By HOLLY GASKILL
After choosing not to join Health First Indiana in 2024, county officials appear to have an interest in pursuing the option for 2025.
Members of the Wells County Council, Board of Commissioners, Health Department and Board of Health discussed the program during a special session Friday morning. Several representatives from the Indiana Department of Health were present, including regional directors Sheila Paul, Mike Sutton and Michelle Matern.
No decisions or declarations were made, but officials showed interest in seeing what might be possible through the additional funding. Health Department employees advised they’re working on a proposed budget for HFI, and the Board of Health previously expressed their intent to hold a special meeting on the matter. No date has been set at this time, said Health Department Administrator Sahara Wall.
The County Commissioners will have to decide whether or not to join the program by June.
Originating from the 2023 legislative session, HFI is a program that aims to address concerns with Indiana’s healthcare. Wells County was one of six counties not to join the program in its first year. At the time, the County Commissioners cited several reasons regarding the local health department’s stability and uncertainty of the new program.
Wells is eligible for $549,510 in additional healthcare funding at minimum in 2025. This number could fluctuate to up to $732,680, contingent on how many counties opt into the program. Additionally, these funds are non-reverting and non-diverting, meaning they will remain with the health department.
To receive this money, the Health Department would be responsible for submitting a proposed budget and tracking information showing how the state funds are being used toward a number of key performance indicators. These KPIs include efforts addressing tobacco and drug use, preventing chronic disease, and promoting maternal and child health.
The county is also required to match at least $137,377.50, however, Auditor Lisa McCormick advised that Wells already budgets roughly $150,000 to support the Health Department. Ultimately, the officials’ must decide whether or not the county will go through extra work to receive and use the funding.
“It is a lot of work for the health department — I am not going to sugarcoat it,” Paul emphasized.
Health Officer Dr. Kay Johnson said the long-term potential benefits for the community seemed worth the cost.
“It’s important to understand that overall connection, and although that initial investment may seem a little scary, look at the potential millions of dollars you may have saved in the long run,” Johnson said.
“I think those are all great points, but there is a stakeholder in this that needs to see the benefit — and that’s the taxpayer,” Commissioner Jeff Stringer responded. “Taxpayers need to see a return on investment. We talk about it like it’s free money, and it’s not. It’s tax money from every individual in this county. So when we look at that, we need to make sure that they see the value and they see the return on investment.”
Paul affirmed this sentiment and noted that the county’s proposed health plan will be available for public review prior to approval. However, she noted, “Your taxpayers are already paying for it, and right now, it’s going to other counties.”
Each county has a significant discretion with how it can use the additional funding. The state dictates that at least 60% must be used to address KPIs, and no more than 40% can be spent on core services like food protection, pest control and residential sewage system permitting and inspections. However, these restrictions do not apply to the county’s contribution.
Paul explained that each county has taken a different approach, and there have been few interventions in local proposals. Of these few situations, Sutton recalled only one that the state rejected, which was due to a lack of relevance to the local health department.
“We want this to be a community effort,” Paul elaborated. “We really want this not to build up local government, honestly, that’s not the goal of this. It’s really to filter this money out to the community to get everyone involved.”
Furthermore, these funds can be distributed as grants to local groups to continue or expand existing health services. Paul referenced this as a way to take some of the burden to start new programs solely from local Health Departments. However, she advised against using the full amount toward grants.
Paul said each county has also determined their own grant process — some health boards review applications, while other departments have established foundations. Additionally, the county can outline specific purposes or restrictions for grant use.
Molly Hoag, a member of the Board of Health, compared the process of Citizens Against Drug Abuse. The group receives funds through the state and distributes funds to assist local services. “It’s doable,” she concluded.
Each county’s plans and budgets are also available for review on the HFI website, in.gov/healthfirstindiana.
“The beauty of where we’re at now, outside looking in, is a lot of that stuff has already been done,” added Lynn Blevins, Wells County’s public health nurse.
Given the many choices the county will have to make, Paul repeatedly encouraged officials to review the contents of 2023’s Senate Enrolled Act 4 and work with the county attorney.
As for the longevity of HFI, Paul did recognize the potential for the legislature to change or discontinue the program. However, she believed HFI won’t be leaving any time soon. Paul also emphasized that any county can opt out at any time.
holly@news-banner.com
