Rep. Martin Carbaugh

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION recognizing South Bend Police Officer Brian Meador.

Requires the Indiana department of health (department) to establish and administer a medical school loan forgiveness pilot program (program) for the purpose of attracting physicians to practice medicine in Indiana. Establishes the medical school loan forgiveness fund (fund). Sets forth criteria for the program. Requires the department to, not later than November 1, 2025, and each November 1 thereafter, prepare and submit a report to the general assembly regarding the program. Makes an appropriation to the fund.

Provides that the commissioner of labor or the commissioner's duly designated representative may assess a civil penalty of not less than the minimum civil penalty and not more than the maximum civil penalty adopted by the United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration under the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 for an employer who violates certain health and safety standards.

Requires a nonprofit hospital to pay a certain amount to the county treasurer based on the property tax liability that would be due based on the nonprofit hospital's gross assessed value of exempt property if no exemptions were applied, depending on the extent to which the nonprofit hospital's average of aggregate prices charged in a year exceeds the nationwide average of aggregate prices charged in the immediately preceding calendar year. Requires a nonprofit hospital to submit information each year concerning the nonprofit hospital's average of aggregate prices charged.

Defines terms and amends the education and criminal laws related to material that is obscene or harmful to minors.

Allows a certified registered nurse anesthetist (CRNA) to administer anesthesia under the direction of and in the immediate presence of a podiatrist or dentist. (Under current law, a CRNA may administer anesthesia under the direction of and in the immediate presence of a physician.) Provides that a physician, podiatrist, or dentist is not liable for any act or omission of a CRNA who administers anesthesia. Makes corresponding changes.

Requires the Indiana department of health (state department) to: (1) collaborate with a national Alzheimer's disease and dementia organization in educating the public about Alzheimer's disease and dementia; and (2) identify and collaborate with additional partners in the education. Requires the state department to partner for outreach in the education and publish certain educational materials on the state department's website. Allows the state department to accept grants, services, and property from public and private entities for the education.

Provides that if an insurance producer actively participates in a state or national professional insurance organization, the insurance commissioner may apply the insurance producer's participation toward the satisfaction of not more than two hours of the insurance producer's continuing education requirement in every two year licensing period. Prohibits a public adjuster from: (1) filing an insurance claim on behalf of an insured; (2) performing the role of roofing contractor, appraiser, or any other role with respect to the subject of a claim when the public adjuster is providing advice or assistance in the adjustment of the claim; or (3) filing an unfair claim settlement practice complaint unless the person who filed the claim has given written consent for the public adjuster to file the complaint. Requires a public adjuster, before entering into a contract with an insured, to provide a written disclosure concerning any direct or indirect financial interest that the public adjuster has with any other party that is or will be involved in the insured's claim. Requires a public adjuster to provide to an insured a disclosure document containing certain information before the insured enters into a contract with the public adjuster. Provides that a contract between a public adjuster and an insured must be in writing, must contain certain information, and must be prepared on a form filed with and approved by the insurance commissioner. Prohibits the inclusion of certain terms in the contract. Provides that if the insurer, not more than five business days after the date on which the insured's loss is reported to the insurer, either pays or commits in writing to pay to the policy limit of the insured's policy, the public adjuster may not be compensated by receiving a percentage of the total amount paid by the insurer and is entitled only to reasonable compensation for services provided. Allows an insured to void or rescind a contract with a public adjuster. Provides that, with respect to benefits provided by multiple employer welfare arrangements (MEWAs) to a public entity: (1) a policy of stop loss insurance issued by a reinsurer to the MEWA must cover claims submitted within the timely filing limit of the policy and the policy provisions of the stop loss coverage; and (2) the department of insurance may not adopt or enforce any rule that would reduce the timely filing limit specified in the policy and the policy provisions of the stop loss coverage. Requires the Indiana Public Employers' Plan, Inc., before December 31, 2026, to apply to the insurance commissioner for a certificate of authority to transact business as a domestic tax exempt reciprocal insurance company. Amends the anti-rebating law to provide that value-added products or services may be offered or provided for free or at a discounted price by an insurer or an insurance producer: (1) if the products or services: (A) are intended to mitigate or reduce the severity or frequency of loss; or (B) are primarily designed to enhance the health, financial wellness, or safety of persons or of persons' lives, health, or property; or (2) if the products or services: (A) are not offered in a manner that is unfairly discriminatory; and (B) are made available based on documented, objective criteria that are maintained for inspection by the insurance commissioner. Requires that a value-added product or service be accompanied by contact information. Requires an insurer that makes a material change to an insured's personal automobile or homeowner's policy to provide a written notice: (1) explaining the principal factors for the material change; or (2) stating that the insured, upon request, has a right to obtain a written notice explaining the principal factors for the material change. Establishes certain requirements for a notice of material change. Requires the insurance commissioner to adopt rules to implement the notice of material change requirements. Requires an insurer or health maintenance organization (HMO) that provides coverage under an Affordable Care Act Marketplace plan (Marketplace plan) to provide to each individual covered under the Marketplace plan, not earlier than six months and not later than two months before the individual will become 65 years of age, a notice that includes: (1) a statement that the individual may be eligible to enroll in Medicare during the individual's initial enrollment period; (2) a statement that, in most cases, someone covered by a Marketplace plan will want to end their Marketplace plan coverage upon becoming eligible for Medicare; and (3) detailed instructions for canceling the individual's Marketplace plan. Provides that the plan sponsor of a health benefit plan may, on behalf of all covered individuals, provide consent: (1) to all communications related to the health benefit plan being sent to covered individuals by electronic means; and (2) to the electronic delivery of health insurance identification cards. Repeals the current mutual insurance holding company law (IC 27-14) and replaces it with a new mutual holding company law (IC 27-14.5). Requires the insurance commissioner to conduct an examination of an HMO domiciled in Indiana at least once every five years (instead of once every three years) and provides that an examination of the quality management program of an HMO must be conducted at least once every five years (instead of once every three years). Amends the health benefit exchange law to provide that an individual who continues to pay premiums for a policy or contract offered by a qualified health plan issuer in a benefit year that follows the benefit year in which the individual purchased the original policy or contract is considered to have purchased a new policy or contract for the purposes of the federal regulation providing that Medicare entitlement or enrollment is not a basis to nonrenew an individual's health insurance coverage in the individual market under the same policy or contract of insurance.

