Porter's Publication: Monthly News for April
56th Annual Kennedy King Memorial Initiative
On April 4, the Kennedy King Memorial Initiative held its annual event honoring the impromptu speech given by Senator Robert F. Kennedy on the evening of Martin Luther King’s assassination. It was an important moment of unity, peace and love in the face of grief. The goal of the KKMI is to raise awareness, provoke thought and inspire action to eliminate division and injustice. Many of our speakers at the event embodied that goal.
One of my favorite moments was a poem read by a young high school student. It was about the youth of America, the values they’ve learned from Dr. King and their hopes for the future. I loved the poem and I’m thankful that we have young people in Indianapolis who are willing to stand up and share their message. As Chairman of the KKMI, I was pleased to see many in our community attend — including Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett, Reverend Brown and Imam Saahir. I invite everyone to visit Dr. Martin Luther King Park and the Cultural Visitors’ Center this spring and summer. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event a reality, and I hope to see you there next year!
Earth Day and My Upcoming Tree Sapling Giveaway
Earth Day is our annual reminder of the beauty and importance of our planet. As an Indianapolis native, I understand how important nature is to our well-being. Access to trails, parks and other outdoor facilities are vital to Hoosiers quality of place and health. A 10 minute walk in the park is shown to significantly improve your mental health. There are a lot of pressing environmental issues facing our world, our nation, our state and the City of Indianapolis.
Being environmentally conscious is vital for our future. It’s about stewardship and preserving the planet for our children, grandchildren and their children. We have to be cognizant of our actions, so we leave our surroundings better than how we inherited them. I believe any environmental act helps, big or small. A small action like cleaning up trash is just as instrumental as urging businesses to engage in sustainable practices. I hope this Earth Day reminds all of us to be strong advocates for our planet.
As part of local Earth Day festivities, I will be giving away 200 tree saplings on Saturday, May 4. The event will be held at the Broad Ripple Farmers Market (6001 N Rural St, Indianapolis, IN) from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Multiple varieties will be offered, including Bald Cypress, Oak, Black Walnut, Chestnut, Norway Spruce, PawPaw, Persimmon, Red Oak and Sycamore. The saplings are first-come, first-served and are limited to one per family.
Marion County Public Health Department relocating Eastside W.I.C. Clinic, Dental Clinic and B.A.B.E. Store
Throughout April, the Marion County Public Health Department (MCPHD) is relocating and reopening three of its clinics. The Eastside dental clinic, Women, Infants and Children (W.I.C.) clinic and the Beds and Britches, etc. (B.A.B.E.) store are moving to the new Eskenazi Health Thomas & Arlene Grande Campus.
MCPHD’s B.A.B.E. store’s last day at the Forest Manor clinic at 3840 N. Sherman Drive will be April 17, and it will reopen at 6002 E. 38th Street on April 22. Its new phone number will be (317) 880-1488.
MCPHD’s Dental Health clinic’s last day at the Forest Manor clinic at 3840 N. Sherman Drive will be April 19, and it will reopen at 6002 E. 38th Street on April 29. Its new phone number will be (317) 880-1477.
MCPHD’s W.I.C. clinic’s last day at the 2505 N. Arlington Ave. location will be April 26, and it will reopen at 6002 E. 38th Street on April 30. Its new phone number will be (317) 880-1400.
MCPHD’s breastfeeding support program will remain at the Forest Manor clinic. Its phone number is (317) 221-7407.
I hope that the MCPHD can serve even more Indianapolis residents with this move to a larger space. For more information about the MCPHD, visit www.marionhealth.org.
Addressing Disparities in Black Maternal Health Care
April 11-17 was Black Maternal Health Week. This annual week brings attention to and inspires action on the disparities black women face in prenatal, obstetric and postpartum care. I’d like to share portions of an op-ed written by my colleagues — Rep. Vanessa Summers (D-Indianapolis) and Rep. Carolyn Jackson (D- Hammond) — below:
It’s Black Maternal Health Week, and we want to shine a spotlight on the unique issues that Black moms in Indiana face and discuss how to improve the standard of healthcare they receive before, during and after pregnancy. Across the board, Black mothers do not receive the same level of care as their white counterparts, resulting in deadly consequences.
