Dear Advocates,

This week at the Indiana General Assembly, we have reached the halfway point for the 2022 Indiana Legislative Session. The two chambers have worked on numerous bills to further the success of the behavioral health field in Indiana. In the coming weeks, these bills will be eligible to be heard in the opposite chamber. Mental Health America of Indiana advocates for effective legislation that will improve the behavioral health sector in Indiana. Below are KEY behavioral health bills we are keeping an eye on:
House Bills:
House Bill 1004:
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION (FRYE R) Amends and updates certain terms involving direct placement in a community corrections program. Updates the definition of "community corrections program". Specifies that a court may suspend any portion of a sentence and order a person to be placed in a community corrections program for the part of the sentence which must be executed. Provides that a person placed on a level of supervision as part of a community corrections program: (1) is entitled to earned good time credit; (2) may not earn educational credit; and (3) may be deprived of earned good time credit. Provides that when a person completes a placement program, the court may place the person on probation. Provides that a court may commit a person convicted of a Level 6 felony to the department of correction (department). (Current law provides that, under certain circumstances, a person convicted of a Level 6 felony may not be committed to the department.) Makes conforming changes. Current Status:   2/8/2022 - Senate Corrections and Criminal Law, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing); Time & Location: 10:00 AM, Rm. 130


House Bill 1112:
MEDICAID EMS REIMBURSEMENT RATES (SLAGER H) Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services and a managed care organization to reimburse under Medicaid an emergency medical services provider organization that is a Medicaid provider at a rate comparable to the federal Medicare reimbursement rate for the service. Current Status:   2/2/2022 - Referred to Senate Appropriations

House Bill 1193:
OPIOID LITIGATION (KARICKHOFF M) Amends the deadline by which a political subdivision may opt back in to an opioid litigation settlement. Removes language providing that no political subdivision has any claim to any settlement proceeds for litigation against any opioid party not yet filed by the state as of a certain date. Changes the basis by which the agency settlement fund distributes funds to cities, counties, and towns. Reduces the percentage of opioid litigation settlement funds distributed for use of statewide treatment, education, and prevention programs for opioid use disorder. Provides that 35% of opioid litigation settlement funds are to be distributed to cities, counties, and towns for regional programs for treatment, prevention, and care that are best practices for opioid use disorder. Current Status:   2/2/2022 - Referred to Senate Appropriations

House Bill 1222:
VARIOUS FSSA MATTERS (ZIEMKE C) Allows the family and social services administration to deny or revoke licensing for a child care home based on a household member's conviction for certain specified criminal offenses. Removes a limitation specifying that an occupancy provision regarding school-age children in class I child care homes applies only during the school year. Eliminates the bureau of quality improvement services and reassigns the bureau's responsibilities to the bureau of developmental disabilities services. Renames the bureau of child care as the office of early childhood and out of school learning. Amends the required composition of mobile crisis teams that provide behavioral health services in conjunction with the 9-8-8 suicide prevention hotline. Provides that a contract entered into with a third party by the division of mental health and addiction (division) for provision of competency restoration services to a defendant may confer to the third party all authority the division would have in providing the services to the defendant at a state psychiatric institution. Makes conforming amendments. Current Status:   2/7/2022 - Senate Family and Children Services, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing); Time & Location: 10:00 AM, Senate Chamber

House Bill 1140:
MEDICAID COVERAGE FOR PREGNANT WOMEN (VERMILION A) Repeals the statute specifying Medicaid eligibility for qualified pregnant women. Increases the Medicaid income eligibility requirements for pregnant women. Removes the Medicaid limitation for pregnant women of medical assistance coverage only for pregnancy related services. Extends postpartum Medicaid coverage for pregnant women from 60 days to 12 months beginning on the last day of the pregnancy. Current Status:   2/9/2022 - Senate Health and Provider Services, (Bill Scheduled for Hearing); Time & Location: 9:00 AM, Rm. 431

House Bill 1158:
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES MATTERS (CLERE E) Allows an advanced practice registered nurse or physician assistant to sign certain individualized family service plans. Changes the composition and duties of the division of disability and rehabilitative services advisory council. Requires the services for individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities task force to establish a subcommittee to make certain recommendations to the task force. Modifies provisions concerning records and information about the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and acquired immune deficiency syndrome. Repeals provisions concerning the following: (1) Reports to a health officer about a person who is believed to be a serious and present risk to the health of others. (2) Physician notification to: (A) a patient with a serious communicable disease; (B) a health officer; and (C) a person at risk. 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. 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. Repeals certain offenses concerning: (1) notification, reporting, and investigation related to communicable diseases; and (2) the donation, sale, or transfer of semen that contains antibodies for HIV. Makes technical and conforming changes. Current Status:   2/1/2022 - Referred to Senate
 
