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Indiana ranked five spots better than last year on business channel CNBC’s annual list of top U.S. businesses. Released August 1. The Hoosier State performed well in 2022 in three categories — infrastructure, cost of doing business and cost of living — in 2018. In 2021, from 19th to 14th this year.
The state’s business standards are a source of pride for lawmakers and Gov. Eric Holcomb, who can boast nine straight balanced budgets, Indiana’s triple-A credit rating and billions of dollars in reserve funds.
But when it comes to public health, Indiana performs poorly compared to the rest of the country. Atlanta-based Sharecare, a digital healthcare company, partnered with the Boston University School of Public Health to rank Indiana 41st on a list of the healthiest states in 2021.
In August of last year, Holcomb created the Governor’s Public Health Commission, a 15-member commission to examine strengths and weaknesses in Indiana’s public health system and make recommendations for improvements.
Last week, the commission submitted a 107-page report to Holcomb. He also supported a 65 percent increase in public health spending to address health care workforce planning shortages, increase access to state data by local health departments and develop a strategic toolkit.
Indiana ranks 48th in public health funding, spending about $55 per Hoosier, or $36 more than the national average of $91 per person. The commission seeks to close the $243 million funding gap at $36 per resident.
Programs that combat issues related to infant mortality, smoking, obesity and child health are at the top of the list of services offered due to county-level funding shortages.
Luke Kenley, co-chairman of the commission and chairman of the State Senate Nominations Committee, emphasized the importance of transparency in the commission’s process. Members hosted seven listening sessions across the state, and read all comments received online or at the public meetings. The former senator sent reports to lawmakers after each listening session.
Holcomb should go full on funding and other recommendations of the Public Health Commission.
County health departments have one of the 10 lowest per capita costs in the country, and their workforces are ill-equipped to deal with the infectious diseases they now face, such as Covid-19, rabies and sexually transmitted diseases.
Increased and sustained funding, more manpower, and better trained public health officials will result in better public health outcomes, and the cost of preventive treatment is much lower than that of addressing the consequences of disease.
Studies show that such reforms could stifle economic development — and possibly propel Indiana up the list of America’s top states for business in the future.
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