The last thing an expecting mother should worry about is feeling unheard by the medical team charged with their well-being. And yet, these fears ring true for far too many Black mothers. The most recent data from the CDC lays out the grim reality faced by Black women across the country: Black mothers die at a staggering rate of 2.6 times that of white mothers.
Looking at the numbers for Indiana further showcases this racial disparity. Indiana has the 3rd highest maternal mortality rate in America, and most of those deaths are Black mothers. A recent report shows that in Indiana in 2021, Black women represented 13% of live births but 21% of maternal deaths.
Simply put, there is a crisis in our state. This crisis is fueled by a multitude of policy failures, including Black mortality rates, implicit bias within the healthcare system and a lack of dedicated funding for solutions. It doesn’t help that Indiana has an abortion ban in place – women know when they are able to carry an unintended pregnancy healthily, and the ban makes it so that the most vulnerable will be the ones carrying unintended pregnancies to term.
Unfortunately, the Republican supermajority at the Statehouse has not previously greenlit a wealth of legislation that would go far toward saving Black moms’ lives, but the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus is committed to offering and passing solutions of substance. At the same time, we are proud to celebrate the legislative wins that have passed and been signed into law.
While we’ve made strides in improving maternal health outcomes, the fact remains that there is much more work to do. If we are able to deploy those resources and enact policies to make healthcare truly equitable, Black maternal mortality can be greatly improved, but that’s only if we can muster the necessary support behind the notion that Black mothers’ lives are worth protecting.
Upcoming change to Medicaid Managed Care Program
By 2030, one in five Hoosiers will be a senior citizen (ages 65 and older). As Indiana’s population ages, our senior care management framework must be a priority. Our 16 Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) are critical to this framework since they provide case management and referrals for services. AAAs serve small districts and do not operate with profit margins or shareholders in mind. They provide essential care to our senior citizens — including community programs like Meals on Wheels. Upcoming changes to Medicaid programs, like Managed Care, will put our AAAs at risk.
On July 1st, the Family and Social Service Administration (FSSA) is phasing out their Aged and Disability Waiver (A&D). This will change Medicaid’s Managed Care program to the new Indiana PathWays for Aging. Under PathWays, case management for seniors will shift from AAAs to big insurance companies — also known as Managed Care Entities (MCEs) — who will charge the state a flat rate for each senior. Our AAAs would be paid less to do more work putting their well-being at risk. Defunding the AAAs would result in fewer services available, a significant strain on the healthcare and nursing system and the end of several senior community organizations. The AAAs and MCEs are attempting to reach a reasonable, fiscal agreement before the switch. It’s unclear whether the PathWays to Aging program will be ready for implementation by the July start date. The movement away from our AAAs will delocalize care creating a uniform system that puts our seniors with complex needs at risk.
Enrollment for the program has already started, so I encourage Hoosier seniors to call 87-PATHWAY-4 (877-284-9294) to enroll today. I will keep my district as up-to-date as possible as the FSSA implements several changes to its waivers and programs. As always, please reach out to my office at (317)234-3101 or h26@iga.in.gov with any questions or concerns.
Relevant Articles
Indiana Black Legislative Caucus launches latest town hall series around the state
Hoosiers’ Medicaid payments are about to restart for the first time since the pandemic
https://pro.stateaffairs.com/in/healthcare/indiana-medicaid-payments-restart
The 'Silicon Heartland,' abortion injunction, lawyer shortage, forever chemicals
State Republicans killed an Indiana city’s lawsuit to stop illegal gun sales. Why?
https://apnews.com/article/gary-indiana-gun-industry-lawsuit-ee82fc0ca8953238eb1bf45bb46533cd
In service,
State Rep. Gregory W. Porter