- (a) As used in this section, "firefighter" means a current or former full-time, paid firefighter.
(b) A township shall pay for the care of a firefighter who:
- (1) suffers an injury; or
(2) contracts an illness;
during the performance of the firefighter's duty.
(c) The township shall pay for the following expenses incurred by a firefighter described in subsection (b):
- (1) Medical and surgical care.
- (2) Medicines and laboratory, curative, and palliative agents and means.
- (3) X-ray, diagnostic, and therapeutic service, including during the recovery period.
- (4) Hospital and special nursing care if the physician or surgeon in charge considers it necessary for proper recovery.
- (d) Expenditures required by subsection (b) or (c) shall be paid from the township firefighting and emergency services fund established by section 4(a)(1) of this chapter or the township firefighting fund established by section 4(a)(2)(A) of this chapter, as applicable.
- (e) A township that has paid for the care of a firefighter under subsection (b) or (c) has a cause of action for reimbursement of the amount paid under subsection (b) or (c) against any third party against whom the firefighter has a cause of action for an injury sustained because of, or an illness caused by, the third party. The township's cause of action under this subsection is in addition to, and not in lieu of, the cause of action of the firefighter against the third party.
- (f) The medical benefits under this section are independent and distinct from any medical benefits that are available under IC 22-3 . A firefighter may recover medical benefits under this section without first pursuing a claim for medical benefits under IC 22-3 . If the firefighter pursues a claim for medical benefits under IC 22-3 and the claim is withdrawn or denied, the firefighter is not precluded from recovering medical benefits under this section.
As added by P.L.150-2002, SEC.4. Amended by P.L.236-2023, SEC.207; P.L.118-2026, SEC.19.