The Indiana General Assembly (IGA) has convened and legislators have introduced a variety of measures hoping to impact the health and well-being of Hoosiers. Some issues, such as a proposed large-scale increase to our state’s public health funding and adjusting Medicaid spending for rate equalizations and increased enrollment, will be discussed at length within the biennial budget bill House Bill 1001.
Other legislation addressing health, heath care and coverage include:
Senate Bill 1 – Behavioral Health Matters. Provides that the Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) shall apply to the United States Department of Health and Human Services for a Medicaid state plan amendment, a waiver, or an amendment to an existing waiver to require reimbursement for eligible certified community behavioral health clinic services or to participate in the expansion of a community mental health services demonstration program.
The legislation also requires the Division of Mental Health and Addiction (DMHA) to establish and maintain a help line: (1) to provide confidential emotional support and referrals to certain resources to individuals who call the help line; and (2) that is accessible by calling a toll free telephone number. The bill also seeks to reestablish the Indiana Behavioral Health Commission.
Senate Bill 197 – Student Health. Would require schools to excuse a student due to the student’s mental or behavioral health concerns, with up to 3 days allowed per year without documentation supporting the concern. The legislation also would requires that a school selected to participate in the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Youth Risk Behaviors Survey must participate in the survey.
Additionally, the bill provides that the Commission for Higher Education shall work with the statewide suicide prevention coordinator to develop a suicide prevention training for students at each state educational institution and requires each student at an educational institution to participate in the training in the student’s first year at the institution. Establishes a mental health and suicide prevention in higher education task force and provides that the task force shall create a statewide suicide prevention resource guide for educational institutions.
Senate Bill 207 – FSSA Matters. Seeks to limit work requirements for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients to no more than the minimum required by federal law. Changes the requirements for submitting eligibility information for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees less than 19 to no more than once annually. Current law concerning the submission of eligibility information in the programs applies only to individuals less than three years of age. The legislation also would prohibit FSSA from requiring a participant of the Healthy Indiana Plan to cost share or otherwise make copayments in order to participate in HIP and would prohibit FSSA from requiring an individual to work or be a student in order to participate in the Plan.
Senate Bill 376 Lawfully Residing Immigrants and Eligibility. Provides Medicaid eligibility for pregnant women and children under 21 who are lawfully residing immigrants and meet all other Medicaid eligibility requirements. This provision also provides eligibility for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for lawfully residing individuals who are less than 19 years of age. Under current law, eligibility is limited to those who have lawfully resided in the United States for at least 5 years, with the above groups eligible for emergency only (Package E) Medicaid.
House Bill 1091 – Continuous eligibility under Medicaid and CHIP. Changes the requirements for submitting eligibility information for Medicaid or Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees less than 19 to no more than once annually.
House Bill 1205 – Medicaid reimbursement for school services. Adds a school psychologist as a qualified provider for purposes of the Medicaid program. Requires the Family and Social Services Administration to apply for a Medicaid state plan amendment before September 1, 2023, to allow school corporations to obtain Medicaid reimbursement for specified services. Provides that a school psychologist does not need supervision or authorization from another qualified provider in order to obtain Medicaid reimbursement for certain services provided to a Medicaid recipient.