsep.org)
39:58- Little things- look at the Mifepristone letter and if your senator or rep signed it, call them and let them know your thoughts. And call your state senator and representative and let them know your thoughts on the re-gerrymander attempt.
40:44- Wrap up
Thanks for listening!
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