Hoosier Healthcare Monopoly, April 24
Hoosier Healthcare Monopoly: Terre Haute hospital merger would likely drive up costs, reduce access
Hoosier Healthcare Monopoly: Terre Haute hospital merger would likely drive up costs, reduce access
Attorney General Todd Rokita announces opposition to consolidated healthcare monopoly which would stifle health care industry innovation
Attorney General Todd Rokita's Office opposes a proposed merger of two Vigo County hospitals, he has informed Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) officials.
IDOH must soon decide to either deny the merger or permit the consolidation and monopolization of Terre Haute’s only two hospitals.
“We all understand that hospitals face distinct challenges, but consolidation at the expense of free-market competition is not the way to address those challenges in this case,” Attorney General Rokita said. “In fact, the creation of a regional monopoly would impose a negative impact on Hoosiers in the area seeking quality health care and affordable costs.”
In 2021, the Indiana General Assembly passed Indiana’s Certificate of Public Advantage (COPA) statute allowing certain health care entities to merge with antitrust immunity. The condition is that IODH must find that the merger will “benefit the population's health outcomes, healthcare access, and quality of care” in excess of any detriment felt by reduced competition.
No such benefits would materialize from this proposed merger, Attorney General Rokita said.
Hospital officials first filed their application for a COPA in September 2023 but withdrew it after more than a year — just days before IDOH was set to make its decision. The hospitals reapplied in February 2025.
The consolidation of Union and Terre Haute Regional hospitals, Attorney General Rokita wrote in a letter to IDOH officials, would “lead to the monopolization of Terre Haute hospital systems that (would) be unchecked in raising healthcare costs, stifling innovation, suppressing wages, and reducing access to care for the citizens of Terre Haute and the surrounding community.”
The Department of Health will host a town hall on May 1, 2025, at the Ivy Tech campus in Terre Haute to discuss the implications of this merger on the Wabash Valley Community. Attorney General Rokita encourages all impacted and concerned citizens to attend the town hall and welcomes all comments regarding the anticompetitive effects of this merger.
“Rural healthcare presents unique problems and concerns for Indiana,” Attorney General Rokita wrote. “The quality of care and travel distances are obstacles to our rural residents receiving consistent, quality healthcare. Additionally, most rural hospitals face considerable challenges recruiting skilled professionals to less populated areas.”
He added, however, that those challenges do not justify consolidation in this case because such a step would not help alleviate them.
“The solution is competition between strong competitors that fosters efficiency, ingenuity, and technological advancement,” Attorney General Rokita wrote.
The full letter is attached here.
Press Release April 22
Press Release April 22 Closing ‘Delta’ legal loopholes
Closing ‘Delta’ legal loopholes: Attorney General Todd Rokita provides clarity to legislators over unregulated THC bill
In a letter to the General Assembly this week, Attorney General Todd Rokita told lawmakers to reconsider Senate Bill 478, which would legalize high-potency THC products by reclassifying such products as, “legal hemp.” This will create a loosely regulated cannabis market that exists completely outside of Indiana’s marijuana laws.
In the letter, Rokita makes it very clear that this bill fails to address legal ambiguities and lacks public health safeguards.
"This legislation threatens public safety and undermines our state’s laws by creating enough loopholes for high-potency, intoxicating THC products to be sold under the guise of craft hemp regulation,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This isn’t about taking away your grandma’s CBD oil – it's about protecting Hoosiers from high-potency THC products that mirror and often exceed the intoxicating effects of marijuana.”
In the letter, Rokita states that the legislation is a Trojan Horse that, if passed in its current form, would permit “craft hemp flower products,” including edibles with up to 100 milligrams of THC per serving (delta-9, delta-8, delta-10, or HHC) and 3,600 milligrams per package – incredibly high levels of very potent psychoactive chemicals.
Such limits would far exceed those in states with legalized marijuana, where edibles are capped at 10 milligrams per serving and 100 milligrams per package.
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp as cannabis with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC by dry weight but did not address other intoxicating isomers like delta-8 or delta-10. Attorney General Rokita said manufacturers could exploit this loophole, converting hemp-derived CBD into synthetic THC isomers marketed as legal hemp.
“Hoosiers deserve clear, consistent laws that prioritize consumer safety and prevent the proliferation of minimally regulated substances,” Attorney General Rokita reiterated.
Attorney General Rokita called on lawmakers to classify any product exceeding 0.3% total THC by dry weight, including synthetics, as marijuana to close the loophole and ensure clarity for law enforcement.
Read the full letter from Attorney General Rokita here.
Press Release April 21
Press Release April 21
Attorney General Todd Rokita and Secretary of State Diego Morales continue work to verify that Indiana voters are U.S. citizens
Attorney General Todd Rokita and Secretary of State Diego Morales continue pressing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to help verify the citizenship status of voters who registered in Indiana without providing state-issued forms of identification.
