Establishes the following: (1) The health workforce student loan repayment program (program). (2) The health workforce council (council). (3) The health workforce student loan repayment program fund (fund) for the purpose of providing funds to repay outstanding student loans of certain health providers who meet the program requirements. Provides that the professional licensing agency (agency) shall, in coordination with the council, administer the program. Establishes: (1) the imposition of fees at the time a license is issued or renewed for certain health profession licenses; and (2) qualifications to receive a student loan repayment award under the program. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2022: (1) each board may award loan repayment to an eligible applicant who is a provider licensed by the board; and (2) the council may award loan repayment to an eligible applicant who is an eligible provider. Requires, not later than July 1, 2023, and not later than July 1 every two years thereafter, the agency to submit a report concerning the program and fund to the governor and the general assembly. Provides that money in the fund is continuously appropriated. Repeals provisions concerning the following: (1) The primary care physician loan forgiveness program. (2) The mental health services development programs. (3) The dental underserved area and minority recruitment program.
Sponsored bills
Requires the executive director of the Indiana criminal justice institute to work with local coordinating councils and other stakeholders when implementing certain recommendations concerning substance use and substance use disorder. Includes public safety programs in the statutory definition of "criminal justice services and activities". Specifies that local coordinating councils responsible for the combating of drug and substance use are: (1) collaborative; and (2) open to the public. Permits county drug free community funds to supplement local government spending on: (1) drug use recovery programs; (2) drug use intervention programs; and (3) drug use prevention programs. Defines certain terms.
Provides that: (1) a health benefits plan; or (2) an employee health plan; may not require authorization for services specified in a covered individual's individualized family service plan once the individualized family service plan is signed by a physician. Adds habilitative services to the services that are required under the definition of "early intervention services" for purposes of the First Steps program. Provides that a member of the interagency coordinating council (council) shall continue to serve until a successor is appointed. Removes the authority of the governor to designate the chairperson of the council or to call a meeting of the council. Requires the council to annually elect a chairperson and vice chairperson. Provides that, except for members of the general assembly, per diem and travel expenses for council members are governed by the policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of administration and approved by the budget agency. Establishes procedures that the division must follow before making a change to the cost participation schedule under the First Steps program. Establishes a method to determine the rate at which: (1) a provider of the services under the First Steps program; or (2) the division; is reimbursed for providing early intervention services using Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code rates. Provides that: (1) a health plan information card issued: (A) to an insured by an insurer for a policy of accident and sickness insurance; or (B) to an enrollee by a health maintenance organization (HMO); must indicate the type of health plan that is providing the health benefits and services under the insurance policy or HMO contract; and (2) these requirements apply only to a health plan information card issued: (A) initially to a new insured or new enrollee; or (B) to an insured or enrollee at the time of the insured's or enrollee's policy or contract renewal; after July 1, 2020. Provides that: (1) the electronic database by which an issuer of a policy of accident and sickness insurance, or an administrator of a self insured plan, allows an insured or a provider to verify the coverage or benefits of an insured must indicate: (A) whether health benefits and services under the policy of accident and sickness insurance are provided by the issuer of the policy or by a third party administrator; and (B) whether the policy of accident and sickness insurance is subject to state or federal regulation; and (2) the electronic database by which by which an HMO, or an administrator of benefits and health care services under an HMO contract, allows an enrollee or a provider to verify the coverage or benefits of an enrollee must indicate: (A) whether benefits and health care services under the HMO contract are provided by the HMO or by a third party administrator; and (B) whether the HMO contract is a self funded or fully funded plan. Requires the department of insurance to adopt rules to ensure compliance with certain provisions added by the bill.
Amends the definition of "genetic counseling" for purposes of the genetic counselor licensing laws. Requires the genetic counselor master's degree training program to be accredited by the Accreditation Council for Genetic Counselors. (Current law requires accreditation by the American Board of Genetic Counseling.) Updates references to the American Board of Medical Genetics and Genomics. Amends requirements for a temporary license. Requires an applicant to complete the continuing education requirements of certain certifying organizations to renew a license. Provides that a genetic counselor may not be required to perform, participate in, or provide a service that violates any sincerely held ethical, moral, or religious belief held by the genetic counselor, and allows for a civil action for damages or reinstatement of employment for a violation. Repeals the law concerning education hardship waiver provision.
Provides that, in unemployment appeals, the proceedings before an administrative law judge are de novo. Provides that an administrative law judge, review board member, or other individual who adjudicates claims can consider as evidence and include in the record those records of the department of workforce development (department) that are material to the issues being considered in the hearing if the records are made available to the interested parties prior to the hearing through (1) the United States mail or (2) the department's electronic portal. Removes the provision that provides that the department shall define the term "effort to secure full-time work". Provides that an individual has made an effort to secure full-time work with respect to any week in which the individual has completed certain activities directed by the department and affirmed that the individual has made an effort to secure full-time work. Requires the department, not later than December 31, 2021, to adopt rules to define (1) the acceptable types of work search activities, (2) the number of work search activities required to be completed in any week, (3) the requirements for producing documentation, and (4) the requirement to apply to, and accept if offered, suitable jobs referred by the department. Provides that 646 IAC 5-9-3 is void and directs the publisher of the Indiana Administrative Code and the Indiana Register to remove the section from the Indiana Administrative Code.
Requires each state educational institution in Indiana to submit an annual report to the state budget committee regarding the state educational institution's progress in achieving the goals established by the governor's commission on minority and women's business enterprises for the use of minority and women's business enterprises and veteran owned small businesses as contractors.
Removes the restriction on the prescribing of ophthalmic devices through telemedicine and sets conditions on when a provider may, through telemedicine, prescribe medical devices. Establishes conditions that must be met before a prescriber may issue a prescription for an ophthalmic device through telemedicine. Prohibits making changes and substitutions to a prescription for contact lenses or prescription eye glasses unless under the direction of the prescriber. States that a prescriber is not liable for any damage or injury to an individual resulting from the packaging, manufacturing, or dispensing of the contact lenses or prescription eye glasses unless the prescriber is also the seller. Prohibits the optometry board from establishing restrictive standards concerning the practice of ocular telemedicine or ocular telehealth.
Provides that a state employee health plan providing coverage for a mastectomy must also provide coverage for: (1) reconstructive surgery incident to the mastectomy, including all stages of reconstruction of the breast on which the mastectomy was performed and surgery and reconstruction of the other breast to produce symmetry; and (2) custom fabricated breast prostheses, including one additional breast prosthesis per breast affected by the mastectomy. Provides that a policy of accident and sickness insurance or health maintenance organization contract providing coverage for a mastectomy must also provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses, including one additional breast prosthesis per breast affected by the mastectomy.
Implements the emergency medical services personnel licensure interstate compact.
Repeals a provision that requires an individual to possess a prescription to purchase an insulin drug.