Zay highlights two key legislative issues

Submitted by Andy Zay, State Senator, 17th District

The Indiana Legislatives sessions has recently ended and with it State Senator Andy Zay would like to highlight two key areas where the legislature made some real progress. The first is by lowering prescription drug costs, and the second was protecting Indiana’s energy future.

Pharmacy Benefit Managers, or PBMs, were created to reduce drug costs. Instead, they’ve driven prices up through hidden fees, limited transparency, and conflicts of interest. A state audit showed Indiana could save more than $322 million dollars by reforming how PBMs operate.

That’s why I pushed for legislation giving the state a direct role in managing pharmacy benefits for Medicaid and state employees, bringing more transparency and control to the process. The legislature also ensured Indiana will not partner with PBMs tied to pharmacies, drug manufacturers, or insurance companies. This is a big step forward for Hoosier patients and taxpayers.

The second key area of interest was the energy policy. Energy affects every home and business in Indiana. This session, the legislature focused on protecting energy access and affordability while planning for the long term. That includes supporting natural gas and future nuclear options, strengthening grid infrastructure, and resisting federal policies that could drive up costs or limit local control. We need a practical, balanced energy strategy that keeps Indiana competitive and puts Hoosiers first. And I’ll keep working to deliver just that.

The session may be over, but I still want to hear from you. Take a minute to complete this short survey and answer a few Indiana trivia questions. Everyone who completes it and gets the trivia right will be entered into a drawing to win a $25 Amazon gift card.