Despite first receiving Indiana’s written requests last October, federal officials have failed to provide information that would enable Indiana to verify that only eligible voters participated in elections. This month, Attorney General Rokita and Secretary Morales filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security — of which USCIS is part — to compel federal cooperation.
“Following the Biden administration’s obstruction here, I expect that President Trump’s team will resolve this matter,” Attorney General Rokita said. “This lawsuit is another important step in ensuring the integrity of our elections. Hoosiers have a right to know that legitimate ballots are not being diluted by noncitizens. I promised that I would get citizenship information from USICS, and that is exactly what I am doing by filing this suit.”
Last year, Attorney General Rokita and Secretary Morales sent then-USCIS Director Ur M. Jaddou lists of certain voters who registered without state IDs — along with a joint letter formally requesting the agency’s assistance in verifying those individuals’ citizenship status. No response ever came.
“As Indiana’s Chief Election Officer, ensuring the integrity of our elections is non-negotiable. This legal action is a continuation of our efforts for Indiana to lead the way in election integrity. Since we never received a response from the Biden administration, we know that under President Trump’s leadership and based on his recent Executive Order, there’s a stronger commitment to the election process. Hoosiers deserve nothing less than full confidence in the security of their vote,” said Diego Morales, Indiana Secretary of State.
Federal law requires USCIS to respond to inquiries from state government agencies “to verify or ascertain the citizenship or immigration status of any individual within the jurisdiction of the agency for any purpose authorized by law.”
Last fall’s letter is linked here and the recently filed lawsuit is linked here.
Press Release April 16
Press Release April 16
Following the aftermath of damaging storms across Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita warns of charity scams targeting good-hearted Hoosiers
In the wake of recent storms and flooding across Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita is calling on all Hoosiers to remain vigilant as scammers look to exploit these disasters by targeting charitable and helpful individuals. Just as fraudsters prey on generosity during holiday seasons, they also take advantage of those seeking assistance or repairs after severe weather. Attorney General Rokita says Hoosiers should take proactive steps to protect themselves from deceptive schemes promising aid or services.
“Hoosiers are good-hearted people who may want to donate to help quickly rebuild hard hit communities after the recent devastating storms, but that giving nature can make them targets for scammers looking to profit from hardship,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “We must stay one step ahead of these fraudsters by doing our homework and ensuring our resources go to legitimate recovery efforts, not into the hands of con artists.”
Attorney General Rokita says his office is committed to tracking down and bringing to justice the criminals who perpetrate illegal scams while also empowering Hoosiers to avoid becoming victims.
With communities across the state facing significant damage from recent storms and flooding, Attorney General Rokita offers the following tips to safeguard against charity-related scams:
- Slow Down: A real charity will accept your donations any day of the week. Take as much time as you need to feel confident that your money is being used to help the cause you expect. Ask questions. If the request for a donation is over the phone, the caller should be able to answer critical questions.
- Make sure you are dealing with the real charitable organization. Be leery of unknown or unfamiliar organizations you receive by phone, mail, email, and/or social media.
- Always donate by credit card rather than cash or other methods. This will ensure you can access the protections available through your credit card company.
- Research the cause or the organization: Search online for the name of the organization or cause with words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See if others have had good or bad experiences with the charity. Check out what charity watchdog groups like CharityNavigator.org, CharityWatch.org, Give.org, and Guidestar.org say about that organization.
Hoosiers who suspect they’ve encountered a scam should report it immediately to the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516.d.
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Press Release Apri 11
Press Release Apri 11
In the wake of recent storms and flooding across Indiana, Attorney General Todd Rokita is calling on all Hoosiers to remain vigilant as scammers look to exploit these disasters by targeting charitable and helpful individuals. Just as fraudsters prey on generosity during holiday seasons, they also take advantage of those seeking assistance or repairs after severe weather. Attorney General Rokita says Hoosiers should take proactive steps to protect themselves from deceptive schemes promising aid or services.
“Hoosiers are good-hearted people who may want to donate to help quickly rebuild hard hit communities after the recent devastating storms, but that giving nature can make them targets for scammers looking to profit from hardship,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “We must stay one step ahead of these fraudsters by doing our homework and ensuring our resources go to legitimate recovery efforts, not into the hands of con artists.”
Attorney General Rokita says his office is committed to tracking down and bringing to justice the criminals who perpetrate illegal scams while also empowering Hoosiers to avoid becoming victims.
With communities across the state facing significant damage from recent storms and flooding, Attorney General Rokita offers the following tips to safeguard against charity-related scams:
- Slow Down: A real charity will accept your donations any day of the week. Take as much time as you need to feel confident that your money is being used to help the cause you expect. Ask questions. If the request for a donation is over the phone, the caller should be able to answer critical questions.
