Indiana lags behind in primary and preventive care. Experts worry legislative changes will hurt access

Indiana lags behind other states in primary and preventive health care, according to a New report.

Report raises that legislative concern Indiana Medicaid changes made this year This system could worsen existing problems of health care access for Hoosiers.

An analysis by IU Indianapolis’ Center for Health Policy found that Indiana lags the nation in the number of primary care providers. There are approximately 66 primary care physicians for every 100,000 people in the state. The national average is 75 per 100,000.

Employer-sponsored health care spending on primary care is also well below the national average.

Aparna Soni is the lead author of this report. He said Indiana’s comparison is bad across the board.

“If we compare ourselves to the nation and most of the comparator states, we are really behind in primary care physician supply,” he said. “We are behind in percentage of total health expenditure.”

The state scored comparatively low on both preventive screenings for cancer and wellness visits, and only 77% of Indiana children are getting recommended screenings. The vaccination rate in the state is also lagging behind.

Some Indiana health advocates worry efforts to reduce health care spending through Medicaid deductionsThis will make it harder for people to access primary and preventive health care, increasing long-term costs.

Specifically, the report found that Indiana performs comparatively well in terms of access to primary care for Medicare beneficiaries – suggesting that “targeted coverage and reimbursement structures can improve access.”

Soni said there are important, long-term benefits of preventive care that lawmakers aren’t taking into account.

“There’s now a lot of evidence that while primary care reduces spending, it increases value in the long run,” he said. “Sometimes it doesn’t provide immediate results.”

Contact government reporter Benjamin Thorpe bthorp@wfyi.org