Requires the state employee health plan, policies of accident and sickness insurance, and health maintenance organization contracts to provide coverage for wearable cardioverter defibrillators. Specifies requirements for credentialing a provider for the Medicaid program, an accident and sickness insurance policy, and a health maintenance organization contract. Establishes a provisional credential until a decision is made on a provider's credentialing application and allows for retroactive reimbursement. Provides that a hospital's quality assessment and improvement program must include a process for determining and reporting the occurrence of serious reportable events. Provides that the medical staff of a hospital may make recommendations on the granting of clinical privileges and the appointment or reappointment of an applicant to the governing board for a period not to exceed 36 months. Requires a hospital with an emergency department to have at least one physician on site and on duty who is responsible for the emergency department. Requires the legislative services agency to conduct an analysis of licensing fees and provide a report to the budget committee. Allows the commissioner of the department of insurance (commissioner) to issue an order to discontinue a violation of a law (current law specifies orders or rules). Requires the commissioner to consider specified information before approving or disapproving a premium rate increase. Requires a domestic stock insurer to file specified information with the department of insurance. Prohibits the state employee health plan from requiring prior authorization for certain specified services. Changes prior authorization time requirements for urgent care situations. Adds an employee benefit plan that is subject to the federal Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 and a state employee health plan to the definition of "health payer" for the purposes of the all payer claims data base (data base). Allows the department of insurance to adopt rules on certain matters concerning the data base. Requires a health plan to post certain information on the health plan's website. Prohibits an insurer and a health maintenance organization from altering a CPT code for a claim or paying for a CPT code of lesser monetary value unless: (1) the CPT code submitted is not in accordance with certain guidelines and rules, or the terms and conditions of a participating provider's agreement or contract with the insurer or health maintenance organization; or (2) the medical record of the claim has been reviewed by an employee or contractor of the insurer or health maintenance organization. Requires an insurer and a health maintenance organization to provide a contracted provider with a current reimbursement rate schedule at specified times. Urges the study by an interim committee of: (1) prior authorization exemptions for certain health care providers; and (2) whether Indiana should adopt an interstate mobility of occupational licensing. Requires a collaborating physician or physician designee to review certain patient encounters performed by a physician assistant within 14 business days. Requires a health plan to offer a health care provider the option to request a peer to peer review by a clinical peer concerning an adverse determination on a prior authorization request.

Provides that discipline rules adopted by the governing body of a school corporation must include timetables for reporting bullying incidents to parents of both the targeted student and the alleged perpetrator in an expedited manner that is not later than five business days after the incident is reported. (Current law provides that discipline rules adopted by the governing body of a school corporation must include timetables for reporting bullying incidents to parents of both the targeted student and the bully in an expedited manner.) Provides that discipline rules adopted by the governing body of a school corporation: (1) must include provisions that require a school to prioritize the safety of the victim; (2) may include provisions to determine: (A) the severity of an incident of bullying; and (B) whether an incident of bullying may warrant the transfer of the victim or the alleged perpetrator to another school in the school corporation; and (3) must include policies to allow a parent of a child in the school corporation to review any materials used in any bullying prevention or suicide prevention program. Requires public schools to document acts of bullying and abusive behaviors against a victim and committed by a verified perpetrator.