During the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly, ISMA and other health care stakeholders helped bring attention to a potentially dangerous practice that could threaten patient safety. “White bagging” is when health plans require in-network facilities and providers to obtain and administer specialty drugs from that insurer’s contracted specialty pharmacy.

This practice could prevent physicians from controlling the handling, preparation, dosages and storage conditions of these drugs prior to being administered to patients – creating major safety concerns.

Fortunately, a bill was passed and signed into law (HEA 1405) that calls for several state agencies to study and report back to the legislature this summer on whether and to what extent white bagging presents patient safety concerns.

Based on the concerns that have been raised about this practice, ISMA has joined Hoosiers for Safe Meds, a new coalition of health care organizations that seeks to establish protections related to mandatory white bagging that preserve quality, keep patients safe and ensure that care is not delayed for Hoosiers. Other members of the coalition include the Indiana Hospital Association, Indiana Pharmacists Association, Indiana Rural Health Association and several specialty societies, among others.

According to the Hoosiers for Safe Meds website:

“Insurance companies have represented that these measures will reduce costs, but when it comes to patient safety, no cost saving measure is worth the risk. Not only will these policies result in delayed patient care and wasted drug costs, but they will add administrative costs to the health care system due to rescheduling critically ill patients.”

Visit Hoosiers4safemeds.com to learn more. Physicians and patients are encouraged to share their story if they have firsthand experience with how white bagging has delayed patient care or put patients at risk. Stay tuned for more from ISMA Reports as this effort continues to develop.