Indiana-2011-SB0174-Amended

January 5, 2011, read first time and referred to Committee on Rules and Legislative Procedure.
February 8, 2011, amended; reassigned to Committee on Health and Provider Services.

February 9, 2011

First Regular Session 117th General Assembly (2011)

PRINTING CODE. Amendments: Whenever an existing statute (or a section of the Indiana Constitution) is being amended, the text of the existing provision will appear in this style type, additions will appear in this style type, and deletions will appear in ~~this~~ ~~style~~ ~~type.~~
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SENATE BILL No. 174

A BILL FOR AN ACT to amend the Indiana Code concerning civil procedure.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana:

SOURCE: IC 25-22.5-1-2; (11)SB0174.1.1. -->     SECTION 1. IC 25-22.5-1-2, AS AMENDED BY P.L.177-2009, SECTION 40, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 2. (a) This article, as it relates to the unlawful or unauthorized practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine, does not apply to any of the following:
        (1) A student in training in a medical school approved by the board, or while performing duties as an intern or a resident in a hospital under the supervision of the hospital's staff or in a program approved by the medical school.
        (2) A person who renders service in case of emergency where no fee or other consideration is contemplated, charged, or received.
        (3) A paramedic (as defined in IC 16-18-2-266), an emergency medical technician-basic advanced (as defined in IC 16-18-2-112.5), an emergency medical technician-intermediate (as defined in IC 16-18-2-112.7), an emergency medical technician (as defined in IC 16-18-2-112), or a person with equivalent certification from another state who renders advanced

life support (as defined in IC 16-18-2-7) or basic life support (as defined in IC 16-18-2-33.5):
            (A) during a disaster emergency declared by the governor under IC 10-14-3-12 in response to an act that the governor in good faith believes to be an act of terrorism (as defined in IC 35-41-1-26.5); and
            (B) in accordance with the rules adopted by the Indiana emergency medical services commission or the disaster emergency declaration of the governor.
        (4) Commissioned medical officers or medical service officers of the armed forces of the United States, the United States Public Health Service, and medical officers of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs in the discharge of their official duties in Indiana.
        (5) An individual who is not a licensee who resides in another state or country and is authorized to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine there, who is called in for consultation by an individual licensed to practice medicine or osteopathic medicine in Indiana.
        (6) A person administering a domestic or family remedy to a member of the person's family.
        (7) A member of a church practicing the religious tenets of the church if the member does not make a medical diagnosis, prescribe or administer drugs or medicines, perform surgical or physical operations, or assume the title of or profess to be a physician.
        (8) A school corporation and a school employee who acts under IC 34-30-14 (or IC 34-4-16.5-3.5 before its repeal).
        (9) A chiropractor practicing the chiropractor's profession under IC 25-10 or to an employee of a chiropractor acting under the direction and supervision of the chiropractor under IC 25-10-1-13.
        (10) A dental hygienist practicing the dental hygienist's profession under IC 25-13.
        (11) A dentist practicing the dentist's profession under IC 25-14.
        (12) A hearing aid dealer practicing the hearing aid dealer's profession under IC 25-20.
        (13) A nurse practicing the nurse's profession under IC 25-23. However, a certified registered nurse anesthetist (as defined in IC 25-23-1-1.4) may administer anesthesia if the certified registered nurse anesthetist acts under the direction of and in the immediate presence of a physician.
        (14) An optometrist practicing the optometrist's profession under

