Indiana 2025 Regular Session

Indiana House Bill HB1274 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

Old	New	Differences
1	1
2	2	Introduced Version
3	3	HOUSE BILL No. 1274
4	4	_____
5	5	DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL
6	6	Citations Affected: IC 6-3.6; IC 16-18-2; IC 16-46; IC 21-13;
7	7	IC 21-44; IC 25-14-5.
8	8	Synopsis: Health finance matters. Adds capital projects, technology
9	9	upgrades, and operational expenses for certain county hospitals to the
10	10	definition of "public safety" for purposes of local income tax revenue
11	11	use. Increases the maximum local income tax that may be imposed in
12	12	certain counties if a tax rate is adopted for purposes related to certain
13	13	hospitals located in the county. Establishes the rural hospital clinically
14	14	integrated network grant program to provide grants to rural hospital
15	15	clinically integrated networks. Establishes the Indiana rural hospital
16	16	and critical health care services fund (rural health care services fund)
17	17	for the purpose of awarding grants to certain rural hospitals. Provides
18	18	that the Indiana department of health (state department) administers the
19	19	rural health care services fund. Establishes the following: (1) The
20	20	health workforce student loan repayment program (program). (2) The
21	21	health workforce advisory board (advisory board). (3) The health
22	22	workforce student loan repayment program fund (repayment program
23	23	fund) for the purpose of providing funds to repay outstanding student
24	24	loans of certain health providers who meet the program requirements.
25	25	Provides that the state department shall administer the program and
26	26	repayment program fund. Establishes: (1) the imposition of fees at the
27	27	time a license is issued or renewed for certain health profession
28	28	licenses; and (2) qualifications to receive a student loan repayment
29	29	award under the program. Provides that, beginning July 1, 2025, the
30	30	state department and each board included in the program may award a
31	31	student loan repayment to an eligible applicant who is a provider
32	32	licensed by the board. Provides that money in the repayment program
33	33	fund is continuously appropriated. Repeals provisions concerning the
34	34	(Continued next page)
35	35	Effective: Upon passage; July 1, 2025.
36	36	Manning
37	37	January 13, 2025, read first time and referred to Committee on Ways and Means.
38	38	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 Digest Continued
39	39	following: (1) The primary care physician loan forgiveness program.
40	40	(2) The mental health services development programs. (3) The dental
41	41	underserved area and minority recruitment program. Urges the
42	42	legislative council to assign to an appropriate interim study committee
43	43	the task of studying topics related to the rural health care services fund.
44	44	Urges the legislative council to assign to an appropriate study
45	45	committee the task of studying certain topics related to health care
46	46	services.
47	47	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 1472025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 Introduced
48	48	First Regular Session of the 124th General Assembly (2025)
49	49	PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana
50	50	Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type,
51	51	additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in this style type.
52	52	Additions: Whenever a new statutory provision is being enacted (or a new constitutional
53	53	provision adopted), the text of the new provision will appear in this style type. Also, the
54	54	word NEW will appear in that style type in the introductory clause of each SECTION that adds
55	55	a new provision to the Indiana Code or the Indiana Constitution.
56	56	Conflict reconciliation: Text in a statute in this style type or this style type reconciles conflicts
57	57	between statutes enacted by the 2024 Regular Session of the General Assembly.
58	58	HOUSE BILL No. 1274
59	59	A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning
60	60	health and to make an appropriation.
61	61	Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:
62	62	1 SECTION 1. IC 6-3.6-2-14, AS AMENDED BY P.L.148-2024,
63	63	2 SECTION 5, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
64	64	3 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 14. "Public safety" refers to the following:
65	65	4 (1) A police and law enforcement system to preserve public peace
66	66	5 and order.
67	67	6 (2) A firefighting and fire prevention system.
68	68	7 (3) Emergency ambulance services (as defined in
69	69	8 IC 16-18-2-107).
70	70	9 (4) Emergency medical services (as defined in IC 16-18-2-110).
71	71	10 (5) Emergency action (as defined in IC 13-11-2-65).
72	72	11 (6) A probation department of a court.
73	73	12 (7) Confinement, supervision, services under a community
74	74	13 corrections program (as defined in IC 35-38-2.6-2), or other
75	75	14 correctional services for a person who has been:
76	76	15 (A) diverted before a final hearing or trial under an agreement
77	77	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 2
78	78	1 that is between the prosecuting attorney of the appropriate
79	79	2 judicial circuit and the person or the person's custodian,
80	80	3 guardian, or parent and that provides for confinement,
81	81	4 supervision, community corrections services, or other
82	82	5 correctional services instead of a final action described in
83	83	6 clause (B) or (C);
84	84	7 (B) convicted of a crime; or
85	85	8 (C) adjudicated as a delinquent child or a child in need of
86	86	9 services.
87	87	10 (8) A juvenile detention facility under IC 31-31-8.
88	88	11 (9) A juvenile detention center under IC 31-31-9.
89	89	12 (10) A county jail.
90	90	13 (11) A communications system (as defined in IC 36-8-15-3), an
91	91	14 enhanced emergency telephone system (as defined in
92	92	15 IC 36-8-16-2, before its repeal on July 1, 2012), a PSAP (as
93	93	16 defined in IC 36-8-16.7-20) that is part of the statewide 911
94	94	17 system (as defined in IC 36-8-16.7-22) and located within the
95	95	18 county, or the statewide 911 system (as defined in
96	96	19 IC 36-8-16.7-22).
97	97	20 (12) Medical and health expenses for jailed inmates and other
98	98	21 confined persons.
99	99	22 (13) Pension payments for any of the following:
100	100	23 (A) A member of a fire department (as defined in IC 36-8-1-8)
101	101	24 or any other employee of the fire department.
102	102	25 (B) A member of a police department (as defined in
103	103	26 IC 36-8-1-9), a police chief hired under a waiver under
104	104	27 IC 36-8-4-6.5, or any other employee hired by the police
105	105	28 department.
106	106	29 (C) A county sheriff or any other member of the office of the
107	107	30 county sheriff.
108	108	31 (D) Other personnel employed to provide a service described
109	109	32 in this section.
110	110	33 (14) Law enforcement training.
