Dr. Woody Myers
Linda Lawson
Nursing homes and other long-term care facilities are Indiana's primary battleground against COVID-19, with their residents accounting for 1,220 of the state's 2,524 coronavirus deaths, or 48%.
They're now poised to be at the center of another battle — for the future of Indiana.
On Tuesday, Dr. Woody Myers and former Hammond state Rep. Linda Lawson, the Democratic nominees for Indiana governor and lieutenant governor, condemned Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb's policies toward nursing homes and unveiled their plan to overhaul long-term care in the Hoosier State.
The Democrats said under Holcomb's leadership Indiana has become one of the worst states in the nation for nursing home quality of life and quality of care, offering families insufficient nursing home data and no resident advocates like those available in Michigan and Kentucky.
"Unlike our neighboring states, Gov. Holcomb has failed to put our most vulnerable Hoosiers first," Myers said. "Hoosiers need the long-term care task force that nursing care experts have recommended."
Lawson, who represented Northwest Indiana at the Statehouse for 20 years until 2018, said the Republican-controlled General Assembly simply allows the nursing home industry to operate unchecked.
"We need to hold this industry accountable and fix what the legislature and the governor have left undone," Lawson said.
To that end, Myers and Lawson are promising, if elected Nov. 3, to:
- Create a COVID-19 long-term care task force to identify best practices for coronavirus prevention in nursing homes.
- Establish uniform nursing home data reporting requirements by updating technology at the State Department of Health.
- Increase rapid COVID-19 testing capacity for residents and staff at senior care facilities and mandate detailed public communications about nursing home coronavirus cases and deaths.
- Require infection control teams at each facility to review and act on testing results every day and ensure testing protocols are followed without exception.
- Improve caregiver recruitment, implement accountability measures to maintain appropriate staffing, and guarantee nursing home workers have access to medical-grade personal protective equipment.
- Support nursing home technology improvements to facilitate virtual doctor visits, other telemedicine services, and video visits between residents and families.
- Develop a plan for coronavirus-only skilled nursing facilities to support care and recovery for elderly patients.
- Oppose blanket lawsuit immunity for nursing homes and long-term care facilities due to negligence during the coronavirus pandemic.
- Expand whistleblower protections to encourage nursing home employees to confidentially report dangerous conditions and wrongdoing.
- Boost funding for Indiana's Community and Home Options to Institutional Care for the Elderly and Disabled (CHOICE) program to enable more seniors to age-in-place.
Holly Lawson, spokeswoman for Holcomb's reelection campaign, said the governor has prioritized the health of all Hoosiers, including long-term care facility residents, their families and healthcare workers throughout the pandemic.
"While Woody advocates for more bureaucracy, Gov. Holcomb continues to provide the necessary support and resources to help stem the impact of this pandemic on our vulnerable communities," Holly Lawson said.
"The governor's leadership is recognized by Hoosiers — with 83% saying they approve of his handling of this crisis."
Get to know these new Indiana laws that take effect in 2020
911 fee
The Statewide 911 Board is authorized to increase the fee paid by all telephone users for access to 911 emergency services to $1.10 per month, from $1. (HEA 1235)
Abortion
Women completing a pill-induced abortion away from a clinic or hospital are encouraged — but not required — to collect the embryonic remains and return them to the abortion provider for burial or cremation. (SEA 299)
Breast prostheses
Health insurance sold in Indiana that provides coverage for mastectomies must also provide coverage for custom fabricated breast prostheses, including one additional breast prosthesis per breast affected by the mastectomy. (SEA 239)
Cancer screening
Health insurance companies, in most circumstances, are obligated to cover colorectal cancer screening beginning at age 45, instead of 50, in accordance with a recent recommendation by the American Cancer Society. (HEA 1080)
Child sex crimes
The statute of limitations for filing charges against perpetrators of sex crimes against children can be extended five years beyond the victim's 31st birthday if prosecutors discover new DNA evidence, a recording of the crime or the perpetrator confesses. The deadline for victims to seek assistance from the Violent Crimes Victim Compensation Fund also is extended. (SEA 109)
Chinese tech
Every state agency and department, including universities, and every local unit of government in Indiana, is barred from spending public funds to purchase services or products, including 5G networking equipment, produced or provided by Huawei Technologies or ZTE Corporation, due to their alleged surveillance and espionage work on behalf of the Chinese government. (SEA 197)
Distracted driving
It’s illegal for drivers to hold or use a handheld mobile device while operating a moving vehicle, unless the device is mounted on a dashboard, another surface in their vehicle, or otherwise operated in hands-free mode. Motorists caught holding a phone in a moving vehicle can be fined up to $500 and possibly lose their driver’s license for repeated violations.