- Make sure you are dealing with the real charitable organization. Be leery of unknown or unfamiliar organizations you receive by phone, mail, email, and/or social media.
- Always donate by credit card rather than cash or other methods. This will ensure you can access the protections available through your credit card company.
- Research the cause or the organization: Search online for the name of the organization or cause with words like “review,” “scam,” or “complaint.” See if others have had good or bad experiences with the charity. Check out what charity watchdog groups like CharityNavigator.org, CharityWatch.org, Give.org, and Guidestar.org say about that organization.
Hoosiers who suspect they’ve encountered a scam should report it immediately to the Indiana Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division at indianaconsumer.com or by calling 1-800-382-5516.
Press Release Apri 1
Press Release Apri 1
Prisoners have no constitutional right to sex-change surgeries, Attorney General Todd Rokita tells court
Attorney General Rokita co-leads 24-state brief supporting Trump executive order
Federal and state authorities are operating well within the boundaries of the U.S. Constitution when they deny inmates’ requests for sex-change surgeries or hormone treatments, Attorney General Todd Rokita told a U.S. district court this week.
“Across the country, medical professionals and policymakers are engaged in intense dialogue over how to address surging cases of gender dysphoria,” Attorney General Rokita said. “The Constitution leaves policy choices about best medical practices to politically accountable policymakers.”
Attorney General Rokita is co-leading with Idaho a 24-state amicus brief defending an executive order by President Trump setting new guidelines affecting federal inmates claiming to experience gender dysphoria.
The order — titled “Defending Women from Gender Ideology Extremism and Restoring Biological Truth to the Federal Government” — prohibits inmates in federal prisons and immigration detention centers from obtaining taxpayer-funded sex-change procedures and requires biological males to be housed in men’s correctional facilities.
On behalf of several transgender inmates, the American Civil Liberties Union and Transgender Law Center have sued the Trump administration. They claim the executive order constitutes “cruel and unusual punishment” in violation of the Eighth Amendment.
“Nothing in the Eighth Amendment’s text or history allows prisoners to demand whatever medical interventions they desire,” Attorney General Rokita said.
Attorney General Rokita is also continuing a legal battle in Indiana to defend the state’s own ban on using taxpayer funds to provide sex-change surgeries to prisoners. A federal judge has ordered that state officials must accommodate a convicted baby-killer’s desire to obtain such procedures in order to assume the identity of a woman.
Attached is the brief in defense of President Trump’s executive order.
A headshot of Attorney General Rokita is available online.
Press Release March 11
Press Release March 11
Jasper-based travel company and Mexican nationals deceived consumers with bogus timeshare deals, Attorney General Todd Rokita alleges in lawsuit
A travel company based in Jasper engaged in illegal deceptive practices, including identity theft and fraudulent timeshare transactions, Attorney General Todd Rokita has alleged in a lawsuit.
GoGo Travel Consulting LLC falsely represented itself by using the identity of an Indiana-licensed real estate broker without his knowledge or consent, the lawsuit alleges, as part of a scheme to hoodwink consumers into believing they were engaging with a legitimate travel consulting service attempting to broker timeshare rental or purchase agreements.
“As we work to protect Hoosiers, we will continue holding accountable those who engage in these kinds of illegal shakedowns,” Attorney General Rokita said. “We encourage anyone who believes they have been a victim of timeshare fraud to contact our office immediately."
Older adults are particularly vulnerable to timeshare scams, which often involve high-pressure sales tactics that include bogus claims of having ready buyers for timeshare properties. Victims are typically asked to pay upfront fees for supposed taxes or closing costs, only to find that the promised transactions never occur.
Attorney General Rokita filed the lawsuit through his Homeowner Protection Unit (HPU), which is part of the office’s Consumer Protection Division.
HPU’s investigation revealed that the phone number utilized by GoGo Travel, which was spoofed to appear as a number originating from southern Indiana, was ultimately linked to two Mexican nationals living in Puerto Vallarta who are alleged to be conspirators in the fraudulent scheme.
In conjunction with this legal action, the Attorney General's office is raising awareness about the broader issue of timeshare fraud, which is often linked to organized crime. According to a joint notice by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), timeshare fraud schemes are frequently perpetrated by Mexico-based transnational criminal organizations. These organizations use the proceeds from such fraud to fund other criminal activities, including drug trafficking and human trafficking.
Hoosiers are encouraged to contact the Office of the Attorney General about any suspected scams or scam attempts. Consumers may file a complaint by visiting indianaconsumer.com or calling 1-800-382-5516.
The lawsuit is attached here.