Rep. Brad Barrett

Specifies that emergency medical services, including emergency ambulance services, are essential services in Indiana. Specifies that the provision of emergency medical services is an essential purpose of political subdivisions. Requires the county commissioners of each county to: (1) identify areas that are unserved by emergency ambulance services; and (2) provide emergency ambulance services to the areas by establishing a county emergency ambulance service, contracting with a public, private, or nonprofit provider of emergency ambulance services, or by any other available means.

Maddy summaryHR 11 is a commemorative resolution celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Professional Fire Fighters Union of Indiana. It does not create new laws or affect any policies, rights, or regulations. The resolution simply recognizes the union's history and contributions through a formal statement by the Indiana House of Representatives. It was introduced and coauthored by multiple representatives on January 30, 2025, and passed its first reading.

Requires a health care entity that is involved in a merger or acquisition to disclose additional information. Allows the office of the attorney general to assess a health care entity with a civil penalty for noncompliance with the merger and acquisition notice.

Specifies that county local income taxes for emergency medical services may be used to pay costs incurred for the provision of emergency medical services by an emergency medical services provider organization (EMSPO). Provides that an employee of an EMSPO who is engaged in emergency medical services is eligible to participate in training funded by the regional public safety training fund. Specifies that an EMSPO may collaborate in the dissemination of information concerning public and private grant opportunities related to improving outcomes for stroke patients. Requires the Indiana emergency medical services commission (commission) to include EMSPOs when seeking funding opportunities for the support of emergency medical services. Authorizes the commission to award mobile integration health care grants to EMSPOs.

Requires a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract to provide coverage for preventative health services as determined by the insurance commissioner. Prohibits a state employee health plan, a policy of accident and sickness insurance, and a health maintenance organization contract from imposing a cost sharing requirement for a preventative health service that is provided by an in network health care provider.

Maddy summaryHB 1596 authorizes the city of Richmond to impose a tax on food and beverage sales. This bill grants Richmond the legal authority to establish such a tax, directly affecting local businesses that sell food or beverages within the city. The legislation does not set a specific tax rate or details but enables the city to develop and implement the tax through its own processes. (1 sentence summary per procedural bill guidelines)

Establishes the primary care access revolving fund (fund) for the purpose of making loans to primary care medical practices in Indiana. Specifies the purposes for which money in the fund may be loaned. Provides that the Indiana finance authority shall administer the fund. Requires the Indiana economic development corporation (IEDC) to transfer $15,000,000 to the fund from the amount appropriated to the IEDC by the general assembly in the 2025-2026 state fiscal year. Increases the employee threshold for purposes of eligibility for the health reimbursement arrangement income tax credit. Increases the maximum amount of tax credits that may be granted in a year. Specifies the procedure for claiming the credit. Allows an employer to establish a long term care savings account program that allows an employee to save with favorable tax treatment for services required when the employee's or the employee's dependents' functional capacities become chronically impaired due to advanced age or other circumstances. Expands the physician practice ownership tax credit (tax credit) against state tax liability to practicing physicians (instead of only primary care physicians) who have an ownership interest in a physician practice and meet other eligibility criteria. Requires a taxpayer claiming the tax credit to certify that each physician with an ownership interest provides health care services to patients. Provides that the total amount of tax credits awarded in a state fiscal year may not exceed $20,000,000.

Prohibits a pharmacy benefit manager from taking certain actions. Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to submit a report to the insurance commissioner every six months. (Current law requires a pharmacy benefit manager to submit the report annually.) Provides that if a contract holder requests an audit of compliance with the contract from a pharmacy benefit manager, the pharmacy benefit manager must provide the audit requested to the contract holder not later than 30 business days after receiving the request. Removes the provision specifying that the files or forms disclosed to the contract holder by the pharmacy benefit manager as part of an audit of compliance with the contract may be modified to redact trade secrets. Establishes civil penalties that the department of insurance (department) shall impose for a violation of the provisions concerning pharmacy benefit managers. Requires a pharmacy benefit manager to provide additional information in the pharmacy benefit manager's report to the department. Requires, after June 30, 2025, a health payer to include information relating to prescription drug pricing in the data submitted to the all payer claims data base by the health payer. Requires a health plan to credit toward a covered individual's deductible and annual maximum out-of-pocket expenses any amount the covered individual pays directly to any health care provider for a medically necessary covered health care service if a claim for the health care service is not submitted to the health plan and the amount paid by the covered individual to the health care provider is less than the average discounted rate for the health care service paid to a health care provider in the health plan's network.

Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to include Indiana hospitals certified as a thrombectomy-capable stroke center in certain lists maintained by the state department concerning certified stroke centers. Amends the list of entities that certify stroke centers. Requires a hospital certified as a thrombectomy-capable stroke center to provide certain information to the state department. Prohibits a health care facility from advertising that the facility is a thrombectomy-capable stroke center unless the facility is certified by a specified entity. Requires the state department to establish and implement a statewide stroke plan. Sets forth requirements of the plan and requirements for certain health care providers to report stroke data. Requires the state department to establish a data base for the reported data and sets forth additional requirements. Requires the state department to annually report certain stroke data to the governor and the executive director of the legislative services agency.

Adds two additional members to the Indiana state board of nursing (board) and changes the required qualifications for certain members. Amends the definition of "certified registered nurse anesthetist". Adds the following definitions: (1) "Certified nurse midwife". (2) "Clinical nurse specialist". (3) "Nurse practitioner". Specifies that a license to practice as an advanced practice registered nurse expires on October 31 in each odd-numbered year. Makes conforming changes.