Signed by Governor Mitch Daniels, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that creates various employer insurance programs, raises the cigarette tax and appropriates the funds for health care expenses.

Highlights:

- Raises the tax on cigarettes from 55.5 cents to 99.5 cents per pack of twenty cigarettes on cigarettes that weigh no more than three pounds per thousand cigarettes (Sec. 2). - Allows cigarette distributors to receive 1.2 cents per pack of cigarettes as compensation for collecting the tax on cigarettes (Sec. 3). - Distributes the revenue in the following amounts into the following funds from the cigarette tax: - 4.22 percent of the revenue generated from the taxes be deposited in the cigarette tax fund. - 0.6 percent in the mental health centers fund. - 53.68 percent in the state general fund. - 5.43 percent in the pension relief fund. - 27.05 percent in the Indiana check-up plan trust fund. - 2.46 percent “for the purpose of paying appropriations for Medicaid Current Obligations.” - 4.1 percent “for the purpose of paying any appropriation for a health initiative.” - 2.46 percent “for the purpose of reimbursing the state general fund for a tax credit” (Sec. 4). - Offers employers who offer a health insurance plan to employees a tax credit of up to $2,500, or $50 per employee, for the first two years the plan is offered (Sec. 5). - Offers small employers a tax credit of 50 percent of the costs of providing a “qualified wellness program” for their employees (Sec. 6). - Increases the income threshold for women eligible for Medicaid from 150 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The Medicaid may only be used for pregnancy-related services including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum services (Sec. 9). - Establishes the “Indiana check-up plan,” which provides preventative care for Indiana residents between 18 and 65 years of age, have an annual income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, are not eligible for employer provided health insurance, and have been uninsured for at least six months (Sec. 22). - Allows the state to establish a health insurance coverage premium assistance program for people whose income is no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level and are unable to afford the premiums for employer provided insurance (Sec. 22). - Raises the children’s health insurance program maximum family income level for children under 19 years of age from 200 percent to 300 percent of the federal poverty level (Sec. 41). - Requires health insurance providers to insure children of policy holders until they reach 24 years of age (Sec. 45). - Allows two or more small employers to purchase insurance together (Sec. 61). - Appropriates $22 million for the period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 for a childhood immunization program (Sec. 62).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to adopt a conference report that creates various employer insurance programs, raises the cigarette tax and appropriates the funds for health care expenses.

Highlights:

- Raises the tax on cigarettes from 55.5 cents to 99.5 cents per pack of twenty cigarettes on cigarettes that weigh no more than three pounds per thousand cigarettes (Sec. 2). - Allows cigarette distributors to receive 1.2 cents per pack of cigarettes as compensation for collecting the tax on cigarettes (Sec. 3). - Distributes the revenue in the following amounts into the following funds from the cigarette tax: - 4.22 percent of the revenue generated from the taxes be deposited in the cigarette tax fund. - 0.6 percent in the mental health centers fund. - 53.68 percent in the state general fund. - 5.43 percent in the pension relief fund. - 27.05 percent in the Indiana check-up plan trust fund. - 2.46 percent “for the purpose of paying appropriations for Medicaid Current Obligations.” - 4.1 percent “for the purpose of paying any appropriation for a health initiative.” - 2.46 percent “for the purpose of reimbursing the state general fund for a tax credit” (Sec. 4). - Offers employers who offer a health insurance plan to employees a tax credit of up to $2,500, or $50 per employee, for the first two years the plan is offered (Sec. 5). - Offers small employers a tax credit of 50 percent of the costs of providing a “qualified wellness program” for their employees (Sec. 6). - Increases the income threshold for women eligible for Medicaid from 150 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty level. The Medicaid may only be used for pregnancy-related services including prenatal, delivery, and postpartum services (Sec. 9). - Establishes the “Indiana check-up plan,” which provides preventative care for Indiana residents between 18 and 65 years of age, have an annual income of no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level, are not eligible for employer provided health insurance, and have been uninsured for at least six months (Sec. 22). - Allows the state to establish a health insurance coverage premium assistance program for people whose income is no more than 200 percent of the federal poverty level and are unable to afford the premiums for employer provided insurance (Sec. 22). - Raises the children’s health insurance program maximum family income level for children under 19 years of age from 200 percent to 300 percent of the federal poverty level (Sec. 41). - Requires health insurance providers to insure children of policy holders until they reach 24 years of age (Sec. 45). - Allows two or more small employers to purchase insurance together (Sec. 61). - Appropriates $22 million for the period between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009 for a childhood immunization program (Sec. 62).

Full Bill Text