NFIB Members Made Their Voice Heard During Webinar with Indiana’s State Health Commissioner
On Monday, March 21, NFIB members met with Indiana’s State Health Commissioner, Dr. Kristina Box and former State Senator, Luke Kenley to discuss ways the Governor’s Public Health Commission plans to help lower health care costs and expand accessibility.
Healthcare costs have topped the charts as a primary concern for NFIB members for nearly 30 years. That’s especially true for Hoosier small business owners given that Indiana’s hospital facilities fees are the fifth highest in the nation and that Indiana was placed in the top three most expensive states for inpatient facility fees.
“The price tag of health care in Indiana is a significant cost of doing business which is at an all-time high due to record inflation levels,” said NFIB State Director in Indiana, Natalie Robinson. “Small business continues to be plagued by increasing premiums resulting in high deductible plans that are unattainable for employers and their workers.”
Dr. Box explained that investments in public health must be made to drive down the costs of healthcare. Indiana has one of the highest obesity rates in the country. This translates into higher costs for all chronic disease. We also are paying a high price as a state for the rate of smoking among Hoosiers.
After having spent more than two plus decades in the state senate helping to shape Indiana’s spending priorities, Senator Kenley plans to utilize his expertise to help make budget recommendations on ways to improve public health outcomes – starting at the local level.
NFIB member and broadband company owner, Randy Ballinger, shared his frustrations with small businesses in rural areas being disproportionately impacted by access to health care. Dr. Box recognized the technological challenges to telehealth care and other barriers in rural areas of the state and said the Commission plans to address that issue, among many others.
Small business owners are encouraged to talk with their state and local elected officials to share how the high costs of healthcare impacts their business. A collective voice and collaboration with the Public Health Commission can help push Indiana’s public health outcomes and thereby, health care costs, in a better direction.
