Rep. Denny Zent

Provides that certain eligible applicants for higher education cost exemptions are entitled to receive instruction in a state educational institution without the payment of any educational costs. Repeals a provision concerning certain disability ratings, as determined by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, and educational cost exemptions.

Amends the law concerning the prior authorization of health care services by a health plan (which includes a policy of accident and sickness insurance, a health maintenance organization contract, and the Medicaid risk based managed care program). Provides that: (1) if a health plan, during a six month evaluation period, approves at least 90% of a health care provider's requests for prior authorization for a particular type of health care service, the health plan may not require the health care provider to obtain prior authorization for that type of health care service for the entire duration of an exemption period of six calendar months immediately following the evaluation period; and (2) at the conclusion of the initial exemption period, the health plan shall continue granting consecutive exemption periods of six months to the health care provider unless the health plan rescinds the exemption. Provides that a health plan may rescind a health care provider's exemption only on the basis of a determination by a physician that, in at least five and not more than 20 cases randomly selected for review, less than 90% of the health care services provided by the health care provider met the health plan's medical necessity criteria. Authorizes a health care provider that is notified of the rescission of its exemption to initiate a review of the rescission by an independent review panel. Requires the independent review panel to determine whether at least 90% of the health care services provided by the health care provider met the health plan's medical necessity criteria. Requires a health plan to restore the health care provider's exemption if the independent review panel's determination is in favor of the health care provider. Requires the insurance commissioner to adopt rules.

Specifies restrictions that apply to wake boarding or wake surfing on a public freshwater lake. Establishes a penalty. Prohibits operation of a motorboat with: (1) an outboard motor; or (2) an outdrive unit; with a propeller that extends past the motorboat's transom, swim platform, boarding platform, swim step, or swim ladder for the purpose of wake surfing.

Provides that failing to wear a safety belt is a Class C infraction. (Current law provides that failing to wear a safety belt is a Class D infraction.) Provides that failing to properly fasten and restrain a child within a motor vehicle is a Class C infraction. (Current law provides that failing to properly fasten and restrain a child within a motor vehicle is a Class D infraction.) Removes provisions specifying that a person is not liable for costs or a monetary judgment in certain cases in which a judgment related to a child restraint system is entered against the person.

Provides that if an advanced practice registered nurse, a certified direct entry midwife, or a physician assistant is under a collaborative agreement with a licensed practitioner or physician, the advanced practice registered nurse, certified direct entry midwife, or physician assistant must display or provide certain information in an office based setting, to the patient, and, if applicable, on a website.

Provides that any rule adopted by the medical licensing board concerning standards for office based procedures that require moderate sedation, deep sedation, or general anesthesia to be administered does not apply to a dental office setting if the dentist who performs the dental services on a patient holds a permit to administer general anesthesia or moderate sedation issued by the state board of dentistry. Allows a licensed dentist who has completed all education requirements in a dental specialty area recognized by the American Dental Association to use a designation or term in conjunction with the dentist's practice. (Current law allows a licensed dentist who has completed a dental anesthesiology residency recognized by the American Dental Board of Anesthesiology before July 1, 2025, to use a designation or term in conjunction with the dentist's practice.)

Establishes a procedure to grant licenses and certificates to practice certain health care professions in Indiana. Requires the applicant to hold a current license or certificate from another state or jurisdiction and meet other requirements. Allows the applicant who meets certain requirements to apply for a provisional license or provisional certificate. Requires the provisional license or provisional certificate to be issued within 30 days. Provides for penalties for submitting false information on an application for a provisional license or provisional certificate. Requires a board to make a final decision on a license or certificate application before the expiration of a provisional license or provisional certificate. Provides that if a board has a pending application for initial licensure or certification that requires final approval by the board, the board shall meet not more than 31 days after the application is ready for approval. Provides that the medical licensing board may not issue a physician's license to an applicant using the reciprocity law beginning July 1, 2026. Eliminates certain requirements for an applicant seeking licensure as a clinical social worker, marriage and family therapist, mental health counselor, addiction counselor, or clinical addiction counselor. Requires the boards that regulate bachelor's degree social workers, social workers, clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, mental health counselors, licensed addiction counselors, licensed clinical addiction counselors, and respiratory care practitioners to issue a license by reciprocity within 30 days if certain requirements are met. Requires the speech-language pathology and audiology board to, before January 1, 2023, initiate and make every effort to enter into reciprocity agreements with contiguous states for individuals licensed as: (1) a speech-language pathologist; and (2) an audiologist; to practice the individual's profession under the license from one state in the other state. Adopts the audiology and speech-language pathology interstate compact. Makes conforming amendments.

Provides that, beginning January 1, 2023, certain practitioners are subject to disciplinary sanctions if the practitioner communicates or disseminates to the general public an advertisement that includes deceptive or misleading information or does not prominently state the profession or license held by the practitioner. Establishes certain exceptions. Provides, for purposes of the law prohibiting the unlawful practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine, that "the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine" includes attaching to an individual's name additional terms or other specified words that identify a member of a medical specialty. Establishes certain exceptions. Specifies that the exclusions to the practice of medicine and osteopathic medicine do not allow a person to use words or abbreviations that indicate or induce an individual to believe that the person is engaged in the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine.

Defines "certificate of burial rights" for purposes of the cemetery law. Replaces references to other instruments issued upon the purchase of burial rights with the term. Provides that before entering into a sales contract with a consumer, an owner of a cemetery must provide a written statement including a price range of all commodities and services available for purchase. Specifies that the schedule of fees and the fees charged in connection with the installation or use of commodities in a cemetery must be consistent with the statement provided to a consumer. Prohibits the preinstallation of a vault. Increases the maximum civil penalty for a violation of the cemetery association law from $1,000 to $5,000. Permits a city or town, county, and township to appoint a cemetery caretaker to control and manage cemeteries in the entity's care. Establishes requirements for a city or town to appoint a cemetery caretaker through a proposed ordinance. Requires a city or town to review the status of the control and management of a cemetery for which it is responsible at least once every 10 years.

Requires the medical licensing board of Indiana to administer the interstate medical licensure compact (compact). Adopts the compact. Sets forth requirements of a compact state. Sets forth the duties and authority of the interstate medical licensure compact commission. Provides for two voting members on the commission from each member state. Establishes the procedure to withdraw from the compact. Specifies that the compact supersedes any state law that is in conflict. Makes conforming changes.