IN HB1246

Legislative Description

Health matters. Establishes distribution parameters for certain money appropriated to the first steps program. Permits the office of the secretary of family and social services to apply for a state plan amendment requiring Medicaid reimbursement for rehabilitation option services in a school setting. Requires implementation within one year of approval. Amends the definition of "employee" to remove exclusion of employees who are covered by an employee assistance program. Specifies that all the requirements for the employee assistance program must be met to be compliant. Requires the executive board of the state department of health to amend rules to reflect current private publications used in hospital licensure rules. Requires a home health agency to randomly test: (1) at least 50% of certain home health agency's employees; and (2) employees suspected of illegal use of a controlled substance. (Current law does not require testing of both groups of employees.) Allows the board of pharmacy to approve a remote or mobile location for a nonresident pharmacy that is registered with the board. Allows a pharmacy that holds a retail permit to offer drugs and devices to a long term care facility, a health facility, and a housing with services establishment. Requires a pharmacy to transfer, upon the request of a patient, certain prescriptions for the patient that the pharmacy has received but not filled to another pharmacy. Provides that, beginning January 1, 2020, a pharmacy may not dispense injectable epinephrine or glucagon that has an expiration date of less than 12 months from the date that the pharmacy dispenses the injectable epinephrine or glucagon to a person unless the person consents to the expiration date being less than 12 months. Provides that an automated dispensing system that meets certain requirements may be operated in a location other than through a registered remote dispensing facility. Allows a qualifying pharmacist who is absent to have a designee in the pharmacist's place at a remote dispensing facility. Allows the board of pharmacy to establish continuing education rules for pharmacy technicians who are at a remote dispensing facility that is not staffed by a pharmacist. Provides that auditory communication must be available, as needed, with the remote dispensing facility and the qualifying pharmacist. Requires the board to adopt emergency rules concerning automated dispensing systems. Provides that the term "wholesale distribution", for purposes of the wholesale legend drug distributor laws, does not include the sale or transfer of a drug by a charitable organization to: (1) a nonprofit affiliate of the organization; or (2) a nonprofit entity that is not affiliated with the organization; to the extent permitted by law. Provides that a program to accept unused medication by a business or other entity is not subject to regulation by a city, town, or county. Prohibits a city, town, or county from requiring a business or other entity to pay for or establish a program to accept unused medication. Adds gabapentin to the definition of "controlled substance" for purposes of the Indiana scheduled prescription electronic collection and tracking (INSPECT) program. Provides that the rules of INSPECT that were adopted before its repeal are considered to be adopted under the new INSPECT law. Requires a health plan that denies prior authorization for certain prescription drugs to provide an alternative list of prescription drugs or alternative treatments covered by the health plan. Requires the board of veterinary medical examiners to study the regulation of veterinary technicians.

Last Action

Committee Referrals