Getting outdoors continues to have a bigger impact on Indiana's bottom line than any other Midwest state.

Why it matters: With $17.1 billion generated in 2024, Indiana ranks 11th nationally when it comes to total value added from outdoor recreation activities, according to a recent U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) report.

• The outdoor recreation industry accounted for 3.3% of Indiana's GDP last year — up slightly from 3.2% in 2023, when it brought in $15.7 billion.
• It also made up 3.3% of the state's total employment with 110,044 jobs.

The big picture: The outdoor recreation industry is valued at $700 billion nationwide, accounting for 2.4% of the U.S. economy and 5.2 million jobs, the BEA report found.

• GDP for the outdoor economy was up 2.7% in 2024 — a slowdown from 2023, when it rose 5.3% from the previous year.

By the numbers: The BEA study finds that the Hoosier State is the top spot in the U.S. for RV enthusiasts.

• Indiana ranks first in the U.S. for economic impact from RVing with $5.7 billion generated by the activity.
• It's also a top spot for boating ($1.3 billion) and sports like golf and tennis ($447 million).
• Cold-weather activities are also a growing economic driver: skiing and snowboarding generated $533 million, up from $383 million the year before.

State of play: Brandt Baughman, director of Indiana State Parks, told Axios that big investments are being made across the state to keep providing a peak camping experience.

• That includes the construction of a new campground at McCormick's Creek State Park, which was devastated by a tornado in 2023.
• "Campground reservations are increasing, with people camping earlier and later in the season, and we're frequently at full occupancy on holiday weekends," Baughman said.

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Indiana wants to discontinue Medicaid reimbursement for drugs purchased under a federal program designed to help hospitals afford to care for low-income patients.

Why it matters: The move will save the state money on Medicaid's rising costs, but advocates say it comes at the expense of those providers and the vulnerable populations they serve.

Driving the news: Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) posted notice that it intends to "fully discontinue Medicaid reimbursement for drugs purchased under the federal 340B Drug Pricing Program."

• Instead, the state would seek manufacturer rebates through the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program.
• It's estimated this will save the state around $60 million annually.
• This will ensure "alignment with federal requirements and supporting consistent, transparent reimbursement across the pharmacy benefit," according to the FSSA notice.

State of play: The 340B program requires pharmaceutical companies to sell discounted drugs to health care organizations that serve safety-net populations.

• It's been scrutinized at the state and federal levels to determine whether providers properly reinvest those savings for underserved patients.
• FSSA's proposed change would redirect savings to the state budget.

What they're saying: "If this proposal moves forward, it will fundamentally undermine Indiana's healthcare safety net," said Alan Witchey, president and CEO of Damien Center, in a press release.

• "340B allows organizations like ours to stretch resources and provide life-saving care to patients who otherwise would not be able to afford treatment."

The latest

🏈 Indiana found something else to take from Illinois — Simone Biles! The Olympic gymnast is moving to the Circle City with her husband, NFL safety Jonathan Owens.

• The Colts signed Owens this week and the veteran, who most recently played for the Chicago Bears, said on social media that he and Biles are looking forward to making Indy home. (FOX59)

👩‍🎓 Students from families that make less than $150,000 annually can attend the University of Notre Dame for free starting next school year. (Chicago Tribune)

💊 Eli Lilly says it'll invest nearly $2 billion in its Indianapolis manufacturing and research operations on the west side of downtown. (IBJ)

💰 The federal government paid Indiana nearly $4 million in November for housing hundreds of immigration detainees at a state prison facility in northern Indiana, which it has contracted with for two years.

• The state gets just under $300 a day per detainee. (Indiana Capital Chronicle)

If you haven't filled out a March Madness bracket, you're running out of time.

Why it matters: Entries for our bracket challenge (alright, ESPN's bracket challenge) lock today at 12:15pm on the men's side and 11:30am tomorrow for the women.

• If you need help, AI is (finally) ready.

Driving the news: Most people making March Madness brackets will be getting help from AI this year — and 37% will solely rely on it — according to a Hard Rock Bet survey.

The intrigue: All the major chatbots were able to fill out an NCAA bracket this year, a sharp contrast from a year ago when AI struggled to decipher who would match up in later rounds.

• Our colleague (and Axios' chief technology correspondent) Ina Fried tasked the robots with looking at a PDF bracket and making picks for each matchup.
• Ina entered each of the bots' picks into ESPN, so we'll see how ours compare.

Go deeper: Tips for using AI on your bracket

Forget about spring's cold start with a celebration of the season's splendor at Newfields.

Driving the news: Art in Bloom is back for its sixth edition, and Axios Indianapolis was in the house last night for a preview event to check out the more than 50 floral installations being exhibited this year.

• Each installation is inspired by work in the IMA Galleries.

Fun fact: After the event, arrangements will be deconstructed and donated to Random Acts of Flowers, an organization that delivers flowers to people in Central Indiana healthcare facilities.

If you go: 10am-8pm Thursday, 10am-5pm Friday, 9am-8pm Saturday and 9am-6pm Sunday.

• Tickets start at $32 for adults, $23 for kids ages 6-17 and $30 for those 55 and up.