Indiana Hospitals Pledge Support to ‘Health First Indiana’ Initiative
Work underway with local health departments to improve health outcomes
Oct. 1, 2024 (INDIANAPOLIS) — All member hospitals of the Indiana Hospital Association (IHA) have signed the State’s Health First Indiana pledge to coordinate with local health departments on improving health outcomes for Hoosiers.
This milestone comes six months since IHA made its statewide pledge during Public Health Day at the Indiana Statehouse in February, alongside the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH), local health departments, Hoosier business leaders, and community partners. Since then, all 92 counties have opted into receiving Health First Indiana funding.
“Having pledged to work closely with local health departments and community leaders throughout the state, Indiana’s hospitals are taking the next steps in creating a healthier tomorrow,” said Steve Holman, IHA Board Chair and president and CEO of Union Health. “Now begins the real work to ensure every Hoosier has access to the foundational public health services they need to achieve their optimal health, no matter where they live, thanks to the critical funding provided by the Indiana General Assembly.”
Created by Senate Enrolled Act 4 during the 2023 legislative session, Health First Indiana leverages $225 million in state funding for local communities to prioritize public health and safety. The initiative focuses on providing core public health services, including infant health, childhood lead screening, chronic disease prevention, trauma and injury prevention, and more.
Hospitals have pledged to act through collaboration and communication with local health departments to address key public health outcomes, focusing first on infant and maternal mortality, obesity, and smoking cessation.
“Health First Indiana is all about partnerships, and having the support of IHA and its members is essential to prioritizing health in Indiana,” said State Health Commissioner Lindsay Weaver, M.D., FACEP. “To fully realize our goal of improved health outcomes for Hoosiers, it will take the collaboration of multiple sectors including the hospitals. I am thrilled that 100% of our general hospitals have committed to this shared goal. We continue to call on others across the state — businesses, community organizations, and other leaders — to join us at the table and work together to make Indiana a healthier place for everyone.”
