Sec. 21. (a) The governing board may contract for and purchase, for the protection of the hospital, all types of insurance provided for in the Indiana insurance law in amounts and under terms and conditions the board considers reasonable and necessary. The insurance may include liability or malpractice coverage for the members of the board, the officers, employees, volunteers, and members of medical staff committees while performing services for the hospital. The board may, for the purpose of acquiring malpractice coverage, assist in the formation of a nonassessable mutual insurance company under IC 27-1-6 and IC 27-1-7-19.
(b) The governing board of a hospital organized or operated under this article may enter into a group purchasing agreement to purchase medical malpractice insurance with the following:
(1) One (1) or more hospitals organized or operated under this article.
(2) One (1) or more hospitals organized or operated under IC 16-23.