It’s the time of year once again for physicians to prepare for new laws passed by the Indiana General Assembly to take effect July 1. The ISMA Government Relations team was very active in the 2022 session. Continue reading to learn about bills that were signed into law and that contain provisions that impact physicians and their practices.
SEA 239 Practitioner Advertising. This bill requires physicians and other health care providers to prominently share their license type in public-facing advertisements. It also provides clarity for patients by limiting the use of certain specialty designations or terms, such as anesthesiologist, radiologist, dermatologist, etc., to refer only to physicians beginning July 1, 2023. The one-year delay was to allow current nonphysician student practitioners to finish their certifications.
SEA 251 Interstate Medical Licensure Compact. This bill allows Indiana to join the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact (IMLC), adding a new pathway to licensure for a physician. It is noteworthy that the state agency tasked with implementing and administering the compact, the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, may be a year or more away from being able to fully implement the new law.
SEA 5 Reciprocity Compact. This bill permits a licensing board to issue a one-year provisional license or certification to physicians and other health care professionals from another state or jurisdiction if the applicant signs an affidavit affirming they are in good standing in all jurisdictions where they hold a license.
HEA 1003 Nursing Workforce Programs and Licensing Matters. This bill is an attempt to help relieve the health care worker shortage brought on by the pandemic and other factors. It contains provisions that would allow temporary licensure for retired or inactive physicians, EMS personnel, out-of-state health care professionals or recently graduated students who have applied for certain licenses.
HEA 1001 Administrative Authority and COVID-19 Immunizations. This was the signature bill in the House of Representatives that dealt with the then-controversial issues surrounding employer vaccine mandates and exemptions. The pertinent language is as follows:
Sec. 6. (a) Unless an employer waives the documentation requirements under this subsection, to claim an exemption based on medical reasons, an employee must present to the employer an exemption statement in writing, dated and signed by:(1) a licensed physician;(2) a licensed physician's assistant; or (3) an advanced practice registered nurse; who has examined the employee. The statement must provide that, in the professional opinion of the licensed physician, licensed physician's assistant, or advanced practice registered nurse, the immunization against COVID-19 is medically contraindicated (as defined in IC 16-18-2-223.7) for the employee.
HEA 1294 Restraint of Pregnant Inmates. This bill authored by Rep. Rita Fleming, MD, prohibits restraints on a pregnant inmate who is in labor, who is delivering a baby or is in the immediate post-delivery period.
HEA 1314 Public Safety Matters. When a patient receiving care at a health facility needs ambulance services other than emergency ambulance services due to the patient’s condition or diagnosis, this bill requires that the patient’s attending physician or their designee must sign an order that states: (1) the level of ambulance service needed for the patient; and (2) the condition or diagnosis of the patient that makes the transportation of the patient by ambulance necessary.
It also requires that:
- Certain state-regulated health plans fairly negotiate rates and terms with any willing ambulance service provider to become a participating provider within the health plan networks.
- Health plans reimburse ambulance service providers for basic and advanced life support services on an equal basis, regardless of whether the ambulance services involved transportation of the patient by ambulance.
- Policies of accident and sickness insurance and HMOs that cover emergency medical services reimburse for (1) emergency ambulance services provided by an emergency medical services provider organization; and (2) specialty care transport provided by an emergency medical services provider organization.
While these bills and others take effect July 1, the Government Relations team at ISMA is already at work planning for the 2023 legislative session and submitting new bills to advance and protect the interest of our physician members.