111	111	34 (15) In the case of a county that:
112	112	35 (A) has a population of less than fifty thousand (50,000);
113	113	36 and
114	114	37 (B) owns and operates a hospital under IC 16-22;
115	115	38 capital projects, technology upgrades, and operational
116	116	39 expenses for the county hospital.
117	117	40 SECTION 2. IC 6-3.6-6-2, AS ADDED BY P.L.243-2015,
118	118	41 SECTION 10, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
119	119	42 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 2. (a) This section applies to all counties.
120	120	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 3
121	121	1 (b) Except as provided in subsection (c), the adopting body may
122	122	2 impose a tax rate under this chapter that does not exceed:
123	123	3 (1) two and five-tenths percent (2.5%) in all counties other than
124	124	4 Marion County; and
125	125	5 (2) two and seventy-five hundredths percent (2.75%) in Marion
126	126	6 County;
127	127	7 on the adjusted gross income of local taxpayers in the county served by
128	128	8 the adopting body.
129	129	9 (c) This subsection applies only to a county having a population
130	130	10 of less than fifty thousand (50,000) in which a hospital that is a:
131	131	11 (1) hospital owned and operated by the county under
132	132	12 IC 16-22; or
133	133	13 (2) critical access hospital that meets the criteria under 42
134	134	14 CFR 485.601 et seq. and that provides:
135	135	15 (A) an emergency department that operates twenty-four
136	136	16 (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, three hundred
137	137	17 sixty-five (365) days a year;
138	138	18 (B) full-time obstetric and maternal services;
139	139	19 (C) primary care services, including access to primary care
140	140	20 providers for:
141	141	21 (i) initial diagnosis and treatment of various health
142	142	22 conditions; and
143	143	23 (ii) managing chronic conditions; and
144	144	24 (D) emergency medical services, unless the county
145	145	25 government otherwise operates, maintains, or contracts for
146	146	26 emergency medical services;
147	147	27 is located. The adopting body may impose a tax rate under this
148	148	28 chapter that exceeds two and five-tenths percent (2.5%) on the
149	149	29 adjusted gross income of local taxpayers in the county served by
150	150	30 the adopting body if the adopting body adopts an ordinance under
151	151	31 section 3.1 of this chapter. However, the tax rate imposed under
152	152	32 this chapter may not exceed two and seventy-five hundredths
153	153	33 percent (2.75%).
154	154	34 SECTION 3. IC 6-3.6-6-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.137-2024,
155	155	35 SECTION 9, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
156	156	36 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 3. (a) Revenue raised from a tax imposed under
157	157	37 this chapter shall be treated as follows:
158	158	38 (1) To make the following distributions:
159	159	39 (A) If an ordinance described in section 2.5 of this chapter is
160	160	40 in effect in a county, to make a distribution to the county equal
161	161	41 to the amount of revenue generated by the rate imposed under
162	162	42 section 2.5 of this chapter.
163	163	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 4
164	164	1 (B) If an ordinance described in section 2.6 of this chapter is
165	165	2 in effect in a county, to make a distribution to the county equal
166	166	3 to the amount of revenue generated by the rate imposed under
167	167	4 section 2.6 of this chapter.
168	168	5 (C) If an ordinance described in section 2.7 of this chapter is
169	169	6 in effect in a county, to make a distribution to the county equal
170	170	7 to the amount of revenue generated by the rate imposed under
171	171	8 section 2.7 of this chapter.
172	172	9 (D) If an ordinance described in section 2.8 of this chapter is
173	173	10 in effect in a county, to make a distribution to the county equal
174	174	11 to the amount of revenue generated by the rate imposed under
175	175	12 section 2.8 of this chapter.
176	176	13 (E) If an ordinance described in section 3.1 of this chapter
177	177	14 is in effect in a county, to make a distribution to the county
178	178	15 equal to the amount of revenue generated by the rate
179	179	16 imposed under section 3.1 of this chapter.
180	180	17 (2) After making the distributions described in subdivision (1), if
181	181	18 any, to make distributions to school corporations and civil taxing
182	182	19 units in counties that formerly imposed a tax under IC 6-3.5-1.1
183	183	20 (repealed). The revenue categorized from the next twenty-five
184	184	21 hundredths percent (0.25%) of the rate for a former tax adopted
185	185	22 under IC 6-3.5-1.1 (repealed) shall be allocated to school
186	186	23 corporations and civil taxing units. The amount of the allocation
187	187	24 to a school corporation or civil taxing unit shall be determined
188	188	25 using the allocation amounts for civil taxing units and school
189	189	26 corporations in the county.
190	190	27 (3) After making the distributions described in subdivisions (1)
191	191	28 and (2), the remaining revenue shall be treated as additional
192	192	29 revenue (referred to as "additional revenue" in this chapter).
193	193	30 Additional revenue may not be considered by the department of
194	194	31 local government finance in determining:
195	195	32 (A) any taxing unit's maximum permissible property tax levy
196	196	33 limit under IC 6-1.1-18.5; or
197	197	34 (B) the approved property tax rate for any fund.
198	198	35 (b) In the case of a civil taxing unit that has pledged the tax from
199	199	36 additional revenue for the payment of bonds, leases, or other
200	200	37 obligations as reported by the civil taxing unit under IC 5-1-18, the
201	201	38 adopting body may not, under section 4 of this chapter, reduce the
202	202	39 proportional allocation of the additional revenue that was allocated in
203	203	40 the preceding year if the reduction for that year would result in an
204	204	41 amount less than the amount necessary for the payment of bonds,
205	205	42 leases, or other obligations payable or required to be deposited in a
206	206	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 5
207	207	1 sinking fund or other reserve in that year for the bonds, leases, or other
208	208	2 obligations for which the tax from additional revenue has been pledged.
209	209	3 To inform an adopting body with regard to allocations that affect the
210	210	4 payment of bonds, leases, or other obligations, a taxing unit may
211	211	5 provide the adopting body with information regarding any outstanding
212	212	6 bonds, leases, or other obligations that are secured by additional
213	213	7 revenue. The information must be provided before the date of the
214	214	8 public hearing at which the adopting body may change the allocation
215	215	9 of additional revenue under section 4 of this chapter.
