The State of Hoosier Health
Roshni Bag is a healthcare administrator, serving as Service Line Leader for Oncology and Spine at IU Health’s Indianapolis Suburban Region. Roshni has her MBA from Johns Hopkins and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Public Health through Indiana University.
Health serves as the bedrock of our society - influencing well-being, prosperity, and stability. Indiana can only prosper through cultivating human capital, enhancing productivity, and fostering social cohesion by ensuring the State of Health of Hoosiers remains a foremost priority.
Our class discussion at the Liberty Fund provided a platform for dynamic dialogue regarding the government’s role in healthcare. We explored how a considerable portion of Americans already receive healthcare through government-run programs, which subsequently pivoted to a critique of the limitations imposed by the dominating model of employer-based healthcare, particularly in terms of consumer choice. Many of my co-fellows, who are entrepreneurs and business owners, voiced their concerns about the escalating costs of providing healthcare benefits to their employees, the administrative burdens associated with these choices, and the challenge of finding plans that cater to their diverse workforces while remaining cost-effective.
Regarding government programs, there was a consensus on the growing demand for a shift in subsidies that prioritize assistance for those in most need, such as the working poor, while reducing subsidies for the wealthy. Additionally, we discussed the importance of advocating for programs and policies that enhance choice and competition in the Indiana healthcare markets, exemplified by initiatives like the Indiana All Payer Claims Database (APCD). In line with the ethos of the MDLF, we engaged in a robust discourse on the concept of personal responsibility in healthcare. Despite diverse viewpoints, there was a unanimous agreement that Hoosiers value having choices when making healthcare decisions.
Governor Mitch Daniels’ philosophy of empowering individuals and promoting personal responsibility was exemplified in the implementation of the Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP), which we examined in our last “State of Health” case study. Rooted in the belief of individual agency, HIP provided Hoosiers with the autonomy to make informed decisions about their healthcare, while fostering dignity and empowerment. A testament to this philosophy was the willingness of low- income Hoosiers to contribute to their healthcare costs, with only a minimal percentage leaving the program due to failure to pay their fees.
Governor Mitch Daniels’ legacy of conviction-driven health policy has undoubtedly left a lasting impact on Indiana’s healthcare landscape. While programs like the Healthy Indiana Plan have exemplified innovative and impactful approaches, there remains significant work ahead in tackling challenges such as access to care and the stark disparities in health outcomes in neighboring zip codes. Indiana has demonstrated its readiness to tackle these challenges head-on by showcasing its commitment to revitalizing the public health infrastructure. This commitment is evident through the groundbreaking Health First Indiana program, representing an unprecedented state investment aimed at enhancing Indiana’s health outcomes.