IC 25-24.
        (15) A pharmacist practicing the pharmacist's profession under IC 25-26.
        (16) A physical therapist practicing the physical therapist's profession under IC 25-27.
        (17) A podiatrist practicing the podiatrist's profession under IC 25-29.
        (18) A psychologist practicing the psychologist's profession under IC 25-33.
        (19) A speech-language pathologist or audiologist practicing the pathologist's or audiologist's profession under IC 25-35.6.
        (20) An employee of a physician or group of physicians who performs an act, a duty, or a function that is customarily within the specific area of practice of the employing physician or group of physicians, if the act, duty, or function is performed under the direction and supervision of the employing physician or a physician of the employing group within whose area of practice the act, duty, or function falls. An employee may not make a diagnosis or prescribe a treatment and must report the results of an examination of a patient conducted by the employee to the employing physician or the physician of the employing group under whose supervision the employee is working. An employee may not administer medication without the specific order of the employing physician or a physician of the employing group. Unless an employee is licensed or registered to independently practice in a profession described in subdivisions (9) through (18), nothing in this subsection grants the employee independent practitioner status or the authority to perform patient services in an independent practice in a profession.
        (21) A hospital licensed under IC 16-21 or IC 12-25.
        (22) A health care organization whose members, shareholders, or partners are individuals, partnerships, corporations, facilities, or institutions licensed or legally authorized by this state to provide health care or professional services as:
            (A) a physician;
            (B) a psychiatric hospital;
            (C) a hospital;
            (D) a health maintenance organization or limited service health maintenance organization;
            (E) a health facility;
            (F) a dentist;
            (G) a registered or licensed practical nurse;

            (H) a midwife;
            (I) an optometrist;
            (J) a podiatrist;
            (K) a chiropractor;
            (L) a physical therapist; or
            (M) a psychologist.
        (23) A physician assistant practicing the physician assistant profession under IC 25-27.5.
        (24) A physician providing medical treatment under IC 25-22.5-1-2.1.
        (25) An attendant who provides attendant care services (as defined in IC 16-18-2-28.5).
        (26) A personal services attendant providing authorized attendant care services under IC 12-10-17.1.
         (27) An accountable care organization (as defined in IC 34-18-2-3.1).
    (b) A person described in subsection (a)(9) through (a)(18) is not excluded from the application of this article if:
        (1) the person performs an act that an Indiana statute does not authorize the person to perform; and
        (2) the act qualifies in whole or in part as the practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine.
    (c) An employment or other contractual relationship between an entity described in:
         (1) subsection (a)(21) through (a)(22); or
        (2) subsection (a)(27);
and a licensed physician does not constitute the unlawful practice of medicine under this article if the entity does not direct or control independent medical acts, decisions, or judgment of the licensed physician. However, if the direction or control is done by the entity under IC 34-30-15 (or IC 34-4-12.6 before its repeal), the entity is excluded from the application of this article as it relates to the unlawful practice of medicine or osteopathic medicine.
    (d) This subsection does not apply to a prescription or drug order for a legend drug that is filled or refilled in a pharmacy owned or operated by a hospital licensed under IC 16-21. A physician licensed in Indiana who permits or authorizes a person to fill or refill a prescription or drug order for a legend drug except as authorized in IC 16-42-19-11 through IC 16-42-19-19 is subject to disciplinary action under IC 25-1-9. A person who violates this subsection commits the unlawful practice of medicine under this chapter.
    (e) A person described in subsection (a)(8) shall not be authorized

to dispense contraceptives or birth control devices.

SOURCE: IC 34-6-2-99; (11)SB0174.1.3. -->     SECTION 3. IC 34-6-2-99 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 99. (a) "Peer review committee", for purposes of IC 34-30-15, means a committee that:
        (1) has the responsibility of evaluation of:
            (A) qualifications of professional health care providers;
            (B) patient care rendered by professional health care providers; or
            (C) the merits of a complaint against a professional health care provider that includes a determination or recommendation concerning the complaint, and the complaint is based on the competence or professional conduct of an individual health care provider, whose competence or conduct affects or could affect adversely the health or welfare of a patient or patients; and
        (2) meets the following criteria:
            (A) The committee is organized:
                (i) by a state, regional, or local organization of professional health care providers or by a nonprofit foundation created by the professional organization for purposes of improvement of patient care;
                (ii) by the professional staff of a hospital, another health care facility, a nonprofit health care organization (under section 117(23) of this chapter), an accountable care organization, or a professional health care organization;
                (iii) by state or federal law or regulation;
                (iv) by a governing board of a hospital, a nonprofit health care organization (under section 117(23) of this chapter), an accountable care organization, or a professional health care organization;
                (v) as a governing board or committee of the board of a hospital, a nonprofit health care organization (under section 117(23) of this chapter), an accountable care organization, or a professional health care organization;
                (vi) by an organization, a plan, or a program described in section 117(16) through 117(17) of this chapter;
                (vii) as a hospital, an accountable care organization, or a

