Dear Advocates,

We have some exciting news to share! Senate Bill 1 has passed out of the Indiana Senate and is headed to the Indiana House of Representatives!

Senate Bill 1 will require the Division of Mental Health and Addiction to establish and maintain the 9-8-8 help line. It will also allow for the continuation of the Be Well Crisis Helpline. Significantly, it will build out Indiana's behavioral health infrastructure through the expansion of CCBHCs. The bill also reestablishes the Indiana behavioral health commission.

This is the first time in Indiana history that a mental health bill has been designated SB 1, a legislative priority. We hope that you can support the bill this legislative session to continue to advocate for behavioral health legislation.

We hope you can help spread the word and share on your socials with us!

The following bills were heard in committee this week:

House Bills:

House Bill 1292:

DECRIMINALIZATION OF MARIJUANA (VanNatter, H) - Decriminalizes possession of two ounces or less of marijuana.

Bill Held in Committee.



Senate Bills:

Senate Bill 8:

PRESCRIPTION DRUG REBATES AND PRICING (Charbonneau, E) - Provides that, for individual health insurance coverage, the defined cost sharing for a prescription drug must be calculated at the point of sale and based on a price that is reduced by an amount equal to at least 85% of all rebates received by the insurer in connection with the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug. Requires that, for group health insurance coverage, an insurer: (1) pass through to a plan sponsor 100% of all rebates received or estimated to be received by the insurer concerning the dispensing or administration of prescription drugs to the covered individuals of the plan sponsor; (2) provide a plan sponsor, at the time of contracting, the option of calculating defined cost sharing for covered individuals of the plan sponsor at the point of sale based on a price that is reduced by some or all of the rebates received or estimated to be received by the insurer concerning the dispensing or administration of the prescription drug; and (3) disclose specified information to the plan sponsor. Allows the department of insurance to enforce the provisions and impose a civil penalty.

Senate Committee recommends passage Yeas: 10; Nays: 1

Senate Bill 400:

HEALTH CARE MATTERS (Brown, L) - Specifies requirements for credentialing a provider for the Medicaid program, an accident and sickness insurance policy, and a health maintenance organization contract. Establishes a provisional credential until a decision is made on a provider's credentialing application and allows for retroactive reimbursement. Provides that a hospital's quality assessment and improvement program must include a process for determining and reporting the occurrence of serious reportable events. Provides that the medical staff of a hospital may make recommendations on the granting of clinical privileges and the appointment or reappointment of an applicant to the governing board for a period not to exceed 36 months. Requires a hospital with an emergency department to have at least one physician on site and on duty who is responsible for the emergency department.

Senate Committee recommends passage, as amended Yeas: 10; Nays: 0

Please be sure to sign up for our IN.session Newsletter and VoterVoice Action Alerts to stay up to date on important mental health related legislation.

If you would like to review all of the bills Mental Health America of Indiana is following, click HERE for our Action Track report!

Hoosier Idol 2023

The Battle of the Caucuses

Join us on Wednesday, April 5th, from 6 - 9 PM at the Indiana Roof Ballroom for of Hoosier Idol 2023!

Starring members of the Indiana General Assembly, legislators will compete to be crowned Hoosier Idol 2023!

Tickets are on SALE now!

Price of Table: $1,000

Price of Individual Tickets: $125

If you would like to sponsor this event, please email our Director of Communications and Marketing, Kelby Gaw, directly at kgaw@mhai.net

All funds raised from this event will be used to help protect and promote the lives of individual's effected by mental health and addiction. To learn more about the event and to register, click HERE.