A Northwest Indiana lawmaker's proposal to expand access to state grants for mobile integrated health care services won unanimous approval Tuesday at the Indiana House.
House Bill 1051, sponsored by LaPorte County state Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, would allow the state's 92 counties to seek state funding for mobile integrated health care operations — in addition to cities, towns and townships.
Mobile integrated health care is used by some emergency medical service providers to offer a wider range of medical services, including basic primary care and chronic disease management, to individuals typically living in rural areas where adequate health care may not be easily accessible.
Records show Indiana allocates $500,000 a year to the Indiana Department of Homeland Security’s Emergency Medical Services Commission to distribute mobile integration health care grants to eligible local governmental entities that apply for the money.
"Not all of our communities have easy access to quality health care," Pressel said. "Mobile integrated health care programs are one of the ways Indiana is bringing medical services to rural communities. With this legislation, we could expand our reach and help even more Hoosiers get the care they need," Pressel said.
The proposal to make Indiana counties eligible for the state grants was approved 91-0. It now goes to the Senate.
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