A SENATE RESOLUTION honoring Senator Karen Tallian upon her retirement from the Indiana Senate.
Amends the definitions of "practitioner", for purposes of the health professions and professional standards of practice laws, to include individuals who held a license, certificate, registration, or permit when the alleged violation of the standard of practice occurred. Specifies that an individual who: (1) held a license and the license's current status is inactive, surrendered, expired, revoked, or suspended; and (2) engages in conduct in Indiana that requires a license; is subject to the same penalties as an individual who practiced without a license in violation of the law. Provides that if an individual has a conviction or judgment for practicing without a license in violation of the law, in addition to any other penalty, the court shall impose a fine equal to the amount of any fee or other compensation earned in the commission of the offense. Makes conforming changes.
Provides that if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency addressed by an executive order, the local order may be less stringent than the executive order to the extent permitted by the executive order. Provides that if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency that is not addressed by an executive order or if a local order addresses an aspect of a declared emergency more stringently than an executive order, the local order may not take effect, or remain in effect, unless the local order is approved by the county legislative body (in the case of a county health department) or by an ordinance adopted by the city legislative body and approved by the mayor (in the case of a city health department). Provides that the appointment of a county health officer is subject to the approval of the county legislative body. Adds other good cause to the reasons for which a local health officer may be removed in counties other than Marion County. Specifies that a local health officer serves until a successor is appointed and qualified. Establishes an appeals process before legislative bodies of enforcement actions taken by local boards of health and local health officers in response to declared state and local public health emergencies.
Requires an opioid treatment program to obtain prior authorization from the division of mental health and addiction (division) for patients receiving more than 14 days of opioid treatment medication from an opioid treatment program unless otherwise prescribed by the division. Allows the state opioid treatment authority (authority) to: (1) take certain remedial actions; and (2) impose a civil penalty of up to $10,000; in response to certain violations concerning the operation of an opioid treatment program. Specifies that the authority may issue a civil penalty for each violation found by the authority. Requires the division to report certain findings to the general assembly not later than April 1 of each year. Requires certain information to be provided to the division for the purpose of completing specified reporting requirements.
Amends the definition of "home health agency", for purposes of the home health agency licensure laws, to provide that a person may provide or offer to provide nursing services and at least one home health service for compensation. Specifies that the term does not include: (1) services under the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE); or a person that only administers home infusion therapy based on a specialty medication prescription.
Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services (office) to apply for a Medicaid state plan amendment or Medicaid waiver for the following: (1) Reimbursement of Medicaid rehabilitation option services for a Medicaid eligible recipient who is undertaking an initial assessment, intake, or counseling in a community mental health center. (2) Reimbursement for Medicaid rehabilitation option services concurrently with reimbursement under the residential addiction treatment program. Requires a community mental health center to commence a plan of treatment within two weeks for a Medicaid recipient who receives services after the office has amended the state plan. Specifies that for purposes of a community mental health center, telehealth services satisfy any face to face meeting requirement between a clinician and consumer. Requires at least two members of the division of mental health and addiction planning and advisory council to be community mental health center chief executive officers or designees. Specifies that the division of mental health and addiction (division) has primary oversight over suicide prevention and crisis services activities and coordination and designation of the 9-8-8 crisis hotline centers. Sets forth requirements to be designated as a 9-8-8 crisis hotline center. Establishes the statewide 9-8-8 trust fund. Allows advanced practice registered nurses and physician assistants to perform certain duties that are performed by a physician under the home health agencies laws. Allows a nonprofit association of cities and towns to participate in the state aggregate prescription drug purchasing program. Requires a public school that issues, after June 30, 2022, a student identification card to a student in grade 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, or 12 to include on the student identification card the 9-8-8 crisis hotline and other crisis hotline phone numbers. Delays the requirement that a prescription for a controlled substance be in an electronic format until January 1, 2022. Allows for an exemption from the requirement of issuing a controlled substance prescription in an electronic format if the dispensing pharmacy or provider is unable to receive or process an electronically transmitted prescription. Requires certain rules adopted by the Indiana board of pharmacy (board) to be substantially similar to certain federal regulations. Adds behavior analysts to the definition of "practitioner" for purposes of the telehealth laws. Amends the definition of "telehealth". Amends the required graduate level courses and clinical experience that an applicant is required to obtain for a license as a clinical addiction counselor. Allows a pharmacist and pharmacy technician to administer an immunization for coronavirus disease. Allows a registered nurse to provide for the direct supervision of a pharmacist intern or pharmacist student who administers an immunization. Changes references of the "pharmacist in charge" to the "pharmacist on duty". Allows a pharmacist to supervise eight pharmacy interns. Allows a pharmacy technician to work remotely to perform specified responsibilities. Provides that the board shall hold the pharmacy permit holder accountable, rather than the qualifying pharmacy, for staffing violations if the qualifying pharmacist does not have the authority to make staffing determinations. Specifies that a transfer of a prescription includes a schedule II controlled substance. Removes the requirement that a pharmacist provide a patient with a written advance beneficiary notice that states that the patient may not be eligible for reimbursement for the device or supply. Changes remote dispensing facility requirements concerning location of the facility. Changes how long a remote dispensing facility must retain a surveillance recording from 45 days to 30 days. Removes specified physical requirements that a video monitor being used by the remote facility must meet. Adds therapeutic substitution to the definition of "protocol" for purposes of drug regimen adjustments and defines "therapeutic alternative" and specifies use of therapeutic alternative requirements for protocols. Removes a requirement for drug protocols concerning availability of medical records. Allows for physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to make referrals to pharmacists. Removes the requirement that the executive director of the Indiana professional licensing agency provide advice and consent before a majority of the members of the physical therapist committee may call a meeting. Requires the medical licensing board to adopt rules before January 1, 2022, that are required under the laws concerning physician assistants. Adds any plan or program that provides payment, reimbursement, or indemnification for the cost of prescription drugs to the definition of a "health plan". Adds two members to the justice reinvestment advisory council.
