Journal Review - Healthcare Tour Makes Local Stop

News Article

By Tina McGrady

Two of the state's highest ranking elected physicians stopped in Crawfordsville on Wednesday to discuss the status of health and healthcare in Indiana.

The visit by U.S. Representative Larry Bucshon, M.D., (R-Newburgh) and Indiana State Representative Tim Brown, M.D., (R-Crawfordsville) is part of their Hoosier Healthcare Tour. The statewide listening tour began last week and will take the two doctor-legislators to nine different cities where they will host 12 events focused on various aspects of Hoosier healthcare.

The duo hopes to get a comprehensive overview of the state of healthcare in Indiana through a series of events focused on child healthcare, physician retention, minority healthcare, Medicare/Medicaid, medical device, rural healthcare, veterans healthcare and prevention/wellness.

Bucshon and Brown made the Dr. Mary Ludwig Free Clinic at 816 Mill St. the eighth stop on the two-week tour.

"This tour gives us a unique opportunity to talk to different groups around the state to get peoples' opinions, so that we might be able to craft legislation that will improve the quality of life for the people in our state," said Bucshon, who is a cardiothoracic surgeon.

Brown, who serves as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, is also an emergency room physician.

"Health care has a huge impact on our state budget now and will continue to do so in the future," he said.

About 1.1 million Hoosiers, or approximately 1 in 6 residents, are enrolled in Medicaid. Indiana spends nearly $9 billion annually to meet those needs, and the costs are growing.

"If Medicaid continues to grow at a rate of 5 percent a year like it has, then it begins to crowd out other areas like education, infrastructure and more," Brown said.

Among the common concerns legislators have heard thus far as they've visited hospitals, clinics and a medical device company, is the uncertainty that surrounds health care.

"People want to know how to budget for health care, will they have access to care, will there be enough manpower," Brown said. "How do we get people the health care they need. That's what's on peoples' minds."

Joining Bucshon and Brown at the Crawfordsville stop was U.S. Representative Todd Rokita (R-Clermont), who lauded his fellow legislators for embarking on the tour.

"These conversations are very important to us," Rokita said. "It is necessary to keep the lines of communication between the state and federal officials open so that we can help people build better lives."

Currently, Indiana's overall health ranking is 41st in the nation. The state is plagued with high smoking, obesity and infant mortality rates.

Furthermore, 30 of Indiana's 92 counties don't have direct access to obstetric services. Montgomery County joined those ranks after the maternity ward at the local hospital was closed March 1, 2011.

Bucshon and Brown both believe post-medical school training opportunities, loan repayment programs and increased awareness and use of preventive health care are all part of the solution.

Both remain optimistic in the future of the Healthy Indiana Plan. Brown hopes the state and federal government will reach an agreement that will allow Indiana to use a version of HIP to expand healthcare coverage. The state is awaiting approval from the Department of Health and Human Services to use federal Medicaid dollars through the HIP to expand coverage to approximately 400,000 Hoosiers.

Bucshon and Brown see HIP as a viable option because they don't believe the state can count on long-term financial support from the federal government.

Bill Doemel, president of the Free Clinic board of directors, thanked the legislators for making Crawfordsville one of the tour stops.

"There really aren't any simple solutions," he said. "One thing is obvious though, we are in need of a conversation like this so that we might find a plan that works for all of us."

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