By Scott Gartenman, JD
ISMA Director of Health Policy

The special session of the Indiana General Assembly on Tuesday was uneventful from a health care perspective. No health care issues were addressed, but votes were taken on bills concerning tax reform, school safety and issues with Gary and Muncie school corporations. Of note, the Senate did elect its new president pro tem, with Sen. Rodric Bray (R-Martinsville) taking over for retiring Sen. David Long (R-Fort Wayne). Sen. Mark Messmer (R-Jasper) will serve as second-in-command, replacing Sen. Bray as majority leader. 

On Wednesday, the Indiana Legislative Council met and assigned summer study topics for 2018. Topics related to public health include medical marijuana, the local impact of establishing opioid treatment programs, imposing new conditions on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs and Medicaid benefits, and the nurse licensure compact. The fiscal policy summer study committee will consider the impact of smoking rates on Indiana’s workforce from a fiscal and developmental standpoint. ISMA’s Government Relations team will monitor all of these issues closely and seeks members’ input on these and any other issues assigned for summer study.
 
Read the full list of interim study committee topics online.