Requires the state department of health to compile case and death data related to COVID-19 reported by health facilities and residential care facilities in a specified manner and publish the information on the state department's Internet web site. Requires the state department to update the data at least every seven days. Provides that the reporting and publishing requirements expire April 1, 2022.
Establishes the task force on wastewater infrastructure investment and service to underserved areas (task force). Provides that the task force consists of the following 18 members: (1) Six members of the senate, with the president pro tempore appointing four members (one of whom serves as co-chair of the task force), and the minority leader appointing two members. (2) Six members of the house of representatives, with the speaker appointing four members (one of whom serves as co-chair of the task force), and the minority leader appointing two members. (3) Six gubernatorial appointees, including the following: (A) One officer or employee of the state. (B) One member representing operators of wastewater management systems. (C) One engineer, or another professional, with expertise in wastewater management systems. (D) One member representing ratepayers. (E) One member representing municipalities served by a wastewater operator not under the jurisdiction of the utility regulatory commission. (F) One member of the general public. Sets forth the duties of the task force. Requires the task force to develop a long term plan for addressing wastewater needs in Indiana. Requires the task force to issue a report setting forth its recommendations to: (1) the executive director of the legislative services agency for distribution to members of the general assembly; and (2) the governor; not later than December 1, 2021. Provides that the bill's provisions concerning the task force expire January 1, 2022. Establishes the water infrastructure grant program (program) to be administered by the Indiana finance authority (authority). Establishes the water infrastructure grant fund (fund) as a source of money for grants, loans, and other financial assistance to, or for the benefit of, participants in the program. Sets forth purposes for which money in the fund may be used, including the planning, designing, acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, or expansion of: (1) water systems; and (2) wastewater or storm water collection and treatment systems. Requires the authority to adopt guidelines to establish criteria for the making of grants, loans, and other financial assistance from the fund. Sets forth certain conditions that apply to the making of grants, the making of loans, and the providing of other financial assistance from the fund. Requires the authority to establish a project prioritization system for the purposes of awarding loans and grants from the fund. Sets forth certain variables that the project prioritization system must include. Provides that the authority may provide advisory services and other services to a participant in connection with a grant, a loan, or other financial assistance from the fund. Requires the public finance director to submit to the budget committee and the legislative council, in each odd-numbered year through 2023, a report concerning grants, loans, or other financial assistance made available to participants from the fund.
Provides that the state employee health plan statute does not prohibit the state personnel department from directly contracting with health care providers for health care services for state employees. Provides that if a woman who is in premature labor presents to a hospital, the hospital must inform the woman of the hospital's capabilities of treating the born alive infant and managing a high risk pregnancy. Sets forth requirements that a hospital must meet concerning: (1) a woman who is in premature labor; and (2) a born alive infant. Changes the date that ambulatory outpatient surgical centers are required to begin posting certain pricing information from March 31, 2021, to December 31, 2021. Specifies that the pricing information posted is the standard charge rather than the weighted average negotiated charge and sets forth what is included in the standard charge. Specifies that if an ambulatory outpatient surgical center offers less than 30 additional services, the center is required to post all of the services the center provides. Requires a hospital to post pricing information in compliance with the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as in effect on January 1, 2021, if: (1) the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule is repealed; or (2) federal enforcement of the federal Hospital Price Transparency Rule is stopped. Defines "health carrier" for purposes of the law on health provider contracts. Prohibits the inclusion in a health provider contract of any provision that would: (1) prohibit the disclosure of health care service claims data, including for use in the all payer claims data base; (2) limit the ability of a health carrier or health provider facility to disclose the allowed amount and fees of services to any insured or enrollee, or to the treating health provider facility or physician of the insured or enrollee; or (3) limit the ability of a health carrier or health provider facility to disclose out-of-pocket costs to an insured or an enrollee. Requires the department of insurance to issue a report to: (1) the legislative council; and (2) the interim study committees on financial institutions and insurance and public health, behavioral health, and human services; setting forth its suggestions for revising the department's administrative rules to reduce the regulatory costs incurred by employers seeking to provide health coverage for their employees through multiple employer welfare arrangements.
Amends the definition of "health payer" to except some policies of accident and sickness insurance. Establishes requirements for the development and administration of the all payer claims data base. Establishes the all payer claims data base advisory board (advisory board) and sets forth membership requirements. Specifies the duties of: (1) the advisory board; and (2) the executive director who oversees the operation of the data base. Requires the establishment of a fee formula for data licensing and claims data collection and release.
