Today’s topic is INSPECT, which stands for Indiana Scheduled Prescription Electronic Collection and Tracking Program. It’s Indiana’s prescription drug monitoring program and a product of legislation passed in the mid-1990s. The goal is to learn about the program – how it works, who utilizes its services, and why it’s relevant to medical students and residents. Joining us is Mike Brady, Director of INSPECT.

http://www.in.gov/pla/inspect/

A closer look at one manner in which INSPECT records are aggregated and analyzed: http://www.in.gov/pla/inspect/files/IPLA_Inspect_Final_Report_2014.pdf

Policy Prognosis INSPECT

Medical students and residents are excited about telemedicine. Many of us, as millennials and “digital natives”, are anxious to incorporate technology like telemedicine into our daily workflow.

Telemedicine, in general, is a huge topic. We could discuss at length technological innovation, broadband expansion, professional engagement, effectiveness, consumer demand, and concerns about security, privacy and ethics. 

But, in today’s podcast, we zeroed in on a specific piece of legislation that was passed in Indiana this spring – House Bill 1263. In a nutshell, the new law permits telemedicine prescriptions. The law takes effect July 1.

We’re thrilled the author of that bill, Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer of Beech Grove, joined us. During the course of our conversation, the aim was to discuss her bill and unpack other relevant policy in Indiana.

FOLLOW UP LINKS

House Bill 1263: https://iga.in.gov/legislative/2016/bills/house/1263

IBJ article: http://www.ibj.com/articles/58102-new-law-paves-way-for-indiana-to-fully-embrace-telemedicine

AMA Journal of Ethics: http://journalofethics.ama-assn.org/2014/12/toc-1412.html

Many thanks to the Indiana State Medical Association for providing the following details about House Bill 1263:

To show establishment of a patient/physician relationship for telemedicine, a prescriber must: 

1.​Obtain patient’s name and contact information, a verbal statement or other data identifying the patient’s location and – as reasonably possible –identity of requesting patient.
2. Disclose provider’s name and whether that provider is a physician, physician assistant, advanced practice nurse or optometrist.
3. Obtain patient’s informed consent.
4. Determine patient’s medical history and other information needed to establish a diagnosis.
5. Discuss with the patient the diagnosis, evidence for the diagnosis, and risks and benefits of treatment options, including when to seek inperson care.
6. Create and maintain a medical record for the patient and, subject to patient consent, notify patient’s primary care provider of any prescriptions written for the patient if the primary care provider’s contact information is given by the patient. Requirements in this subdivision do not apply when the provider uses an electronic health record the patient’s primary care provider is authorized to access. 
7. Issue instructions for followup.
8. Provide the patient a telemedicine visit summary, including information about any medications being prescribed.

*Controlled substances, abortion-inducing drugs, and eyeglasses or contact lenses may NOT be prescribed using telemedicine.

PP Telemedicine

Forecasting health policy in a medical student-oriented manner