nonprofit health care organization (under section 117(23) of this chapter) medical staff or a section of that staff; or
                (viii) as a governing board or committee of the board of a professional health care provider (as defined in section 117(16) through 117(17) of this chapter).
            (B) At least fifty percent (50%) of the committee members are:
                (i) individual professional health care providers, the governing board of a hospital, the governing board of a nonprofit health care organization (under section 117(23) of this chapter), or professional health care organization, the governing board of an accountable care organization, or the governing board or a committee of the board of a professional health care provider (as defined in section 117(16) through 117(17) of this chapter); or
                (ii) individual professional health care providers and the committee is organized as an interdisciplinary committee to conduct evaluation of patient care services.
    (b) However, "peer review committee" does not include a medical review panel created under IC 34-18-10 (or IC 27-12-10 before its repeal).

SOURCE: IC 34-6-2-117; (11)SB0174.1.4. -->     SECTION 4. IC 34-6-2-117, AS AMENDED BY P.L.197-2007, SECTION 92, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 117. "Professional health care provider", for purposes of IC 34-30-15, means:
        (1) a physician licensed under IC 25-22.5;
        (2) a dentist licensed under IC 25-14;
        (3) a hospital licensed under IC 16-21;
        (4) a podiatrist licensed under IC 25-29;
        (5) a chiropractor licensed under IC 25-10;
        (6) an optometrist licensed under IC 25-24;
        (7) a psychologist licensed under IC 25-33;
        (8) a pharmacist licensed under IC 25-26;
        (9) a health facility licensed under IC 16-28-2;
        (10) a registered or licensed practical nurse licensed under IC 25-23;
        (11) a physical therapist licensed under IC 25-27;
        (12) a home health agency licensed under IC 16-27-1;
        (13) a community mental health center (as defined in IC 12-7-2-38);
        (14) a health care organization whose members, shareholders, or partners are:
            (A) professional health care providers described in

subdivisions (1) through (13);
            (B) professional corporations comprised of health care professionals (as defined in IC 23-1.5-1-8); or
            (C) professional health care providers described in subdivisions (1) through (13) and professional corporations comprised of persons described in subdivisions (1) through (13);
        (15) a private psychiatric hospital licensed under IC 12-25;
        (16) a preferred provider organization (including a preferred provider arrangement or reimbursement agreement under IC 27-8-11);
        (17) a health maintenance organization (as defined in IC 27-13-1-19) or a limited service health maintenance organization (as defined in IC 27-13-34-4);
        (18) a respiratory care practitioner licensed under IC 25-34.5;
        (19) an occupational therapist licensed under IC 25-23.5;
        (20) a state institution (as defined in IC 12-7-2-184);
        (21) a clinical social worker who is licensed under IC 25-23.6-5-2;
        (22) a managed care provider (as defined in IC 12-7-2-127(b));
        (23) a nonprofit health care organization affiliated with a hospital that is owned or operated by a religious order, whose members are members of that religious order; or
        (24) a nonprofit health care organization with one (1) or more hospital affiliates; or
        (25) an accountable care organization.

