Signed by Governor Eric Holcomb

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

A vote to pass a bill that requires disclosure of costs when dispensing prescription drugs.

Highlights:

• Defines “covered individual” as an individual entitled to coverage under a state employee plan (Sec. 20).

• Defines “state employee plan” as a self-insurance program to provide group health coverage, and or a contract with a prepaid health care delivery plan that is entered into or renewed (Sec. 20).

• Authorizes pharmacies or pharmacists to have the right to provide information to a covered individual, an insured, and an enrollee regarding the cost share of their prescription drug (Sec. 20).

• Prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager, insurer, or health maintenance organization from preventing pharmacies and pharmacists from discussing this information or from selling a more affordable alternative to the covered individual, insured, or enrollee (Sec. 20).

• Prohibits a pharmacy benefits manager, insurer, or health maintenance organization from including a provision requiring a covered individual, an insured, or an enrollee to pay for a prescription drug that’s more than the contracted copayment or the amount of total approved charges by the pharmacy benefits manager insurer, or health maintenance organization (Sec. 20).

• Prohibits any changes to the designated area of an area agency on aging until the office of the secretary holds a public hearing in each county where the existing area agency on aging is operating to discuss the proposed changes and receive public comment, and one year passes from the date of that meeting (Sec. 6).

• Expands the definition of “community and home care services” to include other services not covered by Medicaid, including equipment and building modifications necessary to prevent the institutionalization of intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals and to help intellectually or developmentally disabled individuals in transitioning out of health facilities or group homes (Sec. 2).

• Requires the office of the secretary of family and social services to conduct a study on service provider and systems point of entry reimbursement rates for recipients of early intervention services (Sec. 21).

• Establishes that starting January 1, 2020, the state elects to opt out of the application of 21 U.S.C. 862a(a) for individuals convicted of a controlled substance offense, or a similar offense in another jurisdiction, for something that occurred after August 22, 1996, if (Sec. 3):

• The individual has successfully completed probation, parole, community corrections, a reentry court program, or any other postconviction monitoring program order by a court;

• The individual is complying with the individual’s conditions of probation, parole, community corrections, a reentry court program, or any other postconviction monitoring program order by a court; or

• The individual is eligible for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits under IC 12-14-29-2 as a participant in a program described in IC 12-14-29-2(4).

• Requires the office of family and social services to conduct a study on Medicaid reimbursement rates and the methodology for case management services for recipients of the Medicaid family support waiver and the Medicaid community integration and habilitation waiver (Sec. 8).

• Defines “nurse licensure compact” as a multistate compact entered into by states with the interstate commission of nurse licensure compact administrators (Sec. 15).

• Authorizes and encourages the legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee the task of studying the impact that joining the nurse licensure compact would have on the delivery of nursing services to Indiana residents (Sec. 15).

• Establishes an emergency declaration for this act (Sec. 16).

Full Bill Text