What does this mean for Indiana?
If the court agrees with King, over 200,000 Hoosiers may lose the money they received to help purchase their health plan, along with millions of Americans.[iii]  If the court agrees with Burwell, then all money that was received to help buy a health plan will be seen as legal and no one will be at risk for losing their support.

What will happen if King wins?
If King wins, Congress could slightly change the law to fix the problem. Although not likely, this would be the fastest option.  It could also fall on each state to fix the problem, for example, by setting up a new exchange. This, however, could cost a lot of money. We will hear a lot more about a fix in the coming months if the court rules in favor of King.[iv]

How will the Supreme Court decide?
The Supreme Court is made up of 9 Justices.  So far, 4 Justices seemed to side with the Burwell, while 2 seemed to side with King.  If this is the case, then Burwell only needs the support of one more Justice in order to save the ACA as it is written.[v]  Though this seems a bit more likely than not, it is very hard to say how this court will rule. We are looking for the ruling in late June; I’ll provide an update once more news is received.

Post by Dan Wegg, Corporate Affairs Manager

HealthNet, in partnership with the Fathers and Families Center have created a workshop “Best Father” to connect young men with the tools needed to be the “Best Father” in their children lives. Our “Best Father” workshop is filled with information, fun and fellowship among men! Some topics that are discussed include:

“Medicaid patients go to ERs more often“

In the article, data from a U.S. National Health Interview Survey showed that 16% of Medicaid beneficiaries had one or more barriers to primary care.  It was also found that 40% of Medicaid patients used the emergency room, as compared to 18% of those with private insurance.

There is no doubt that there are barriers to care for Medicaid patients.  Many of these individuals live in medically underserved areas (to learn how medically underserved areas are determined click here), but basically an MUA means that the ratio of primary care doctors per 1,000 people is very low.

Health Centers as an answer.

In a report, just released this week, by the National Association of Community Health Centers another indicator of the barriers faced by Medicaid patients was shown

..at least 25% of U.S. counties in greatest need do not have a health center.

Community health centers are an answer to the complex problem offered in the article posted by WTHR.  “Health centers are required to be open to all residents regardless of ability to pay or insurance status, target medically underserved areas, offer comprehensive primary care services, and be directed by a local patient-majority governing board.”

Not only do health centers eliminate barriers of access for patients no matter what your insurance status, but they have a proven record of reducing the amount of emergency room visits by Medicaid beneficiaries – “Medicaid beneficiaries relying on health centers for usual care in four states are 19% less likely to use the emergency department for unnecessary visits and 11% less likely to be hospitalized compared to beneficiaries relying on other providers.”
(Cost Effectiveness of Care Provided at Health Centers)

Addressing the problem in Indiana.

As Indiana’s largest federally qualified health center, our health centers are the medical home for over 50,000 Hoosiers.  We have posted about the need for health center expansion – here, here and here – and HealthNet has enjoyed the expansion of three health centers in the past year along with the opening of a new center on the Far Eastside of Indy.  But, as noted above, the need for greater access to health care for all residents is increasing.

Health centers do eliminate barriers for patients who need a source of quality primary care, but they also are one of the most cost effective forms of health care available.

• Health centers’ average cost runs a dollar less per patient per day compared to all physician settings ($1.67 vs. $2.64).
• Health centers save the health care system about $24 billion annually

We need your help..

Health center expansion is essential to reduce these barriers as well as costs on the entire health care system.

So for the next month, we will be collecting petition signatures to show local support for community health centers nationwide.  Each signature counts, and if we collect enough, then we will be able to present the petition along with all of the signatures to our legislators when they are home during the first week in May.

1) Sign the petition.
2) Tweet this – “@WTHRcom #medicaid patients go to ER more often except for those who use community health centers! http://bit.ly/GQ0UUG #SaveCHCs”
3) LIKE us on Facebook to keep up with more updates on our Petition Drive!

• Increase Hoosiers at a healthy weight
• Decrease tobacco usage
• Reduce infant mortality
• Assure food safety
• Reduce health care-associated infections
• Reduce the burden of HIV, STD and Viral Hepatitis in Indiana

It’s no secret that Indiana ranks as one of the unhealthiest states in the nation. State Health Commissioner Gregory Larkin acknowledged that implementing the state’s ambitious action plan will be no easy task. The only way to succeed will be if individuals and public, private, governmental, and nonprofit organizations passionately #giveacareabout our state and work together.

