SB 514 would require certain Indiana health insurance policies and health maintenance organization contracts that cover chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to accept and cover administration of that therapy when it is provided by any facility that qualifies as a certified health care facility under the applicable FDA-approved CAR T-cell product procedure. The bill defines CAR T-cell therapy as a cancer treatment that modifies T-cells to recognize and attack targeted tumor cells.
The bill applies to policies and contracts issued, delivered, entered into, amended, or renewed after December 31, 2025, and takes effect July 1, 2025. It amends Indiana insurance law by adding new provisions to the accident and sickness insurance chapter and the HMO chapter, limiting insurers’ ability to restrict where covered CAR T-cell therapy may be administered. It does not mandate coverage for CAR T-cell therapy itself, but once coverage exists, it bars insurers from refusing to contract with or denying coverage for certified facilities that are authorized for the applicable therapy.
Impact
SB 514 would add new sections to Indiana Code IC 27-8-40 and IC 27-13-7-29, creating parallel rules for accident and sickness insurance policies and HMO contracts. The practical effect is to expand provider access for covered CAR T-cell therapy by prohibiting insurers from excluding FDA-certified facilities from reimbursement or contracting solely because of the facility chosen to administer the treatment. Affected parties include insurers, HMOs, cancer treatment centers, and patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy, particularly those seeking treatment at specialized certified facilities.
Sentiment
No committee transcript or vote record is available in the provided materials, so there is no documented debate or recorded support/opposition to assess. Based on the bill text alone, the measure appears to be a targeted health coverage access bill focused on cancer treatment, with a consumer- and patient-access orientation rather than a broad insurance overhaul.
Contention
The main policy issue is whether insurers should be required to cover administration of CAR T-cell therapy at any FDA-certified facility rather than limiting coverage to preferred or contracted providers. Supporters would likely emphasize access to specialized cancer care and patient choice, while potential opponents may raise concerns about network management, utilization control, and cost exposure for insurers. Because no discussion transcript is provided, specific legislators or stakeholder groups taking these positions cannot be identified from the record.