The Senate Health and Provider Services Committee heard HB 1448 pertaining to mental health drugs and coverage sponsored by Sen. Patricia Miller and Sen. Grooms. Author Rep. Davisson summarized the bill as establishing Medicaid coverage for in-patient substance abuse detoxification services and authorizing the prescription of nonaddicting medication assisted treatment for the treatment of substance abuse without prior Medicaid authorization. The bill also provides for the dissemination of information or training to judges by the Indiana Judicial Center, prosecutors by the Prosecuting Attorneys Council, and public defenders by the Public Defenders Council on diversion programs or other probationary programs available for individuals with an addictive disorder, include medication assisted treatment within these programs.
An amendment was adopted to resolve a conflict in the bill with SB 464 pertaining to the training of criminal justice partners on addiction treatment resources. Testimony in support of the bill was heard from Mental Health America of Indiana and the Indiana Prosecuting Attorneys Council. The amended bill passed 7-0.
Read the bill at http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2015/bills/house/1448.