216	216	10 SECTION 4. IC 6-3.6-6-3.1 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
217	217	11 AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE JULY
218	218	12 1, 2025]: Sec. 3.1. (a) This section applies to a county having a
219	219	13 population of less than fifty thousand (50,000) in which a hospital
220	220	14 that is a:
221	221	15 (1) county hospital; or
222	222	16 (2) critical access hospital;
223	223	17 is located.
224	224	18 (b) As used in this section, "county hospital" means a hospital
225	225	19 that is owned and operated by the county under IC 16-22.
226	226	20 (c) As used in this section, "critical access hospital" means a
227	227	21 critical access hospital that meets the criteria under 42 CFR
228	228	22 485.601 et seq. and that provides:
229	229	23 (1) an emergency department that operates twenty-four (24)
230	230	24 hours a day, seven (7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five
231	231	25 (365) days a year;
232	232	26 (2) full-time obstetric and maternal services;
233	233	27 (3) primary care services, including access to primary care
234	234	28 providers for:
235	235	29 (A) initial diagnosis and treatment of various health
236	236	30 conditions; and
237	237	31 (B) managing chronic conditions; and
238	238	32 (4) emergency medical services, unless the county government
239	239	33 otherwise operates, maintains, or contracts for emergency
240	240	34 medical services.
241	241	35 (d) A county fiscal body may adopt an ordinance to impose a tax
242	242	36 rate for:
243	243	37 (1) critical access hospitals; and
244	244	38 (2) county hospitals;
245	245	39 that are located in the county. The tax rate must be in increments
246	246	40 of one-hundredth of one percent (0.01%) and may not exceed
247	247	41 twenty-five hundredths of one percent (0.25%).
248	248	42 (e) The revenue generated by a tax rate imposed under this
249	249	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 6
250	250	1 section must be distributed directly to the county before the
251	251	2 remainder of the expenditure rate revenue is distributed. The
252	252	3 revenue shall be maintained in a separate dedicated county fund.
253	253	4 The county may distribute the revenue directly to a critical access
254	254	5 hospital or a county hospital, or use the revenue to pay costs on
255	255	6 behalf of the critical access hospital or the county hospital, but the
256	256	7 revenue may be used only for paying for capital projects,
257	257	8 technology upgrades, and operational expenses of a critical access
258	258	9 hospital or a county hospital.
259	259	10 SECTION 5. IC 6-3.6-9-10, AS AMENDED BY P.L.137-2024,
260	260	11 SECTION 13, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
261	261	12 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 10. The budget agency shall also certify
262	262	13 information concerning the part of the certified distribution that is
263	263	14 attributable to each of the following:
264	264	15 (1) The tax rate imposed under IC 6-3.6-5.
265	265	16 (2) The tax rate imposed under IC 6-3.6-6, separately stating:
266	266	17 (A) the part of the distribution attributable to a tax rate
267	267	18 imposed under IC 6-3.6-6-2.5;
268	268	19 (B) the part of the distribution attributable to a tax rate
269	269	20 imposed under IC 6-3.6-6-2.6; and
270	270	21 (C) the part of the distribution attributable to a tax rate
271	271	22 imposed under IC 6-3.6-6-2.7; and
272	272	23 (D) the part of the distribution attributable to a tax rate
273	273	24 imposed under IC 6-3.6-6-3.1.
274	274	25 (3) Each tax rate imposed under IC 6-3.6-7.
275	275	26 (4) In the case of Marion County, the local income taxes paid by
276	276	27 local taxpayers described in IC 6-3.6-2-13(3).
277	277	28 The amount certified shall be adjusted to reflect any adjustment in the
278	278	29 certified distribution under this chapter.
279	279	30 SECTION 6. IC 16-18-2-106.8 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
280	280	31 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
281	281	32 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 106.8. "Eligible hospital", for
282	282	33 purposes of IC 16-46-18, has the meaning set forth in
283	283	34 IC 16-46-18-1.
284	284	35 SECTION 7. IC 16-18-2-143, AS AMENDED BY P.L.1-2010,
285	285	36 SECTION 69, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
286	286	37 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 143. (a) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-26-2, has
287	287	38 the meaning set forth in IC 16-26-2-2.
288	288	39 (b) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-31-8.5, has the meaning set forth
289	289	40 in IC 16-31-8.5-2.
290	290	41 (c) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-41-39.4, refers to the childhood
291	291	42 lead poisoning prevention fund established by IC 16-41-39.4-3.1.
292	292	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 7
293	293	1 (d) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-41-39.8, refers to the lead trust
294	294	2 fund established by IC 16-41-39.8-7.
295	295	3 (e) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-46-5, has the meaning set forth in
296	296	4 IC 16-46-5-3.
297	297	5 (f) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-46-12, has the meaning set forth
298	298	6 in IC 16-46-12-1.
299	299	7 (g) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-41-42.2, has the meaning set forth
300	300	8 in IC 16-41-42.2-2.
301	301	9 (h) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-35-8, has the meaning set forth in
302	302	10 IC 16-35-8-2.
303	303	11 (i) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-46-18, has the meaning set
304	304	12 forth in IC 16-46-18-2.
305	305	13 (j) "Fund", for purposes of IC 16-46-19, has the meaning set
306	306	14 forth in IC 16-46-19-1.
307	307	15 SECTION 8. IC 16-18-2-320.6 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
308	308	16 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
309	309	17 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 320.6. "Rural hospital", for
310	310	18 purposes of IC 16-46-19, has the meaning set forth in
311	311	19 IC 16-46-19-2.
312	312	20 SECTION 9. IC 16-18-2-320.7 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA
313	313	21 CODE AS A NEW SECTION TO READ AS FOLLOWS
314	314	22 [EFFECTIVE JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 320.7. "Rural hospital clinically
315	315	23 integrated network", for purposes of IC 16-46-19, has the meaning
316	316	24 set forth in IC 16-46-19-3.
317	317	25 SECTION 10. IC 16-46-18 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
318	318	26 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
319	319	27 JULY 1, 2025]:
320	320	28 Chapter 18. Indiana Rural Hospital and Critical Health Care
321	321	29 Services Fund
322	322	30 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "eligible hospital" means a
323	323	31 hospital located in a county having a population of less than fifty
324	324	32 thousand (50,000) that is a:
325	325	33 (1) critical access hospital that meets the criteria under 42
326	326	34 CFR 485.601 et seq.; or
327	327	35 (2) hospital owned and operated by the county under
328	328	36 IC 16-22.
