MEDIA ADVISORY: Rep. Cindy Ledbetter, Civic Leaders Host Press Conference Calling for Urgent Legislative Action on Indiana’s Health Care Access Crisis

(Indianapolis, IN), January 27, 2023 — The Hoosiers for Health Care Access Coalition, including leaders from AARP Indiana, Americans for Prosperity, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, and the Indiana Farm Bureau, among others, will join state legislators at the Indiana State House urging immediate action to address the skyrocketing numbers of Hoosiers now living in health care deserts. SB 213 and HB 1330 will increase health access for the 2.4 million Hoosiers without basic primary health care access and remove regulatory roadblocks that restrict patient access to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs).

Media are invited to attend this press conference to learn how passage of SB 213 and HB1330 would immediately benefit Indiana’s patients, businesses, seniors, and rural communities.
 

WHEN: Tuesday, January 31, 2023 from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m.

WHERE: South Atrium, Main Floor, Indiana State House, 200 W Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204

WHO: State Representative Cindy Ledbetter (author of HB 1330); AARP Indiana; AFP Indiana; Indiana Farm Bureau; Indiana Chamber of Commerce; Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses and 100 APRNs

WHY: Today, over 2.4 million Hoosiers lack access to basic primary health care services – an increase of over 14% in just the last year. Further, 6.6 million don’t have access to mental health services. The recently released America’s Health Rankings by the United Health Foundation ranked Indiana 36^th among states for primary care access, 43^rd for mental health access, and 37th for health outcomes. Current state law prevents patients from receiving full and direct access to Indiana’s nearly 9,500 APRNs. SB 213 and HB 1330 is a no-cost, no-delay solution to increase access to health care for Indiana’s patients. It will strengthen care for seniors, improve health outcomes in rural and urban communities, and make Indiana a competitive employer.

MEDIA AVAIL: State Representative Cindy Ledbetter (author of HB 1330); AARP Indiana; AFP Indiana; Indiana Farm Bureau; Indiana Chamber of Commerce; CAPNI

Hoosiers for Health Care Access is a statewide coalition dedicated to expanding patient access to APRNs to meet our state’s growing health care needs. Over 2.4 million Hoosiers lack access to basic primary health care services in their community, and the federal government has designated 134 health care provider shortage areas across the state.

Hoosiers for Health Care Access Applauds Legislation Expanding Health Access, Choice

14 Organizations Urge Legislature to Pass HB 1330 and SB 213

INDIANA — The Hoosiers for Health Care Access coalition, including AARP Indiana, Americans for Prosperity, Convenient Care Association, Indiana Chamber of Commerce, Indiana Farm Bureau, National Grange and others, today called on the Indiana General Assembly to pass HB 1330 and SB 213. This legislation will give Hoosiers full and direct access to the high-quality care provided by advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and a choice of health care provider.

More than 2.4 million Hoosiers across 138 primary care and 102 mental health care health provider shortage areas (HPSAs) — including urban, suburban and rural communities — lack adequate access to care. This legislation will remove regulatory barriers that prevent Indiana’s nearly 8,000 APRNs from practicing to the top of their licensure and training and meeting the urgent demand for care.

“The health of older Hoosiers depends on improving their access and growing the available healthcare workforce who can provide the services they need,” said AARP Indiana Legislative Director Ambre Marr. “APRNs are currently restricted from doing their jobs to the full extent of their training. By breaking down these outdated barriers, APRNs can help provide quality care to patients throughout the state—from small towns to urban hubs. Hoosiers deserve the opportunity to have more choices that will allow them to stay in their homes and communities for as long as possible, where they want to be.”

“Indiana’s health care access challenge is particularly hard-hitting for our rural communities,” said Jeff Cummins with the Indiana Farm Bureau. “One of our major priorities is rural viability; a key measure of that is access to healthcare services in rural areas. The Indiana Farm Bureau is calling on the General Assembly to swiftly take action to expand access to APRN-provided care and ensure that rural Hoosiers can access the care they desperately need.”

“Indiana prides itself on being an open market and competitive state,” said Josh Webb with Americans for Prosperity – Indiana. “Yet in our health care system, we arbitrarily restrict the supply of health care providers — driving up the cost of care. Not only does this have a detrimental effect on Hoosiers’ freedom to access the health care provider of their choice, it harms our economy by discouraging new businesses from coming to our state and increasing costs for all of us. We are calling on the General Assembly to correct this, once and for all, by passing this critical legislation.”

About Hoosiers for Health Care Access Hoosiers for Health Care Access is a statewide coalition dedicated to expanding access to APRNs to meet our state’s growing health care needs. Today, over 2.4 million Hoosiers lack access to basic primary health care services in their community. In fact, the federal government has designated 134 health care provider shortage areas across the state.

Open Letter to Indiana General Assembly, Governor Holcomb: Give Patients Health Care Provider Choice, Access

INDIANA — Today, groups from across the state announced the launch of Hoosiers for Health Care Access (HHCA), a coalition representing 10 Indiana patient, business, faith and community-based organizations.  In an open letter, the group calls on the Indiana General Assembly and Governor Holcomb to provide patients greater access to high-quality health care, delivered by the provider of their choice. The Indiana Chamber, AARP Indiana, Americans for Prosperity-Indiana, the Coalition of Advanced Practice Registered Nurses of Indiana, the Convenient Care Association, the Indiana Minority Health Coalition, Purdue University NW College of Nursing, INhouse Primary Care, Rounding Providers and Sojourner Truth House signed the open letter.  

“Our organizations deliver health care, conduct business, grow jobs and our economy, and represent the people of Indiana. We share a commitment to strengthening the health of our state and its citizens,” the letter states. “Today, more than 2 million Hoosiers live in federally designated primary care provider shortage areas without adequate access to primary care, while more than 4.7 million lack access to mental health care. We believe Indiana can and must do better to protect the health of our state and families. Our businesses cannot recruit and retain a healthy workforce without adequate health care access, and we can no longer accept policies that exclude rural and underserved communities from receiving equitable health care access in their own communities. The public health emergency of the last two years temporarily empowered patients with greater health care choice and direct access to advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs). We cannot turn back now. With the suspension of the Governor’s executive order, the General Assembly must act swiftly to pass legislation in the 2023 session that makes this access permanent. More than 25 states and the District of Columbia grant patients full and direct access to the comprehensive care APRNs deliver in one billion patient visits each year nationwide. It is time for Indiana to join them. We, the undersigned organizations, urge you to prioritize Indiana patients and enact full practice authority this legislative session. We stand ready to work with you to build a healthy future for Indiana where every citizen has access to the health care they deserve, delivered by the provider of their choice.”

Signed,

Indiana Chamber of Commerce

AARP Indiana

AFP Indiana

Convenient Care Association

Coalition of Advanced Practice Nurses of Indiana

Indiana Minority Health Coalition

Purdue University NW College of Nursing

INhouse Primary Care

Sojourner Truth House

Rounding Providers

About Hoosiers for Health Care Access

Hoosiers for Health Care Access is a statewide coalition dedicated to expanding access to Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRN) to meet our state’s growing health care needs. Today, over 2.1 million Hoosiers lack access to basic primary health care services in their community. In fact, the federal government has designated 117 health care provider shortage areas across the state.