2003 findings with survey instrument - Shadac

companies also dispense free pharmaceuticals to patients, courtesy of bulk replacements.The HIIF committee has been identified as a vehicle to develop the program, as manymembers are key stakeholders. Therefore, the HIIF committee will be developing acommittee to identify key implementation issues, and help coordinate the implementationof the program across the State. There are many policy issues to contend with includingtarget group, benefits, and local coordination, as well as getting providers to participate,and fundraising for on-going administrative costs. Representative Hasler, who sponsoredthe legislation, is coordinating most of these efforts, and he is very keen on having HIIFsupport the process, and to offer recommendations in the development of the program.SPG staff has also worked to coordinate some of the efforts already going on in the Statearound this type of program. There are at least two Community Access Program grantsthat have started to implement these programs, and an effort of the nationally basedHudson Institute to initiate such a program within Indianapolis and Marion County. TheHudson Institute has interests in working with Representative Hasler and Project Health.Those conversations are on going, and have been coordinated by SPG staff.E. StrategiesWith the recent activity of the legislature which did not support increases to the Medicaidprogram, and in fact flat lined the program, the HIIF members were keenly aware that afocus on raising awareness and support for the issues of the uninsured is needed. Whileall the committees will focus on the strategy to implement their options, this committeewill focus more specifically and broadly, on how the HIIF committee can work to createpolitical will to address the uninsured. This committee will also address the long-rangeplanning for the uninsured and consider making recommendations to address the healthsystem issues. The Strategies Committee will also provide recommendations for thetownhall meetings that will occur per our project plan in 2004.Section 5: Consensus & Building Strategy5.1 The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration serves as the State PlanningGrant recipient and also provides key leadership to the project. The Governor's Office hasassigned a contact person from the Governor’s Office to represent him in thedeliberations of the HIIF. FSSA staff contributes to the project, as well as outsideconsultants. The project is guided by the Health Insurance for Indiana Families (HIIF)Committee, a task force appointed by the Secretary of FSSA, which includesrepresentation from: large and small employers (National Federation of IndependentBusinesses, and the State's Chamber of Commerce), insurance agencies, physicians(Medical Association) hospitals (Hospital Association, as well as some hospitalAdministrators), safety net providers, including federally qualified health centers,consumer advocates, the Indiana Minority Health Coalition, Medicaid managed careorganizations, and the State's only Medical School. The Department of Health and theState's Department of Insurance also have representation on the HIIF committee. At thistime we have not included any legislators as HIIF members, but there are efforts to keepkey legislators aware of HIIF's activities, through key informant interviews, and otherbriefings. The goal has been to use this broad-based approach to include many diversevii