329	329	37 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the Indiana
330	330	38 rural hospital and critical health care services fund established by
331	331	39 section 3 of this chapter.
332	332	40 Sec. 3. (a) The Indiana rural hospital and critical health care
333	333	41 services fund is established for the purpose of awarding grants
334	334	42 under this chapter.
335	335	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 8
336	336	1 (b) The fund shall be administered by the state department.
337	337	2 (c) The fund consists of:
338	338	3 (1) appropriations from the general assembly; and
339	339	4 (2) grants, gifts, and donations to the fund.
340	340	5 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
341	341	6 money in the fund.
342	342	7 Sec. 4. An eligible hospital may apply for a grant from the fund
343	343	8 in the form and manner prescribed by the state department.
344	344	9 Sec. 5. Subject to section 6 of this chapter, of the amount
345	345	10 available to make grants in a state fiscal year, the state department
346	346	11 shall award grants in equal amounts to each eligible hospital that
347	347	12 submits an application.
348	348	13 Sec. 6. The state department shall allocate at least seventy-five
349	349	14 percent (75%) of the amount available to the state department to
350	350	15 make grants in a state fiscal year to eligible hospitals that provide
351	351	16 the following:
352	352	17 (1) An emergency department that operates twenty-four (24)
353	353	18 hours a day, seven (7) days a week, three hundred sixty-five
354	354	19 (365) days a year.
355	355	20 (2) Full-time obstetric and maternal services.
356	356	21 (3) Primary care services, including access to primary care
357	357	22 providers for:
358	358	23 (A) initial diagnosis and treatment of various health
359	359	24 conditions; and
360	360	25 (B) managing chronic conditions.
361	361	26 (4) Emergency medical services, unless the county
362	362	27 government otherwise operates, maintains, or contracts for
363	363	28 emergency medical services.
364	364	29 Sec. 7. A grant awarded to an eligible hospital from the fund
365	365	30 may be used for:
366	366	31 (1) facility, technology, or equipment upgrades; and
367	367	32 (2) any other operational expense or purpose as determined
368	368	33 necessary by the eligible hospital.
369	369	34 Sec. 8. Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, the state
370	370	35 department may not impose terms or conditions on a grant
371	371	36 awarded from the fund.
372	372	37 SECTION 11. IC 16-46-19 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
373	373	38 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
374	374	39 JULY 1, 2025]:
375	375	40 Chapter 19. Rural Hospital Clinically Integrated Network
376	376	41 Grant Program
377	377	42 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the rural
378	378	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 9
379	379	1 hospital clinically integrated network fund established by section
380	380	2 6 of this chapter.
381	381	3 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "rural hospital" means a hospital
382	382	4 located in a county having a population of less than fifty thousand
383	383	5 (50,000).
384	384	6 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "rural hospital clinically
385	385	7 integrated network" means a collaboration between rural hospitals
386	386	8 and health care providers that:
387	387	9 (1) is established to:
388	388	10 (A) facilitate collaboration among health care providers in
389	389	11 rural areas;
390	390	12 (B) improve patient outcomes;
391	391	13 (C) improve operational sustainability among participating
392	392	14 hospitals and health care providers;
393	393	15 (D) reduce health care costs; and
394	394	16 (E) negotiate the terms and conditions of health provider
395	395	17 contracts (as defined in IC 27-1-37-3);
396	396	18 (2) complies with applicable state and federal laws;
397	397	19 (3) has a governance structure that includes representation of
398	398	20 each participating rural hospital and health care provider;
399	399	21 and
400	400	22 (4) may include collaboration with other rural health care
401	401	23 entities, such as independent rural health clinics, independent
402	402	24 physician practices, or community based organizations
403	403	25 focused on addressing social determinants of health.
404	404	26 Sec. 4. The rural hospital clinically integrated network grant
405	405	27 program is established to provide grants to rural hospital clinically
406	406	28 integrated networks to do the following:
407	407	29 (1) Implement data sharing platforms.
408	408	30 (2) Enter into value based health care reimbursement
409	409	31 agreements.
410	410	32 (3) Use data analysis software to:
411	411	33 (A) provide risk stratification; and
412	412	34 (B) manage patient referrals.
413	413	35 (4) Develop an integrated system for patient care
414	414	36 coordination.
415	415	37 (5) Staff the rural hospital clinically integrated network.
416	416	38 Sec. 5. (a) The state department shall administer the rural
417	417	39 hospital clinically integrated network grant program.
418	418	40 (b) The state department may contract with the Indiana Rural
419	419	41 Health Association to administer the rural hospital clinically
420	420	42 integrated network grant program.
421	421	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 10
422	422	1 Sec. 6. (a) The rural hospital clinically integrated network fund
423	423	2 is established for the purpose of providing grants under this
424	424	3 chapter. The state department shall administer the fund.
425	425	4 (b) The fund consists of:
426	426	5 (1) appropriations from the general assembly; and
427	427	6 (2) grants, gifts, and donations to the fund.
428	428	7 (c) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
429	429	8 money in the fund.
430	430	9 Sec. 7. To be eligible for a grant, a rural hospital clinically
431	431	10 integrated network must do the following:
432	432	11 (1) Apply to the state department in the manner and on a
433	433	12 form prescribed by the state department.
434	434	13 (2) Provide the state department with a strategic plan to meet
435	435	14 the goals described in section 4 of this chapter.
436	436	15 (3) Agree to provide an amount equal to at least twenty
437	437	16 percent (20%) of the amount of the awarded grant for the
438	438	17 purpose of meeting the goals described in section 4 of this
439	439	18 chapter.
440	440	19 Sec. 8. A grant awarded under this chapter may not exceed
441	441	20 three million five hundred thousand dollars ($3,500,000).
442	442	21 Sec. 9. A rural hospital clinically integrated network that
443	443	22 receives a grant under this chapter shall, not later than July 1,
444	444	23 2026, and each July 1 thereafter, submit a report to the state
445	445	24 department summarizing the network's use of the grant funds and
446	446	25 the status of the network's strategic plan described in section 7(2)
447	447	26 of this chapter.
