KEY CHALLENGES:
- Indiana’s healthcare outcomes are chronically poor—a major quality of life and economic competitiveness challenge.
- Public health funding per capita is among the lowest in the country, leading to lower life expectancy and high healthcare system utilization.
- Healthcare costs are an increasing burden to individuals, employers, and the state’s competitiveness.
IMPROVE OUTCOMES:
Enhance Indiana’s competitiveness by improving Hoosier workforce health outcomes:
- Optimize public health service delivery in alignment with the Governor’s Public Health Commission recommendations (minimum service standards, shared service models, Indiana Department of Health technical assistance, talent attraction, etc.)
- Appropriate a minimum of $250 million additional annual investment in Indiana’s public health services to compete with the national average.
- Target additional investment and policy attention to chronic health challenges such as smoking, infant and maternal health, and mental health.
REDUCE COSTS:
Lower healthcare premiums, avoid government overreach, and promote comprehensive solutions that avoid mere cost shifting:
- Support comprehensive solutions that reduce healthcare costs for employers and individuals to levels competitive with national averages and peer states.
- Reject problematic precedent for government-mandated price caps on healthcare services.
- Craft solutions to address all cost drivers and ease the burden on employers and individuals rather than simply shifting costs.