Gary schools
The Indiana Distressed Unit Appeals Board may suspend the $550,000 in monthly debt repayments of the Gary Community School Corp. to the state's Common School Fund and instead use the money for school building repairs or demolition. (HEA 1065)
Griffith
The town of Griffith has until June 30 to voluntarily join either North or St. John townships, otherwise Griffith automatically becomes part of North Township. The town's voter-approved transfer out of Calumet Township becomes final Jan. 1, 2022. (SEA 365)
Health pricing
Hospitals, same-day surgery centers and urgent care clinics are required by March 31, 2021 to post on their websites the costs of their most frequently used services. The Indiana Department of Insurance is directed to begin the process of creating an all-payer claims database to improve health care pricing transparency. (SEA 5)
Indigency
Judges in all 92 counties must consider the same criteria — assets, income and necessary expenses — to determine whether a criminal defendant lacks sufficient financial resources to hire a private attorney and is entitled to use the public defender. (SEA 302)
Insulin
A prescription no longer is required to purchase insulin in Indiana beginning Jan. 1, 2021. (SEA 255)
Lake Michigan
The shoreline of Lake Michigan up to the ordinary high-water mark is, and always has been, owned by the state, and Hoosiers have a right to use the shoreline for walking, fishing, boating, swimming and any other recreational purpose for which Lake Michigan ordinarily is used. Adjacent private property owners are not entitled to exclusive use of the beach or the water. (House Enrolled Act 1385)
Marriage
The minimum age to marry in Indiana is increased to 16 years old from 15. Children ages 16 and 17 only can marry if their partner is no more than four years older and a juvenile court judge grants permission for the marriage. (HEA 1006)
Medical billing
Most health care providers must prepare, upon request, a good faith estimate of the costs of nonemergency health care services ordered or scheduled for a patient to minimize surprise medical bills. The requirement takes effect July 1, 2021, though providers may voluntarily comply sooner. (HEA 1004)
Microchipping
Employers are prohibited from mandating the implantation of any identity or tracking device in a worker or job candidate, unless the person voluntarily consents to having something put into their body. (HEA 1143)
Online eye exam
Hoosiers between ages 18 and 55 may procure a prescription for eyeglasses or contact lenses through telemedicine, so long as they've undergone an in-person eye exam and/or contact lens fitting in the previous two years. Only two online eye exams are permitted in a two-year period before a subsequent in-person exam is required. (SEA 19)
Organ donation
Hoosiers may indicate intent to donate their organs upon death on a state-issued hunting, fishing or trapping license, in addition to a driver's license, state identification card or donor registry. (SEA 288)
Out-of-state prescriptions
Indiana pharmacists are obligated to fill a prescription issued by an advance practice registered nurse or physician assistant licensed in another state, just as they would fill a prescription written by an out-of-state physician, podiatrist, dentist or veterinarian. (SEA 21)
RDA transit
Three members are added to the board of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority solely to vote on issues relating to transit development districts. The new members — one each from Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties — are appointed by the governor from a list of candidates nominated before July 1 by the commissioners in each county. (SEA 367)
Resource officers
School corporations and charter schools must annually report to the Indiana Department of Education the number of school resource officers they employ for building and student protection. The department also is required to compile a statewide total of school resource officers. (SEA 132)
School water
Officials responsible for a school building must have its water fountains and taps tested for lead by Jan. 1, 2023, unless it previously has been tested and found in compliance since 2016. In Lake County, the water equipment in every school building must also be tested for lead at least every other year starting in 2023. (HEA 1265)
Sex assault victims
Victims of sexual assault have a statutory right to a no-cost forensic medical exam, the right to speak with a victim advocate or social worker during a hospital visit for the exam, and a law enforcement officer investigating the assault must provide notice of those rights to the victim. (SEA 146)
Small claims
The maximum value of a case eligible for judgment in a small claims court is increased to $8,000 from $6,000. (HEA 1313)
Smoking age
Hoosiers under age 21 are prohibited from buying or possessing cigarettes, electronic cigarettes or vaping products under state law, as well as federal statutes. Indiana retailers who sell tobacco products to underage purchasers may face fines of between $400 and $2,000, double the previous fines. New tobacco retailers cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school. (Senate Enrolled Act 1)
Teacher evaluations
A state mandate that annual teacher evaluations and linked pay increases be largely based on student ILEARN test results is eliminated. (HEA 1002)
Unemployment
Indiana businesses will continue paying the same unemployment insurance rates to the state through at least 2025, instead of the rates automatically being reduced sometime after July 1, 2021. (HEA 1111)
Dan Carden
Chief Political Reporter
Dan has reported on Indiana state government for The Times since 2009. He also covers casinos, campaigns and corruption.
