Indiana Ends Ambulance Diversion Policy Starting September 1, 2026

Indiana hospitals will stop diverting ambulances to less busy facilities starting September 1, ending a practice that delayed emergency response by forcing paramedics to bypass the nearest hospital. The Indiana Department of Health announced the ban on August 31, making Indiana only the third state to end routine diversions. Hospitals can still divert ambulances only during disasters or critical infrastructure failures. The policy shift follows research showing diversions increased transport times, created EMS shortages, and worsened patient outcomes.

What ambulance diversion means and why it happened

Hospital diversion occurs when emergency departments tell incoming ambulances to go elsewhere due to high patient volume, overcrowding, or staff shortages. Indiana used the policy for roughly 25 years, though the frequency varied. The practice became more common during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting state officials and healthcare providers to reconsider its use.

Why Indiana is ending the practice now

Research showed routine diversions increased transport times for critically ill patients, tied up ambulances on longer drives, and delayed continuity of care. Indiana State Health Commissioner Dr. Lindsay Weaver called the change a “huge accomplishment for Hoosiers.” The decision came from a collaborative effort involving the Indiana Department of Health, hospital associations, EMS groups, fire chiefs, and emergency medicine physicians.

How Indiana compares to other states

Indiana joins Massachusetts, which banned diversions more than a decade ago, and Rhode Island, which followed suit more recently. Maryland allows voluntary diversions where EMT crews decide whether to divert based on hospital status. No federal policy prohibits ambulance diversions, leaving each state to set its own rules. State health officials and emergency healthcare partners statewide have joined together to make Indiana only the third state in the nation to end the practice.

What happens next for hospitals and patients

Starting September 1, hospitals can only go on diversion during disasters or critical infrastructure failures. Major healthcare networks like IU Health, which operates 14 emergency care facilities, have been preparing for the transition. Eskenazi Health in downtown Indianapolis already operated under an internal no-diversion policy as a Level 1 trauma center. The state plans to collaborate on alternative, patient-centered solutions to manage emergency department crowding without diverting ambulances.

Final Thoughts

Indiana’s ban removes a barrier that delayed emergency care for 25 years. Patients calling 911 will now reach their nearest hospital in most cases, though overcrowding remains an ongoing challenge the state must address through other means.

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