Indiana’s latest move to enforce its near-total abortion ban just got sharper teeth — and hospitals that don’t comply could soon feel it in their wallets.
A new Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) report, released Tuesday, outlines tougher rules, possible fines, and more eyes at the top to make sure the state’s restrictive abortion laws stick. It’s the clearest sign yet that Governor Mike Braun’s administration wants action, not just words, when it comes to abortion oversight.
Reporting Rules at the Center of the Storm
At the heart of the new plan? Mandatory Terminated Pregnancy Reports, or TPRs.
Every abortion must be reported — that’s the law. Hospitals and clinics must file within 30 days if the patient is 16 or older, and within three days if the patient is under 16.
One sentence: Not every hospital is playing ball.
State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver says IU Health and Eskenazi Health are refusing to file TPRs altogether. That’s a major data gap, she says. No reports mean no real picture of how many abortions happen, who’s getting them, and whether state laws are being followed.
Possible Fines for Hospitals That Don’t Follow Rules
Here’s where things get thorny. IDOH now wants the power to slap hospitals with financial penalties if they keep ignoring the reporting rules.
It’s not clear how steep those fines could get. But even the threat of a fine is new — up to now, the only hammer has been licensing actions or criminal charges.
In her report, Weaver writes that the department wants to “address noncompliance swiftly and proportionately.” Money talks, after all.
The department says it’s working with the Indiana Attorney General’s Office to hash out the standoff with IU Health and Eskenazi Health. But the hospitals haven’t budged yet.
Braun Doubles Down on “Pro-Life Means Pro-Family”
Governor Braun isn’t shy about why he’s pushing so hard on this. In a letter published Wednesday, he made it crystal clear: enforcing Indiana’s abortion ban is part of a bigger push to brand Indiana as “pro-family.”
He wrote: “Indiana is a state that supports Life, and the people’s representatives have enshrined those protections for the unborn into state law.”
That means making sure every dot and comma of the law is followed. And if it’s not? Hospitals might pay the price.
More Eyes Watching, More Hands On Deck
Under the new plan, IDOH wants abortion compliance issues to go straight to senior health officials. That’s a shift — one that could speed up decisions about fines or license penalties.
Weaver says the department is also teaming up more closely with other state agencies:
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The Professional Licensing Agency, which can pull or suspend medical licenses
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The Department of Child Services, which handles reports involving minors
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The Indiana Attorney General’s Office, which can bring legal muscle if needed
One quick line: They’re basically tightening the net.
What Do the Numbers Really Look Like?
A lot of this fight comes down to data — or the lack of it. No TPRs mean the state can’t know for sure how many abortions are happening under the exceptions allowed in Indiana’s ban.
Here’s what Indiana law requires:
| Reporting Requirement | Patients 16 & Older | Patients Under 16 |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Deadline | 30 Days | 3 Days |
| Information Required | Demographic, medical, procedural | Same |
| Enforcement So Far | Licensing action or criminal referral | Same |
Advocates say this data is essential for enforcing the ban. Critics say it’s just another layer of bureaucracy for providers already navigating a patchwork of abortion restrictions.
Abortion Access Advocates Push Back
Abortion rights advocates say the new push feels like intimidation.
They argue that ramping up oversight and threatening fines will discourage doctors from providing care even when it’s legal — especially in complicated cases involving a patient’s health or fetal anomalies.
One sentence: The fear of getting it wrong might be enough to stop a doctor in their tracks.
Providers have said the rules can be confusing. Some want better training, not bigger sticks. To that end, IDOH says it’s planning more continuing education to help hospitals and clinics understand the law.
What Happens Next?
Nobody’s sure exactly when fines could kick in. The health department is still drafting the new rules and working with the Attorney General to figure out the next steps.
Meanwhile, patients are caught in the middle. Will stricter reporting mean more hospitals refuse care to avoid trouble? Or will the tougher rules bring transparency the state says it needs?
Indiana’s near-total ban already drew national headlines when it passed. This new enforcement plan may put it back in the spotlight — and test how far the state is willing to go to make its abortion laws stick.
