Braun’s health care plan includes several policies that struggled or died at the Statehouse

Republican gubernatorial candidate U.S. Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) released a& health care plan& Thursday that would expand on past legislative action — including some policies that failed during the last few legislative sessions. Braun’s plan includes prior authorization reform, regulations for pharmacy benefits managers and a ban on non-compete clauses, among other things. The plan was written in coordination with Hoosiers for Opportunity, Prosperity and Enterprise, Inc., a nonprofit based in Terre Haute. In a statement, Braun said he partners with HOPE, Inc. to develop policy proposals. The plan focuses on six key areas, including quality, cost, transparency, access, wellness and competition. The plan published by HOPE, Inc. said it builds on the “firm foundation” set by the General Assembly, but the success of those policies has varied. New plan, old bills Braun’s plan positions prior authorization reform as a way to enhance transparency. Prior authorization refers to the process where insurance companies may require pre-approval before they will cover medical services. The practice has been criticized for creating a barrier to care for patients and an administrative burden for providers. While prior authorization reform was a key part of the Senate GOP’s& policy priorities& during the last legislative session,...