Legal Articles
Articles on legal issues and requirements related to medical practice appear regularly in ISMA's member newsletter, ISMA Reports. 
Recent Articles

Physicians must report elder abuse; what you need to know

Posted on 2/10/2022
Resolution 21-22, adopted last year, affirms ISMA’s support for screening elderly patients for financial or investment abuse and reporting suspected exploitation to authorities. Experts say such abuse is underreported but widespread.

These resources can help physicians comply with No Surprises Act mandates

Posted on 1/13/2022
The federal No Surprises Act took effect Jan. 1, 2022.

Indiana's e-prescribing mandate for controlled substances begins Jan. 1

Posted on 11/18/2021
Starting Jan. 1, 2022, controlled substance prescriptions written in Indiana must be issued in an electronic format and transmitted electronically to a pharmacy unless an exception applies.

New Indiana law broadens options for patients to make their health care decisions known

Posted on 10/21/2021
On July 1, 2021, Indiana significantly broadened the options for an individual to make health care wishes known through an “Advanced Directive for Health Care Decisions” (an “Advanced Directive”). Senate Enrolled Act No. 204 (“SEA 204”), effective as

Several new laws affecting physicians take effect July 1

Posted on 6/24/2021
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2021 session of the Indiana General Assembly was unique in that many new laws were set to become effective either immediately upon passage or in 2022, to allow more time for Hoosiers to adjust.

Tool aids compliance with information-blocking rules coming April 5

Posted on 2/11/2021
In the last issue of ISMA e-Reports, Bob Anderson, JD, and Stephanie Eckerle, JD, of Krieg DeVault LLP, discussed how physicians should prepare for April 5, when new federal rules on information blocking and interoperability take effect.

Don’t get caught information blocking: What you need to know

Posted on 1/28/2021
Health care providers need to be prepared to comply with the new information blocking rules found in the 21st Century Cures Act (the Cures Act).

ProAssurance rates in Indiana remain stable despite a reported increase of rates nationwide

Posted on 11/19/2020
Each year, the Medical Liability Monitor (MLM) publishes the commercial rates for major liability insurers in all 50 states for internal medicine, general surgery and obstetrics/gynecology specialties as part of its annual rate survey issue.

New e-prescribing mandates begin Jan. 1

Posted on 11/4/2020
Two laws passed by the Indiana General Assembly have requirements that go into effect Jan. 1 and include mandates for prescribing controlled substances.

New laws impact price estimates, physician contracts, out-of-network pay, e-prescribing

Posted on 6/11/2020
Although the health care industry has recently been focused on COVID-19 and the public health emergency’s impact on medical practices and patients, it is important for physicians to be prepared to comply with news laws passed during the 2020 legislat

HIPAA enforcement efforts target patients’ rights to medical records

Posted on 4/2/2020
Two recent enforcement actions by the federal Office for Civil Rights (OCR), each resulting in an $85,000 fine, should serve as a reminder to physicians to take requests for patients’ medical records seriously and to handle them in a timely and appro