Prohibits certain health insurance plans from requiring authorization for covered early intervention services under an individualized family service plan signed by an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) or a physician assistant (PA). Changes the composition and duties of the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council. Repeals and relocates laws concerning: (1) rules regulating the sanitary operation of tattoo parlors and body piercing facilities; (2) allowing the executive board of the state department of health (board) to adopt rules on behalf of the state department of health (department); (3) allowing the board to adopt emergency rules; (4) sanitation of public buildings and institutions; and (5) authority to adopt rules concerning the federal Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments. Repeals laws concerning: (1) safety guidelines for children during bad weather conditions; (2) automated external defibrillator rules in health clubs; (3) requiring the state health commissioner (commissioner) to comment on certain rules; (4) fees for serological tests; (5) the administrative unit for special institutions; (6) protection and regulation of department property; and (7) the registry of blind persons. Removes intemperance as a reason to remove a local health officer. Specifies that the department may request the office of administrative law proceedings to designate a person to administer a proceeding. Requires the department to provide facilities and disseminate information to the public concerning oral public health. Allows the department to have a designee to maintain a 24 hour poisons answering service. Adds information on prenatal care to the department's telephone information service concerning children with long term health care needs. Changes the reference from "illegal drug use" to "substance abuse disorder" for purposes of partnership and joint ventures with the department. Requires the department to employ a licensed physician as the chief medical officer. Allows the chief medical officer to perform the functions of the commissioner when the commissioner is not available. Specifies that the state health laboratory (laboratory) must be used to support public health. Changes the title of the person who manages the laboratory. Removes certain requirements concerning the appointment of the laboratory director and chemist. Removes a requirement that a director must report to the commissioner. Requires holders of a certificate of public advantage to pay for reasonable charges incurred by the department. Provides that home health agencies may enter into cooperative agreements to carry out the following activities for the Hoosier Care Connect program: (1) To form and operate, either directly or indirectly, one or more networks of home health agencies to arrange for the provision of health care services through such networks. (2) To contract, either directly or through such networks, with the office of the secretary of family and social services, or the office's contractors, to provide: (A) services to Medicaid beneficiaries; and (B) health care services in an efficient and cost effective manner on a prepaid, capitation, or other reimbursement basis. (3) To undertake other managed health care activities. Provides that a home health agency may authorize an association, corporation, or other person to undertake or effectuate any of these activities. Requires the secretary of family and social services to oversee and supervise these activities. Changes the requirement that the department "shall" to "may" use information compiled by a public or private entity to the greatest extent possible to develop a chronic disease registry. Allows the department to issue a certificate of free sale to a business that meets certain requirements. Amends the definition of "person" for purposes of the state health improvement plan and grant program. Amends the definition of "deaf or hard of hearing" for purposes of the laws governing language development for children who are deaf or hard of hearing. Changes the membership on the Indiana board of pharmacy. Removes the requirement that a qualifying pharmacist is responsible for the legal operations of a pharmacy. Amends references to certain pharmacy school accreditation organizations. Specifies responsibilities of pharmacists concerning duties previously responsible by a qualifying pharmacist. Allows a qualified pharmacy technician to administer immunizations delegated by the pharmacist. (Current law allows pharmacy technicians to administer influenza and coronavirus disease immunizations.) Amends requirements for remote pharmacies. Adds an exception to the definition of "wholesale distribution" for prescription drugs. Authorizes an APRN to sign an order or referral for physical therapy. Requires a health insurance plan to provide coverage for diabetes self-management training ordered by an APRN or PA. Provides that a county coroner may not certify the cause of death for certain infants as a sudden unexplained infant death until a comprehensive death investigation is performed. Makes conforming changes.
Sponsored bills
Provides that in a county having a population within certain parameters, a local flood plain administrator may issue a variance allowing a structure located in a floodway to remain in its location without a permit issued by the director of the department of natural resources if the structure is an abode or residence, a permit for the construction of the abode or residence was issued by the appropriate official of the county before December 19, 2018, and other conditions are met.
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.
Consolidates Medicaid telehealth language. Provides that "health care services" does not include certain case management services, care management services, service coordination services, or care coordination services for purposes of telehealth. Adds occupational therapist assistants, school psychologists, specified developmental therapists, peers, clinical fellows, students and graduates of certain professional programs, physical therapist assistants, and certain community mental health center providers to the definition of "practitioner" for purposes of practicing telehealth. Allows behavior health analysts to temporarily perform telehealth during the time when the professional licensing agency is preparing to implement licensure for the profession.
Provides that a correctional facility, including a jail, shall: (1) use the least restrictive restraints necessary on a pregnant inmate when the pregnant inmate is in the second or third trimester of pregnancy; or (2) use no restraints on a pregnant inmate who is in labor, delivering a baby, during the immediate postdelivery period, or dealing with a medical emergency related to the pregnancy, with certain exceptions. Repeals the current statute concerning prenatal and postnatal care and treatment and incorporates it into the new chapter concerning pregnant inmates. Adds sexual misconduct with a service provider as a Level 4 felony to the definition of "violent offense", and requires a person convicted of: (1) sexual misconduct with a service provider; (2) child molesting; and (3) rape; to pay restitution for pregnancy and childbirth expenses to the victim if the pregnancy is a result of the offense.
Defines "merger" and "merger agreement" for purposes of the certificate of public advantage (certificate) for certain hospital mergers. Requires the state department of health (state department) to actively supervise a merger. Allows the state department to enter into an agreement with a nonprofit organization or a postsecondary educational institution to study the impacts of the certificate of public advantage on the community's health metrics and outcomes. Requires holders of a certificate to pay for reasonable charges incurred by the state department.
Provides that beginning July 1, 2022, only a disorder recommended by a perinatal genetics and genomics advisory committee (committee) with expertise in newborn screening, and through protocols prescribed by the state department, may be added to the list of disorders requiring the examination of infants. Provides that beginning July 1, 2022, a committee with expertise in newborn screening, and through protocols established by the state department, may recommend the addition of a disorder to, or deletion of a disorder from, the required examination. Provides that the state department shall adopt rules to add disorders to, or delete disorders from, the required examination. Provides that the state department shall include any disorder added to or deleted from the required examination on a list on the state department's Internet web site. Provides that the committee shall affirm the addition of, or deletion of, any disorder to the examination requirement on an annual basis.
Establishes certain requirements for the temporary licensure of retired or inactive emergency medical services personnel, retired or inactive health care professionals, out-of-state health care professionals, or recently graduated students who have applied for certain licenses. Allows a health care provider or an officer, agent, or employee of a health care provider who has a temporary license to qualify for coverage under the Medical Malpractice Act. Provides that the state board of nursing (board) shall issue by endorsement a license to practice as a registered nurse or practical nurse to an applicant who is a graduate of a foreign nursing school and provides certain documentation. Allows: (1) an eligible associate degree or bachelor's degree registered nursing program to increase enrollment at any rate deemed appropriate by the program; and (2) a nursing program that is not an eligible program but meets specified requirements to increase enrollment by not more than 100%. Allows a nursing program to substitute a certain number of simulation hours for clinical hours in certain circumstances. Establishes requirements for clinical preceptors. Provides that a majority of the faculty is not required to be full-time employees of a state educational institution that operates a nursing program that predominantly issues associate degrees.
Requires the state department of health to establish guidance and standards for health care providers for screening children in Indiana for lead poisoning from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026. Requires a health care provider who provides health care services to a child who is less than six years of age to take certain actions concerning a blood lead screening test from January 1, 2023, through December 31, 2026. Specifies that a parent or guardian is not required to have their child receive a blood lead screening test.
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.