Indiana § 16-18-2-52.5 - "Charity care"; "financially indigent"; "medically indigent"
Full text of Indiana Indiana Code § 16-18-2-52.5 — "Charity care"; "financially indigent"; "medically indigent", with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 16-18-2-52.5. "Charity care"; "financially indigent"; "medically indigent"
Sec. 52.5. (a) "Charity care", for purposes of IC 16-21-6, IC 16-21-9, IC 16-21-9.5, and IC 16-40-6, means the unreimbursed cost to a hospital of providing, funding, or otherwise financially supporting health care services:
(1) to a person classified by the hospital as financially indigent or medically indigent on an inpatient or outpatient basis; and
(2) to financially indigent patients through other nonprofit or public outpatient clinics, hospitals, or health care organizations.
(b) As used in this section, "financially indigent" means an uninsured or underinsured person who is accepted for care with no obligation or a discounted obligation to pay for the services rendered based on the hospital's financial criteria and procedure used to determine if a patient is eligible for charity care. The criteria and procedure must include income levels and means testing indexed to the federal poverty guidelines. A hospital may determine that a person is financially or medically indigent under the hospital's eligibility system after health care services are provided.
(c) As used in this section, "medically indigent" means a person whose medical or hospital bills after payment by third party payors exceed a specified percentage of the patient's annual gross income as determined in accordance with the hospital's eligibility system, and who is financially unable to pay the remaining bill.
As added by P.L.94-1994, SEC.1. Amended by P.L.188-2025, SEC.3; P.L.88-2026, SEC.1.
Source: official Indiana text · Last verified 2026-08-27
Frequently Asked Questions About Indiana § 16-18-2-52.5
What does Indiana Code § 16-18-2-52.5 cover?
Section 16-18-2-52.5 (""Charity care"; "financially indigent"; "medically indigent"") is part of the Indiana Code, the codified statutory law of Indiana. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Indiana § 16-18-2-52.5?
A common citation format is "Indiana Code § 16-18-2-52.5" (Indiana). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Indiana law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Indiana official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Indiana attorney.
How does Indiana § 16-18-2-52.5 apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Indiana can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Indiana.