Statewide public health investments rose dramatically this year following new legislation that kicked our health spending up by more than 10 times over our normal levels. Now, nearly every county will be receiving funding to expand access to a wide range of healthcare services for Hoosiers.
Historically, Indiana’s 92 counties shared a pot of $6.9 million in public health funding annually from the state, according to figures from Governor Eric Holcomb’s office. Under the new Health First Indiana program, $75 million will be distributed to counties this year, and another $150 million will be allocated beginning in 2025.
The first round of disbursements began in early 2024. A total of 86 of Indiana’s 92 counties opted into the program, which covers just about 96% of Hoosiers. In these areas, this program will guarantee access to services that improve local health outcomes, including those arising from issues like childhood lead poisoning, heart disease, tobacco cessation, obesity, maternal and infant mortality, and many others.
“In every community I visit, I hear about exciting new partnerships and programs that are breaking down silos and bringing public health, nonprofits, community groups and health care together to deliver local solutions to improve Hoosiers’ health,” said Indiana Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “Good health is the foundation on which successful families, businesses, and communities are built. By providing the financial resources and renewing the focus on prevention, Indiana is in the best position it has ever been to create the safest, healthiest state possible.”
Six counties chose not to participate in the program (Whitley, Wells, Fountain, Johnson, Crawford, and Harrison). Instead, they’ll be receiving their legacy funding of about $387,000 for the 2024 fiscal year, according to the Indiana Department of Health. But these counties will still have the opportunity to opt-in for 2025.
Each one of the 86 Indiana counties that received funding has their own unique and diverse plans to improve the health of their communities, and they also each received different funding amounts. The Health First Indiana program was designed to make targeted impacts that directly address the specific health needs of individual localities. Overall, about 78% of the funding will be used to support preventive and health outcome-related activities.
As explained by the program, “Public health services are most effective when provided by local health departments (LHDs) that are positioned to meet the needs of their communities. LHDs, with support from partners and community stakeholders, determine the needs of the community, and implement accessibility strategies, including addressing social determinants of health, in all aspects of planning, operations, and core services.”
Here's an overview of what several of the recipient counties are planning to do with their health funding:
The Porter County Health Department reported that heart disease is the leading cause of death in Porter County. Based on this information, a portion of Health First Porter County funding will be spent on chronic disease prevention and reduction initiatives. This funding will also expand core services such as maternal and childcare, trauma and injury prevention, and chronic conditions.
Not long after receiving its funding, the Hamilton County Health Department awarded $639,915 in grant dollars to nine non-profits for projects that address health care gaps throughout the county. The largest recipient was Trinity Free Clinic, which was given roughly $387K. They’re planning to use the grant money to provide partial dentures, bridges, and soon, full dentures and denture repair for low-income seniors and veterans in Hamilton County. Officials with the clinic said dental services like these are among the largest requests they receive, and they have previously had to turn patients away because they didn’t offer these services.
The Allen County Department of Health, through Health First Allen County, distributed about $2.07 million to more than two dozen local nonprofits that will address specific core public health services. Many of the nonprofits that received funding are focused on various issues pertaining to student health, such as youth violence prevention, meals for young people, student mental health, and more. Others are focused on trauma and injury prevention, child and adult immunizations, referrals to clinical care, and lots of other activities. The Allen County Department of Health itself will also be engaged in wellness efforts like communicable disease testing and prevention, food protection, pollution control and abatement, and keeping and providing vital records.
The leap in public health spending brought about by the Health First Indiana program will go far in addressing many of the nuanced health issues that affect Hoosiers in all corners of the state. As things progress, this can really be thought of as a direct investment in our economic wellbeing too, as population health is a direct determining factor on prosperity. As Hoosiers get healthier, so do their companies. And that’s great news for every employer and Hoosier citizen alike.