We applaud the Department of Health’s efforts to take a broad look at how to make Indiana a healthier place to live. If we were to add a goal, #7 would be to continue improving access to health care and support services in neighborhoods, right where people live.

Why? Because true health encompasses so much more than a once-a-year doctor’s visit. And, often the best people to figure how to make a community a healthier are the folks who actually live there.

For example, look at what’s been happening on the Far Eastside of Indianapolis. This month, residents there just embarked on a great adventure — developing a Quality of Life plan for their community. This plan will help outline the things the community believes should happen to improve the health and well-being of all residents. Not only do they intend to identify areas of need and concern, they also plan to work together to be the change they want to see in their community.

The success of this plan, too, will take a lot of local folks who #giveacareabout the Far Eastside and work tireless to make things happen. We look forward to being a part of it.

Last month, we became a Far Eastside neighbor! The new HealthNet Eastside Health Center opened at 38^th Street and Post Road, and will serve more than 2,000 people each year — many living below the federal poverty level. It’s great to be neighbors with the Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE), LaPlaza, Goodwill Industries, Family Development Services, CICOA, Dream Academy, Women in Motion and other groups at the Far Eastside Neighborhood Center that are working together with residents to make the Far Eastside a healthier place to live.

What can you do? GET INVOLVED!

If you live on the Far Eastside, the Quality of Life Issue Group meetings are the third Tuesday of each month at the Far Eastside Neightborhood Center, 8902 E. 38th Street, at 6:00 p.m.

Interested in knowing more about the Far Eastside? Join us at today’s open house for the new Eastside Health Center at CAFE’s Annual Community Day!

If you were to add a goal to the state’s list, what do you think would be the most important health priority for your neighborhood?

Last year, a reported 50 million Americans between the ages of 18-64 were without health insurance for the entire year.  This, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is an increase of “1.1 million people each year, over the past several years,

and middle-income people account for half of that increase.”

Access to health care is essential to these people who no longer seek preventative or regular services because of its cost.  Prevention is MORE important than treatment in terms of getting and staying healthy, and now people are coming to the doctor only in times of serious illness or emergency.  This delay can lead to poorer health in the long-run, and people battling with disabilities and chronic illnesses are affected the most.

This reality of more and more people becoming uninsured heightens the importance of greater access to care.  The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), reported an increase of 36% for the number of uninsured patients who visited health centers nationwide.  The need is growing, and the access to care must grow with it.

Preventative care is available through community health centers that can provide multi-service primary care to those who are uninsured, underinsured, or those who do not qualify for other forms of aid.  And the good news is that community health centers around the nation are set to expand as a result of more federal funding.

However, you can help your OWN community by supporting HealthNet‘s community health centers continued efforts to expand and reach those who need it within Indianapolis.  Vistit our website, indyhealthnet.org or donate directly by clicking here.

According to the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), by 2015, the amount of patients that receive care from CHCs will double to about 40 million. The expansion of CHCs nationwide will save our health care system about $122 billion from now until 2015.  We will see the savings in the following ways:

• fewer amount of emergency room visits, saving $55 million for the Medicaid program
• $20 billion in local business generated within the health centers’ neighborhoods
• Improved cared – Health centers meet or exceed nationally accepted practice standards for treatment of chronic conditions

More information from the NACHC report shows that – “Health center’s Medicaid payment is intended to cover their comprehensive services, including dental, mental health, and pharmacy, as well as their programmatic requirements to provide programs that facilitate access to care and motivate healthy behaviors, such as care management, insurance enrollment assistance, transportation, translation, and health education. These services keep patients out of the emergency room and help prevent hospitalizations.”

The return on investment is clear, and not only are the quantifiable outcomes significant but also the indirect returns will be seen.  A healthier community will provide a healthier economy.  Providing primary care and a health care home gives citizens stability in their lives and allows them to focus on their jobs and raising their children.

With the start of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 we will see 32 million uninsured citizens gain coverage through Medicaid and private insurance; however, Health Center expansion is needed before 2014.  You can help by spreading awareness about HealthNet‘s network of community health centers or learning how to get directly involved here.