448	448	27 SECTION 12. IC 21-13-1-5, AS AMENDED BY P.L.148-2016,
449	449	28 SECTION 1, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
450	450	29 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 5. "Fund":
451	451	30 (1) for purposes of IC 21-13-2, refers to the William A. Crawford
452	452	31 minority teacher scholarship fund established by IC 21-13-2-1;
453	453	32 (2) for purposes of IC 21-13-4, refers to the National Guard
454	454	33 tuition supplement program fund established by IC 21-13-4-1;
455	455	34 (3) for purposes of IC 21-13-5, refers to the National Guard
456	456	35 scholarship extension fund established by IC 21-13-5-1; and
457	457	36 (4) for purposes of IC 21-13-6, refers to the primary care
458	458	37 physician loan forgiveness fund established by IC 21-13-6-3; and
459	459	38 (5) (4) for purposes of IC 21-13-6.5, refers to the medical
460	460	39 residency education fund established by IC 21-13-6.5-1.
461	461	40 SECTION 13. IC 21-13-6 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
462	462	41 2025]. (Primary Care Physician Loan Forgiveness Program).
463	463	42 SECTION 14. IC 21-13-13 IS ADDED TO THE INDIANA CODE
464	464	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 11
465	465	1 AS A NEW CHAPTER TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
466	466	2 JULY 1, 2025]:
467	467	3 Chapter 13. Health Workforce Student Loan Repayment
468	468	4 Program
469	469	5 Sec. 1. As used in this chapter, "advisory board" refers to the
470	470	6 health workforce advisory board established by section 10 of this
471	471	7 chapter.
472	472	8 Sec. 2. As used in this chapter, "board" refers to any of the
473	473	9 following:
474	474	10 (1) The state board of dentistry (IC 25-14-1-2).
475	475	11 (2) The medical licensing board of Indiana (IC 25-22.5-2-1).
476	476	12 (3) The Indiana state board of nursing (IC 25-23-1-2).
477	477	13 (4) The occupational therapy committee (IC 25-23.5-2-1).
478	478	14 (5) The behavioral health and human services licensing board
479	479	15 (IC 25-23.6-2-1).
480	480	16 (6) The Indiana optometry board (IC 25-24-1-1).
481	481	17 (7) The Indiana board of pharmacy (IC 25-26-13-3).
482	482	18 (8) The Indiana board of physical therapy (IC 25-27-1-4).
483	483	19 (9) The physician assistant committee (IC 25-27.5-3-1).
484	484	20 (10) The board of podiatric medicine (IC 25-29-2-1).
485	485	21 (11) The state psychology board (IC 25-33-1-3).
486	486	22 (12) The speech-language pathology and audiology board (IC
487	487	23 25-35.6-2-1).
488	488	24 Sec. 3. As used in this chapter, "eligible provider" means a
489	489	25 provider who meets the requirements described in section 15(b) of
490	490	26 this chapter.
491	491	27 Sec. 4. As used in this chapter, "fund" refers to the health
492	492	28 workforce student loan repayment program fund established by
493	493	29 section 11 of this chapter.
494	494	30 Sec. 5. As used in this chapter, "license" means:
495	495	31 (1) an unlimited license, permit, certificate, or certificate of
496	496	32 registration;
497	497	33 (2) a temporary, limited, or probationary license, permit,
498	498	34 certificate, or certificate of registration;
499	499	35 (3) an intern permit; or
500	500	36 (4) a provisional license;
501	501	37 issued by a board to a provider.
502	502	38 Sec. 6. As used in this chapter, "program" refers to the health
503	503	39 workforce student loan repayment program established by section
504	504	40 9 of this chapter.
505	505	41 Sec. 7. As used in this chapter, "provider" means any of the
506	506	42 following:
507	507	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 12
508	508	1 (1) A dentist licensed under IC 25-14.
509	509	2 (2) A physician licensed under IC 25-22.5.
510	510	3 (3) A nurse licensed under IC 25-23, including nursing faculty.
511	511	4 (4) An occupational therapist licensed under IC 25-23.5.
512	512	5 (5) A clinical social worker licensed under IC 25-23.6-5.
513	513	6 (6) A marriage and family therapist licensed under
514	514	7 IC 25-23.6-8.
515	515	8 (7) A mental health counselor licensed under IC 25-23.6-8.5.
516	516	9 (8) A clinical addiction counselor licensed under
517	517	10 IC 25-23.6-10.5.
518	518	11 (9) An optometrist licensed under IC 25-24.
519	519	12 (10) A pharmacist licensed under IC 25-26.
520	520	13 (11) A physical therapist licensed under IC 25-27.
521	521	14 (12) A physician assistant licensed under IC 25-27.5-4.
522	522	15 (13) A podiatrist licensed under IC 25-29.
523	523	16 (14) A psychologist licensed under IC 25-33-1.
524	524	17 (15) A speech-language pathologist licensed under IC 25-35.6.
525	525	18 (16) An audiologist licensed under IC 25-35.6.
526	526	19 Sec. 8. As used in this chapter, "state department" refers to the
527	527	20 Indiana department of health.
528	528	21 Sec. 9. The health workforce student loan repayment program
529	529	22 is established. The state department shall administer the program.
530	530	23 Sec. 10. (a) The health workforce advisory board is established
531	531	24 under the executive branch of state government for the purpose of
532	532	25 advising the state department on the administration of the
533	533	26 program.
534	534	27 (b) The advisory board consists of the following members:
535	535	28 (1) The executive director of the professional licensing agency
536	536	29 or the director's designee.
537	537	30 (2) The commissioner of the department of workforce
538	538	31 development or the commissioner's designee.
539	539	32 (3) The secretary of family and social services or the
540	540	33 secretary's designee.
541	541	34 (4) The commissioner of the state department or the
542	542	35 commissioner's designee.
543	543	36 (5) The commissioner of the commission for higher education
544	544	37 or the commissioner's designee.
545	545	38 (6) The secretary of education or the secretary's designee.
546	546	39 (7) One (1) member of the senate, appointed by the president
547	547	40 pro tempore of the senate.
548	548	41 (8) One (1) member of the house of representatives, appointed
549	549	42 by the speaker of the house of representatives.
