INDIANAPOLIS, February 29, 2024 – investing in primary and preventive healthcare isn’t just good medicine; it’s a smart economic move for Indiana, according to a new report. Strategic funding in these areas could significantly improve health outcomes, lower healthcare costs, and boost the state’s long-term financial health.
A Healthier Indiana: The Power of Proactive Care
A new report details how prioritizing primary and preventive care can benefit Hoosiers and the state’s economy.
- Prioritizing primary care leads to better patient outcomes and a more sustainable healthcare system.
- Increased primary care use is linked to fewer avoidable emergency room visits.
- Smart investments in primary care can reduce overall healthcare spending within 12 to 36 months.
- Team-based,coordinated care improves patient experiences,especially for vulnerable populations.
- Combining financial incentives with thoughtful benefit design, data sharing, and patient engagement yields the strongest results.
The report, “Increasing Primary Care and Preventive Care Utilization in Indiana: A State-Level Approach,” commissioned by the Indiana business Health Collaborative, offers Indiana-specific recommendations for policymakers, employers, insurers, and healthcare leaders aiming to lower costs and improve population health. The analysis draws on national research and compares Indiana’s performance to neighboring and similar states.
What’s the key to a healthier indiana? Strengthening primary care is crucial, as it demonstrably improves patient outcomes and reduces reliance on costly emergency and hospital care, ultimately leading to more sustainable healthcare spending trends.
“Primary care and preventive care are widely recognized as foundational to a high-performing health system, yet Indiana continues to underinvest in these areas,” said Aparna Soni, a
The report also cautioned against relying on strategies with limited proven impact, such as workplace wellness programs, high-deductible health plans, and certain types of virtual primary care, which may not increase primary and preventive care use and could even have unintended negative consequences.
“Indiana doesn’t need to spend more on health care overall to see better results,” Soni said. “The evidence shows that spending smarter, by investing in primary care and prevention, can deliver meaningful benefits for patients, employers and taxpayers alike.”
Nir Menachemi, dean and professor at the Fairbanks School, and andrea Renzi-Burns and Lindsey Sanner were also involved in the report’s progress.
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