The Health and Provider Services Committee heard SB 464 authored by Sen. Patricia Miller on mental health drugs. The bill was prepared at the request of Attorney General Zoeller and the Prescription Drug Abuse Task Force in response to epidemic prescription opioid abuse. The bill provides that addictions counseling, inpatient detoxification services, and long-acting, non-addictive medications may be required to treat opioid or alcohol addiction as a condition of pretrial diversion, parole, probation, community corrections, community transition programming, problem-solving court participation and pre-trial conviction forensic diversion program participation.
The bill also adds inpatient detoxification services to Medicaid coverage, and prohibits Medicaid from requiring preauthorization to prescribe long-acting non-addictive medication assistance treatment drugs for the treatment of substance abuse. Medicaid is also required to include coverage for addictive medication assistance treatment drugs coverage for the treatment of substance abuse (and may require prior preauthorization for reimbursement) under this bill. Furthermore, the bill requires Medicaid to preauthorize reimbursement for methadone if the prescription was prescribed for the treatment of pain. The bill extends coverage under the Indiana check-up plan to include long-acting non-addictive medication assistance treatment drugs (without prior authorization) and long-acting addictive medication assistance treatment drugs if prescribed for the purpose of treating substance abuse. The bill authorizes applications for new opioid treatment programs run by a certified community mental health center.
Extensive testimony was heard in support of the bill from Attorney General Zoeller and his staff, treating clinicians, recovering addicts, the Hamilton County Drug Court, the Prosecuting Attorneys Council, the Public Defenders Council, the Indiana Judicial Center, and the Indiana Council of Community Mental Health Centers, Inc. The bill was held for further discussion of fiscal matters and possible amendment.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/senate/464.