SOURCE: IC 34-18-2-14; (11)SB0174.1.7. -->     SECTION 7. IC 34-18-2-14 IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 14. "Health care provider" means any of the following:
        (1) An individual, a partnership, a limited liability company, a corporation, a professional corporation, a facility, or an institution licensed or legally authorized by this state to provide health care or professional services as a physician, psychiatric hospital, hospital, health facility, emergency ambulance service (IC 16-18-2-107), dentist, registered or licensed practical nurse, physician assistant, midwife, optometrist, podiatrist, chiropractor, physical therapist, respiratory care practitioner, occupational therapist, psychologist, paramedic, emergency medical technician-intermediate, emergency medical technician-basic advanced, or emergency medical technician, or a person who is an officer, employee, or agent of the individual, partnership, corporation, professional corporation, facility, or institution acting in the course and scope of the person's employment.
        (2) A college, university, or junior college that provides health care to a student, faculty member, or employee, and the governing board or a person who is an officer, employee, or agent of the college, university, or junior college acting in the course and scope of the person's employment.
        (3) A blood bank, community mental health center, community mental retardation center, community health center, or migrant health center.
        (4) A home health agency (as defined in IC 16-27-1-2).
        (5) A health maintenance organization (as defined in IC 27-13-1-19).
        (6) A health care organization whose members, shareholders, or partners are health care providers under subdivision (1).
        (7) A corporation, limited liability company, partnership, or professional corporation not otherwise qualified under this section that:
            (A) as one (1) of its functions, provides health care;

            (B) is organized or registered under state law; and
            (C) is determined to be eligible for coverage as a health care provider under this article for its health care function.
        Coverage for a health care provider qualified under this subdivision is limited to its health care functions and does not extend to other causes of action.
         (8) An accountable care organization.

SOURCE: IC 34-30-15-1; (11)SB0174.1.8. -->     SECTION 8. IC 34-30-15-1, AS AMENDED BY P.L.101-2007, SECTION 4, IS AMENDED TO READ AS FOLLOWS [EFFECTIVE UPON PASSAGE]: Sec. 1. (a) All proceedings of a peer review committee are confidential.
    (b) All communications to a peer review committee shall be privileged communications.
    (c) Neither the personnel of a peer review committee nor any participant in a committee proceeding shall reveal any content of:
        (1) communications to;
        (2) the records of; or
        (3) the determination of;
a peer review committee outside of the peer review committee.
    (d) However, the governing board of:
        (1) a hospital;
        (2) a professional health care organization;
        (3) a preferred provider organization (including a preferred provider arrangement or reimbursement agreement under IC 27-8-11); or
        (4) a health maintenance organization (as defined in IC 27-13-1-19) or a limited service health maintenance organization (as defined in IC 27-13-34-4); or
        (5) an accountable care organization;
may disclose the final action taken with regard to a professional health care provider without violating the provisions of this section.
    (e) Upon approval by the health care facility's governing body, the peer review committee of a health care facility (as defined in IC 16-40-5-2, expired) may submit or disclose to the agency (as defined in IC 16-40-5-1, expired) the following for purposes of patient safety or quality of health care matters under IC 16-40-5 (expired):
        (1) Communications to the peer review committee.
        (2) Peer review committee proceedings.
        (3) Peer review committee records.
        (4) Determinations by the peer review committee.
Information and materials submitted or disclosed to the agency under this subsection are confidential and privileged from use as evidence in

an administrative or judicial proceeding, and notwithstanding IC 16-40-5 (expired) the agency may not release the information or material outside the agency. However, the agency may issue a report that is based upon information or materials submitted or disclosed to the agency by a peer review committee if the report or any other information issued does not disclose the identity of the health care facility, health care provider, or patient. Information and materials may be submitted or disclosed to the agency under this subsection without violating this section or waiving the confidentiality and privilege attached to the communications, proceedings, records, determinations, or deliberations of the peer review committee.
    (f) Upon its determination, the governing body of a hospital may report, as part of the hospital's quality assessment and improvement program, a determination of a peer review committee of the hospital regarding an adverse event concerning patient care to the state department of health or another state agency without:
        (1) violating this section; or
        (2) waiving the confidentiality and privilege attached to the communications, proceedings, records, determinations, or deliberations of the peer review committee.