Governor Announces Public Health Commission

 From Covering Kids & Families of Indiana

Governor Holcomb announced the establishment of a Public Health Commission to review Indiana’s public health system and make recommendations to improve its funding, operations and structure.

“Our public health system has been around for almost 140 years, and it’s overdue for a thorough look so that we can best position it to provide excellence to Hoosiers for the next 100 years,” Governor Holcomb said in a news conference. “This review, coupled with our ongoing commitment to improve key health indicators, will best position Indiana to be a great state to live, work, play and invest in and grow a healthy workforce.”

The commission will be co-chaired by former state Senator Luke Kenley and former State Health Commissioner Dr. Judy Monroe, who now serves as Chief Executive Officer of the CDC Foundation. State Health Commissioner Dr. Kristina Box will serve as the commission’s secretary. The commission will include the following subgroups:

  • Emergency preparedness – Analyzing state and local health departments’ response to the pandemic.
  • Funding – Reviewing the current funding level and sources for public health and make recommendations on how to standardize.
  • Governance and Services – Reviewing the structure of public health governance, number of local health departments, accreditation efforts.
  • Workforce – Evaluating staffing levels to promote necessary access to care and positive health outcomes, including both public health and clinical workforces.
  • Data Collection and Utilization – Reviewing the data collected and establish uniformity and a standardized approach; Look at the ways to use data to transform public health delivery.
  • Childhood and Adolescent Health Integration – Reviewing services delivered to children and adolescents and identify ways to promote access to healthcare for children and families.

Appointments to the commission are forthcoming and its work will begin in September. Recommendations from the commission are expected to inform legislation to be introduced during the 2023 Indiana General Assembly.

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