550	550	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 13
551	551	1 (9) One (1) member who is a member of the Indiana
552	552	2 commission to combat substance use disorder.
553	553	3 (10) One (1) representative from the governor's workforce
554	554	4 cabinet.
555	555	5 (11) One (1) representative from the Indiana Hospital
556	556	6 Association.
557	557	7 (12) One (1) representative from the Indiana Rural Health
558	558	8 Association.
559	559	9 (13) One (1) representative from the Indiana Primary Health
560	560	10 Care Association.
561	561	11 (14) One (1) representative from the Indiana Minority Health
562	562	12 Coalition.
563	563	13 (15) One (1) representative from the Indiana Health Care
564	564	14 Association.
565	565	15 (16) One (1) representative from the Bowen Center for Health
566	566	16 Workforce Research and Policy at Indiana University.
567	567	17 (17) One (1) member who is a nurse licensed under IC 25-23-1
568	568	18 or has held a license as a nurse in Indiana within the last five
569	569	19 (5) years.
570	570	20 (c) The members described in subsection (b)(9) through (b)(17)
571	571	21 shall be appointed by the governor.
572	572	22 (d) The members shall annually elect a chairperson of the
573	573	23 advisory board.
574	574	24 (e) A majority of the members of the advisory board constitutes
575	575	25 a quorum. The affirmative votes of a majority of the voting
576	576	26 members of the advisory board are required for the advisory
577	577	27 board to take action.
578	578	28 (f) A member of the advisory board who is a member of the
579	579	29 general assembly is a nonvoting member of the advisory board.
580	580	30 (g) An appointed member of the advisory board serves a:
581	581	31 (1) one (1) year term, beginning July 1, 2025, and ending June
582	582	32 30, 2026; and
583	583	33 (2) two (2) year term thereafter, beginning July 1 of every
584	584	34 odd-numbered year and ending June 30 of the following
585	585	35 odd-numbered year.
586	586	36 An appointed member may be reappointed at the conclusion of the
587	587	37 member's term. An appointed member of the advisory board
588	588	38 serves at the will of the member's appointing authority. If a
589	589	39 vacancy occurs on the advisory board, the appointing authority
590	590	40 that appointed the member whose position is vacant shall appoint
591	591	41 an individual to fill the vacancy.
592	592	42 (h) The advisory board:
593	593	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 14
594	594	1 (1) shall meet at the call of the chairperson at least one (1)
595	595	2 time each quarter during 2025 and each year thereafter; and
596	596	3 (2) may meet at any time at the call of:
597	597	4 (A) the chairperson; or
598	598	5 (B) a majority of the members of the advisory board.
599	599	6 (i) The state department shall staff the advisory board.
600	600	7 (j) Except as provided in subsection (m), and subject to section
601	601	8 11(d) of this chapter, the expenses of the advisory board shall be
602	602	9 paid from the fund.
603	603	10 (k) A member of the advisory board who is not a state employee
604	604	11 is not entitled to the minimum salary per diem provided by
605	605	12 IC 4-10-11-2.1(b). The member is, however, entitled to
606	606	13 reimbursement for mileage and traveling expenses as provided
607	607	14 under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in
608	608	15 connection with the member's duties as provided in the state
609	609	16 policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of
610	610	17 administration and approved by the budget agency.
611	611	18 (l) Each member of the advisory board who is a state employee,
612	612	19 but who is not a member of the general assembly, is entitled to
613	613	20 reimbursement for mileage and traveling expenses as provided
614	614	21 under IC 4-13-1-4 and other expenses actually incurred in
615	615	22 connection with the member's duties as provided in the state
616	616	23 policies and procedures established by the Indiana department of
617	617	24 administration and approved by the budget agency.
618	618	25 (m) Each member of the advisory board who is a member of the
619	619	26 general assembly is entitled to receive the same per diem, mileage,
620	620	27 and travel allowances paid to legislative members of interim study
621	621	28 committees established by the legislative council. Per diem,
622	622	29 mileage, and travel allowances paid under this subsection shall be
623	623	30 paid from appropriations made to the legislative council or the
624	624	31 legislative services agency.
625	625	32 Sec. 11. (a) The health workforce student loan repayment
626	626	33 program fund is established for the purpose of providing funds to
627	627	34 repay outstanding student loans of providers who meet the
628	628	35 requirements of this chapter.
629	629	36 (b) The fund consists of the following:
630	630	37 (1) Appropriations made by the general assembly.
631	631	38 (2) Fees collected under section 12 of this chapter.
632	632	39 (3) Gifts, grants, devises, or bequests made to the state
633	633	40 department to achieve the purposes of the fund.
634	634	41 (c) The state department shall administer the fund.
635	635	42 (d) The expenses of administering the fund shall be paid from
636	636	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 15
637	637	1 money in the fund but may not exceed a total of one hundred
638	638	2 thousand dollars ($100,000) each biennium.
639	639	3 (e) Money in the fund is continuously appropriated to:
640	640	4 (1) carry out the purposes of the fund; and
641	641	5 (2) subject to subsection (d), cover the costs incurred by the
642	642	6 state department in administering the program.
643	643	7 (f) The state department shall establish a separate account
644	644	8 within the fund for each board. On June 30, 2027, and on June 30
645	645	9 every two (2) years thereafter, any money in a separate account
646	646	10 established under this subsection reverts to the fund.
647	647	11 (g) The treasurer of state shall invest the money in the fund not
648	648	12 currently needed to meet the obligations of the fund in the same
649	649	13 manner as other public funds may be invested. Interest that
650	650	14 accrues from investments under this subsection must be deposited
651	651	15 in the fund.
652	652	16 (h) Money in the fund at the end of a state fiscal year does not
653	653	17 revert to the state general fund but remains available to be used for
654	654	18 the purposes of this chapter.
655	655	19 Sec. 12. (a) Beginning not later than October 1, 2025, and in
656	656	20 addition to any other fee imposed for the issuance or renewal of a
657	657	21 license, each board shall, at the time a license is issued or renewed,
658	658	22 collect a fee in the following amounts:
659	659	23 (1) Ten dollars ($10), if a fee for the issuance or renewal of a
660	660	24 license is not more than one hundred dollars ($100).