Senate Bills:
Senate Bill 5:
RECIPROCITY (BROWN L) 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. 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 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. 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 to enter into a reciprocity agreement 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. Current Status:   1/31/2022 - Referred to House Public Health

Senate Bill 6:
BAIL FOR VIOLENT ARRESTEES (YOUNG M) Defines "violent crime", "violent arrestee", "repeat violent arrestee", and "minimum bail amount", and requires: (1) a court to review the probable cause affidavit or arrest warrant before releasing a violent arrestee or repeat violent arrestee on bail; (2) bail to be set for a violent arrestee or repeat violent arrestee following a hearing in open court; and (3) a repeat violent arrestee released on bail to pay 100% of the minimum bail amount by cash deposit. Prohibits a third party who is not a close relative of a repeat violent arrestee from posting bail for the repeat violent arrestee. Requires mandatory bail revocation for a violent arrestee who commits a felony while released. Provides for victim notification of bail hearings. Requires non-monetary release for non-violent arrestees under certain circumstances. Makes conforming amendments. Current Status:   1/31/2022 - Referred to House Courts and Criminal Code


Senate Bill 84:
SUICIDE AND DRUG OVERDOSE DEATH REPORTING (LEISING J) Provides that the state department of health (department) shall annually prepare a report concerning all suicide and overdose fatalities in Indiana that occurred during the preceding calendar year. Requires the report to include: (1) the number of fatalities that occurred in each county; (2) the number of fatalities that occurred during each month; (3) the age, sex, and race of each fatality victim; and (4) the method of suicide or overdose, including the type of weapon and each substance used. Provides that the first report must also include information from the 2020 calendar year. Requires the department to submit the report and an executive summary of the report to the general assembly and the governor. Current Status:   1/31/2022 - Referred to House Public Health

Senate Bill 226:
MARRIAGE AND FAMILY THERAPISTS (DONATO S) Decreases the number of experiential practice hours required to obtain a license as a marriage and family therapist or a therapist associate. Specifies that the hours must be completed during at least 12 months. Current Status:   2/2/2022 - Referred to House

Senate Bill 249:
HEALTH INSURANCE TRANSPARENCY (BROWN L) Specifies that the compliance of a practitioner and a provider facility with federal law meets the good faith estimate requirements concerning health service costs. Allows the commissioner of the department of insurance to issue an order to discontinue a violation of a law (current law specifies orders or rules). Requires a domestic stock insurer to file specified information with the department of insurance. Prohibits a health plan from requiring a health care provider to submit a prior authorization request to a third party and requires the health plan to transmit the request to the third party through secure electronic transmission. Amends the deadline by which a health plan must respond to a nonurgent care prior authorization request. Requires a health plan to offer a health care provider that submitted a prior authorization and received an adverse determination the option to request a peer to peer review by a clinical peer concerning the adverse determination. Requires a health plan to post notice of a technical issue with its claims submission system on the health plan's Internet web site. Requires a health plan to post on its Internet web site not later than February 1 of each year: (1) the 30 most frequently submitted CPT codes in the previous calendar year; and (2) the percentage of the 30 most frequently submitted CPT codes that were approved in the previous calendar year. Establishes an approval process for a health plan's proposed premium rate increase of 5% or greater as compared to the previous calendar year. Prohibits an insurer and a health maintenance organization from altering a CPT code for a claim unless the medical record of the claim has been reviewed by an employee who is a licensed physician. Requires an insurer and a health maintenance organization to provide a contracted provider with a current reimbursement rate schedule: (1) every two years; and (2) when three or more CPT code rates change in a 12 month period. Urges the study by an interim committee of prior authorization exemptions for certain health care providers. Current Status:   2/2/2022 - Referred to House
The Return of Hoosier Idol
We're Back... & Better Than Ever!

Join us on Wednesday, February 23rd, from 6 - 9 PM at the Indiana Roof Ballroom for The Return of Hoosier Idol!

Starring members of the Indiana General Assembly, legislators will compete to be crowned Hoosier Idol 2022!

Tickets are on SALE now!

Price of Table: $1,000
Price of Individual Tickets: $125

If you would like to sponsor this event, please email our Director of Communications and Marketing, Kelby Gaw, directly at kgaw@mhai.net

All funds raised from this event will be used to help protect and promote the lives of individual's effected by mental health and addiction. To learn more about the event and to register, click HERE.
More than ever, we must stay in touch with you through technology, so please be sure to sign up for our IN.session Newsletter and VoterVoice Action Alerts to stay up to date on important mental health related legislation.

If you would like to review all of the bills Mental Health America of Indiana is following, click HERE for our Action Track report!