STATEHOUSE (May 17, 2021) – Legislation establishing a state health improvement plan and a $50 million grant program targeting Hoosiers’ most critical health challenges is now law, according to State Rep. Ethan Manning (R-Logansport).
Under the new law supported by Manning, the Indiana Department of Health and the Family and Social Services Administration will prepare a plan on how to best improve the physical and behavioral health of Hoosiers. Manning said the grant program will help improve Indiana’s declining public health by allocating $50 million over two years to initiatives addressing health disparities.
“The COVID-19 pandemic was certainly a wake-up call for many Hoosiers as this virus has more adverse effects for those with underlying health conditions,” Manning said. “Our state continues to lag behind others in key health metrics, and this program aims to address Indiana’s health challenges and encourage more Hoosiers to live a healthier lifestyle.”
Manning said the grant program will give preference to proposals focused on improving chronic health problems such as diabetes, obesity and cardiovascular diseases.
Grants can be used for both new and existing programs and initiatives. The grant program will be modeled after Indiana’s successful Safety PIN program, which helped lower the state’s infant mortality rate by providing funding to local health organizations. After the Safety PIN program was implemented, Indiana reached a record-low infant mortality rate last year for the first time in our state’s history.
House Enrolled Act 1007 will take effect July 1.