661	661	25 (2) Twenty dollars ($20), if a fee for the issuance or renewal
662	662	26 of a license is more than one hundred dollars ($100).
663	663	27 (b) Each board shall deposit fees collected by the board under
664	664	28 this section into the fund.
665	665	29 Sec. 13. (a) Except as provided in subsection (c), the money in
666	666	30 the fund shall be allocated and used as follows:
667	667	31 (1) An amount that may not exceed one hundred thousand
668	668	32 dollars ($100,000) each biennium shall remain in the fund for
669	669	33 use by the state department to cover the costs incurred by the
670	670	34 state department in administering the program.
671	671	35 (2) An amount equal to the amount determined in STEP
672	672	36 THREE of the following formula shall remain in the fund for
673	673	37 use by the state department to award student loan repayment
674	674	38 to an eligible provider under this chapter:
675	675	39 STEP ONE: Determine the total amount of money in the
676	676	40 fund minus any gifts, grants, devises, or bequests that have
677	677	41 been directed to be used as described in subsection (b).
678	678	42 STEP TWO: Subtract the amount retained by the state
679	679	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 16
680	680	1 department under subdivision (1) from the amount
681	681	2 determined under STEP ONE.
682	682	3 STEP THREE: Determine the result of:
683	683	4 (A) the amount determined under STEP TWO;
684	684	5 multiplied by
685	685	6 (B) fifty percent (50%).
686	686	7 (3) An amount equal to the amount determined in STEP
687	687	8 THREE of the following formula shall be transferred to each
688	688	9 board's account for use by the respective board to award
689	689	10 student loan repayment to eligible providers licensed by that
690	690	11 board:
691	691	12 STEP ONE: Subtract the amount determined in STEP
692	692	13 THREE of subdivision (2) from the amount determined in
693	693	14 STEP TWO of subdivision (2).
694	694	15 STEP TWO: For each board, divide the total number of
695	695	16 providers licensed by that board by the total number of
696	696	17 providers licensed by all of the boards.
697	697	18 STEP THREE: Multiply the amount determined under
698	698	19 STEP ONE by the quotient determined under STEP TWO
699	699	20 for each respective board.
700	700	21 (b) A person providing a gift, grant, devise, or bequest to the
701	701	22 fund may direct that the gift, grant, devise, or bequest be used for
702	702	23 student loan repayments for eligible providers of a specific
703	703	24 profession.
704	704	25 (c) If a person has directed that a gift, grant, devise, or bequest
705	705	26 be used for student loan repayments for eligible providers of a
706	706	27 specific profession, the state department shall transfer the amount
707	707	28 of the gift, grant, devise, or bequest to the applicable board's
708	708	29 account for student loan repayments to eligible providers of that
709	709	30 profession. A board may use a gift, grant, devise, or bequest
710	710	31 described in this subsection only to award student loan repayments
711	711	32 to eligible providers of the specified profession.
712	712	33 Sec. 14. (a) The advisory board shall serve as a resource to the
713	713	34 state department as the state department administers the program.
714	714	35 (b) The advisory board shall advise the state department on the
715	715	36 following:
716	716	37 (1) The eligibility requirements for the program.
717	717	38 (2) The eligible providers the advisory board recommends be
718	718	39 awarded student loan repayments under this chapter.
719	719	40 (3) Award amounts for the award of student loan repayments
720	720	41 under this chapter.
721	721	42 (4) Areas of need for workforce and workforce development
722	722	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 17
723	723	1 in the respective professions that a board licenses.
724	724	2 (c) The state department shall provide to each board all
725	725	3 information:
726	726	4 (1) obtained from the advisory board under this section; and
727	727	5 (2) concerning the board's licensees.
728	728	6 Sec. 15. (a) Beginning July 1, 2026, the state department and
729	729	7 each board may award student loan repayments to any eligible
730	730	8 provider who:
731	731	9 (1) is a provider licensed by the board; and
732	732	10 (2) meets the requirements of this chapter.
733	733	11 (b) To be eligible to receive a student loan repayment award
734	734	12 under this chapter, a provider must meet the following
735	735	13 requirements:
736	736	14 (1) Apply on a form prescribed by the state department.
737	737	15 (2) Be a provider and practice a profession that is licensed by
738	738	16 a board.
739	739	17 (3) Have an outstanding student loan balance.
740	740	18 (4) Provide essential services directly to Indiana residents.
741	741	19 (5) Agree in writing to:
742	742	20 (A) practice full time the applicable profession and provide
743	743	21 essential services for a specified number of years in a
744	744	22 health workforce shortage area in Indiana, as determined
745	745	23 by the state department; and
746	746	24 (B) meet any other requirements established by the state
747	747	25 department.
748	748	26 (6) Meet any other requirements established by the state
749	749	27 department.
750	750	28 (c) The state department shall determine the amount of a
751	751	29 student loan repayment award that an eligible provider receives
752	752	30 under this chapter.
753	753	31 (d) If the state department or a board awards student loan
754	754	32 repayment to an eligible provider under this chapter, the state
755	755	33 department or board:
756	756	34 (1) shall, subject to subdivision (3), make the student loan
757	757	35 repayment award in an amount determined by the state
758	758	36 department at the end of each state fiscal year;
759	759	37 (2) shall transfer the student loan repayment award directly
760	760	38 to the holder of the eligible provider's student loans; and
761	761	39 (3) may not make the student loan repayment award to the
762	762	40 eligible provider unless the eligible provider:
763	763	41 (A) met the requirements of this chapter during that state
764	764	42 fiscal year; and
765	765	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 18
766	766	1 (B) has, for at least one (1) year, practiced full time the
767	767	2 applicable profession and provided essential services in a
768	768	3 health workforce shortage area as described in subsection
769	769	4 (b)(5)(A).
770	770	5 (e) The state department or a board may make student loan
771	771	6 repayment awards to an eligible provider under this chapter until
772	772	7 the balance of the eligible provider's student loans are paid in full.
773	773	8 Sec. 16. (a) The state department shall prepare a report that
774	774	9 includes the following:
775	775	10 (1) The receipt, disbursement, and uses of money from the
776	776	11 fund and the separate accounts within the fund.
777	777	12 (2) The number of applications submitted for student loan
778	778	13 repayment under the program.
