Cindy Kirchhofer

One of the first bills headed to the governor’s desk this session will allow Indiana students to easily carry and apply sunscreen at school.

That’s as some lawmakers grumble about why the bill was necessary.

The need for such legislation grew out of requirements some schools imposed. Those included notes from a doctor or a parent and storing the sunscreen in a single school location, such as a nurse’s office.

A bill expanding coverage of and access to telemedicine passed the Senate this week. The measure will cover Hoosiers on Medicaid who get healthcare through telemedicine practices like videoconferences and electronic communications.

Republican Rep. Cindy Kirchhofer authored the proposal and says the expansion includes addiction and behavioral health treatment that often requires extensive services.

“You have the management of the other wrap-around services to lift you up as you are going through your treatment program,” says Kirchhofer.

Legislation that would allow people to get prescriptions without an in-person exam or visit from a health care provider is headed to the Senate.  But some lawmakers aren’t comfortable taking steps forward in “telemedicine” services.

Telemedicine is health care provided remotely through, for instance, videoconferencing.  The proposed bill would allow doctors, physician assistants or advanced practice nurses to write some prescriptions for a patient without seeing them in person.