2022: The Year of Access for Indiana

It's 2022 and we're excited to work with our amazing Indiana You're the Cure advocates to ensure a healthier future is accessible to all Hoosiers! Read on to learn more about what we're working on and don't forget to make plans to join us for Indiana Virtual Day of Action on February 1st!

With your help, look what we have accomplished!

• Statewide – Self-Measured Blood Pressure – Thousands of Hoosiers with high blood pressure may now have easier access to monitoring devices that will allow them to check their own blood pressure which could help them to better control their blood pressure thanks to a change in state policy that was recommended by the American Heart Association.
  
  
• Indiana Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP) approved a policy request to expand coverage of blood pressure monitoring devices for the diagnosis and management of patients with hypertension and to address barriers to the implementation of self-measured blood pressure monitoring. The OMPP also removed a requirement for prior authorization, eliminating a barrier for patients receiving a device.
  
  
• City of Evansville - Advocated for the passage of Complete Streets – Access to sidewalks, curb ramps, and crosswalks helps to create a culture of health where people can safely go to schools, work, parks. The policy requires t City of Evansville hat all road construction and reconstruction create complete streets that are safe and convenient for diverse users and all modes of transportation statewide.

• City of Indianapolis – Increased Water Access in Schools – Supported a policy that ensures all newly constructed schools and schools undergoing major renovations will have water bottle filling stations.
  
  

Where are we going in 2022?

• Easy Enrollment - Implement an “opt-in” on state tax returns for information sharing with state health insurance exchanges, to increase access for the more than 200,000 Hoosiers needing free or low-cost healthcare coverage.
  
  
• Postpartum Medicaid Coverage - Extend access to postpartum Medicaid coverage from 60 days to 12 months for all individuals who are eligible for Medicaid coverage by virtue of their pregnancy.
  
  
• Healthier Restaurant Options – Working to limit access to sugary drinks by sponsoring a policy to provide healthier drink options, like water and milk, as part of the kid’s meal offered in Indianapolis restaurants. 

Thank you for being an advocate for health!

Danielle Patterson and Melissa Brown
Your AHA Indiana Advocacy Team