779	779	14 (3) The number and amount of student loan repayment
780	780	15 awards that have been provided by the state department and
781	781	16 each board.
782	782	17 (4) An evaluation of the short and long term impact of the
783	783	18 program on Indiana health workforce shortages.
784	784	19 (5) Any other information collected concerning the fund,
785	785	20 program, or student loan repayments awarded under this
786	786	21 chapter.
787	787	22 (b) Not later than July 1, 2027, and not later than July 1 every
788	788	23 two (2) years thereafter, the state department shall submit the
789	789	24 report described in subsection (a) to the following:
790	790	25 (1) The governor.
791	791	26 (2) The general assembly in an electronic format under
792	792	27 IC 5-14-6.
793	793	28 Sec. 17. The state department, in consultation with the advisory
794	794	29 board, shall adopt rules under IC 4-22-2 to:
795	795	30 (1) establish eligibility requirements to receive student loan
796	796	31 repayment awards under the program; and
797	797	32 (2) otherwise administer the program.
798	798	33 Sec. 18. This chapter expires July 1, 2036.
799	799	34 SECTION 15. IC 21-44-1-3, AS AMENDED BY P.L.190-2015,
800	800	35 SECTION 2, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE
801	801	36 JULY 1, 2025]: Sec. 3. (a) "Board", for purposes of IC 21-44-5, refers
802	802	37 to the medical education board established by IC 21-44-5-1.
803	803	38 (b) "Board", for purposes of IC 21-44-6, refers to the mental health
804	804	39 and addiction services development programs board established by
805	805	40 IC 21-44-6-1.
806	806	41 (c) (b) "Board", for purposes of IC 21-44-7, refers to the graduate
807	807	42 medical education board established by IC 21-44-7-2.
808	808	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 19
809	809	1 SECTION 16. IC 21-44-1-16 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY
810	810	2 1, 2025]. Sec. 16. "Training track program", for purposes of
811	811	3 IC 21-44-6, refers to the program for individuals in the public sector
812	812	4 psychiatry development program.
813	813	5 SECTION 17. IC 21-44-6 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
814	814	6 2025]. (Mental Health Services Development Programs).
815	815	7 SECTION 18. IC 25-14-5 IS REPEALED [EFFECTIVE JULY 1,
816	816	8 2025]. (Dental Underserved Area and Minority Recruitment Program).
817	817	9 SECTION 19. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) As used in this
818	818	10 SECTION, "fund" refers to the Indiana rural hospital and critical
819	819	11 health care services fund established by IC 16-46-18-3, as added by
820	820	12 this act.
821	821	13 (b) The legislative council is urged to assign to the appropriate
822	822	14 study committee during the 2025 legislative interim the task of
823	823	15 studying the following issues related to the fund:
824	824	16 (1) The amount of funding necessary for the number and
825	825	17 amounts of grants awarded from the fund to result in
826	826	18 increased access to critical health care services in counties
827	827	19 with a population of less than fifty thousand (50,000).
828	828	20 (2) The types of hospitals that should be eligible for a grant
829	829	21 from the fund.
830	830	22 (3) The requirements, if any, that a hospital should be
831	831	23 required to meet to be eligible, or to maintain eligibility, for
832	832	24 a grant from the fund, including potential requirements
833	833	25 concerning particular health care services offered by the
834	834	26 hospital.
835	835	27 (c) This SECTION expires December 31, 2025.
836	836	28 SECTION 20. [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE] (a) The legislative
837	837	29 council is urged to assign to the appropriate study committee
838	838	30 during the 2025 legislative interim the task of studying the
839	839	31 following topics:
840	840	32 (1) Whether state funded telehealth expansion grants should
841	841	33 be provided to hospitals that are located in counties with a
842	842	34 population of less than fifty thousand (50,000) and that are:
843	843	35 (A) critical access hospitals that meet the criteria under 42
844	844	36 CFR 485.601 et seq.; or
845	845	37 (B) hospitals owned and operated by the county under
846	846	38 IC 16-22;
847	847	39 for the purposes of expanding telehealth and telemedicine
848	848	40 services, improving access to specialists, and reducing travel
849	849	41 burdens for patients.
850	850	42 (2) Whether the state should implement state funded rural
851	851	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147 20
852	852	1 health care workforce training programs for health care
853	853	2 professionals in rural areas that focus on:
854	854	3 (A) helping health care professionals develop skills unique
855	855	4 to rural health care needs; and
856	856	5 (B) fostering partnerships between medical schools and
857	857	6 rural hospitals to bring medical students to rural areas,
858	858	7 including expanding and funding medical residencies in
859	859	8 rural areas.
860	860	9 (3) Increasing state funding for emergency medical services,
861	861	10 including training and equipment grants and ongoing funding
862	862	11 for operating expenses.
863	863	12 (4) Whether the state should provide additional grants to
864	864	13 hospitals that provide the following services:
865	865	14 (A) An emergency department that operates twenty-four
866	866	15 (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week, three hundred
867	867	16 sixty-five (365) days a year.
868	868	17 (B) Full-time obstetric and maternal services.
869	869	18 (C) Primary care services, including access to primary
870	870	19 care providers for:
871	871	20 (i) initial diagnosis and treatment of various health
872	872	21 conditions; and
873	873	22 (ii) managing chronic conditions.
874	874	23 (D) Emergency medical services, unless the county
875	875	24 government otherwise operates, maintains, or contracts for
876	876	25 emergency medical services.
877	877	26 (E) Cardiac care services, including providing
878	878	27 electrocardiograms and managing acute cardiac events.
879	879	28 (F) Stroke care services, including assessment and initial
880	880	29 treatment of stroke patients.
881	881	30 (G) Trauma care services, including basic trauma care
882	882	31 capabilities, wound management and stabilization, and
883	883	32 basic laboratory and diagnostic imaging capabilities.
884	884	33 (H) Pharmacy services, including pharmacy services
885	885	34 related to acute conditions and stabilization of chronic
886	886	35 illnesses.
887	887	36 (I) Pediatric emergency care services.
888	888	37 (b) This SECTION expires December 31, 2025.
889	889	38 SECTION 21. An emergency is declared for this act.
890	890	2025 IN 1274—LS 7171/DI 147