Mar 23, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – March 23, 2026
Indiana is behind the nation and peer-states in access to primary care and use of preventive services—gaps that are contributing to poorer health outcomes and higher healthcare costs, with growing implications for the state’s economic competitiveness, according to a new report from the IU Richard M. Fairbanks School of Public Health.
The report, “Increasing Primary Care and Preventive Care Utilization in Indiana: A State Level Approach,” was commissioned by the Indiana Business Health Collaborative (IBHC), a statewide coalition of employers, economic development organizations, health care industry stakeholders, and more working to develop comprehensive solutions to address cost, access, and quality of care in Indiana. It finds that Indiana consistently underperforms national and peer-state benchmarks on core metrics tied to early detection, chronic disease management, and workforce health.
“What we found is pretty clear: Indiana isn’t keeping up with other states on key measures of primary care and prevention,” said Aparna Soni, associate professor of health policy and management at the Fairbanks School. “Those differences are tied to worse health outcomes and greater reliance on more expensive care."
“Indiana has taken important steps, but we are still underinvesting in the front end of care—where the greatest impact can be made,” said Beth Lock, CEO and Executive Director of the IBHC. “For employers, this shows up in higher costs, more complex conditions, and a workforce that isn’t as healthy as it could be. Strengthening primary care and making prevention more accessible are among the most practical steps we can take to improve both health outcomes and economic performance.”
Key findings of the report presented to IBHC members:
Indiana has just 66 primary care physicians per 100,000 residents—well below the national average of 75 and trailing border states Ohio, Michigan, and Illinois.
Only 6.1% of employer-sponsored healthcare spending in Indiana goes to primary care, roughly 25% below the national average.
The state lags peer-states in routine preventive services, including cancer screenings and pediatric wellness visits.
Just 77% of Indiana children receive recommended preventive check-ups, underperforming all of Indiana’s border states.
Indiana performs comparatively well on access to primary care for Medicare beneficiaries, suggesting that targeted coverage and reimbursement structures can improve access.
At a time of increasing scrutiny over healthcare costs in Indiana, the report highlights a clear and often overlooked opportunity: greater investment in primary care and preventive services. A strong body of evidence shows that expanding access to primary care reduces avoidable emergency department visits, hospitalizations, and other high-cost interventions—improving outcomes while lowering overall spending.
The report outlines a range of evidence-based strategies to address these challenges, including:
Investing in graduate medical education in high-need areas
Increasing support for federally qualified health centers and community clinics
Raising reimbursement rates for primary care providers
Expanding team-based and collaborative care models
Leveraging patient reminders and engagement tools
Expanding health insurance coverage
Broadening scope-of-practice for advanced practice providers
The IBHC will use these findings to guide its policy and market-based priorities in the months ahead, including potential recommendations for the 2027 legislative session and actions employers can take to accelerate progress.
Media Contact:
Beth Lock, CEO and Executive Director
(260) 403-4205