by Guest Author | Jul 15, 2024 | News, Playbook
We are excited to announce that 4C Health, a leading Community Mental Health Center in North Central Indiana, has made a significant commitment to support the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy’s “Playbook for Enhancing Indiana’s Mental & Behavioral Health Workforce.” This commitment, announced on July 12, 2024, represents a crucial step towards addressing the pressing workforce challenges in Indiana’s mental health sector.
Dr. Carrie Cadwell, CEO and President of 4C Health, emphasized the importance of this commitment:
“The need in our rural communities is so great, and the critical factor in our ability to meet that need is workforce. We hope our transparent and public commitment to these Playbook strategies spurs others to do the same. Together we can be industry transforming!”
Read their full post here.
4C Health has outlined an impressive array of initiatives aligned with the Playbook’s strategies, including:
- Increasing the number of behavioral health students trained annually to 50
- Expanding their Peer Workforce from 12 to 30 peers
- Implementing a Doctoral Psychology Practicum program
- Developing an APA-approved psychology internship and post-doctoral program
- Collaborating with local educational institutions to create new pathways into behavioral health careers
- Continuing and expanding their Tuition Assistance and Loan Repayment Programs
- Implementing a 4-day work week model for all staff
These commitments demonstrate 4C Health’s dedication to not only enhancing their own workforce but also contributing to the broader goal of strengthening Indiana’s mental health services.
Indiana’s mental health care system faces significant challenges, with real-life impacts on millions of Hoosiers and long-term implications for our state’s economic outlook. The Bowen Center’s Playbook offers concrete solutions to increase the number of mental health care workers in Indiana. To learn more about the Playbook and its strategies, visit The Playbook home page.
Together, we’re building a stronger, more resilient mental health workforce for Indiana. We encourage other organizations to consider how they can contribute to this crucial effort and make their own commitments to the Playbook’s strategies.
by Guest Author | Apr 3, 2023 | Events, News, Policy
Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey
Bowen Director Dr. Hannah Maxey provided expert testimony to the United States Senate Special Committee on Aging on March 9, 2023. Her presentation focused on strengthening the home and community-based care workforce, a critical component of support for aging Americans. Dr. Maxey highlighted various state-led initiatives to improve home care services, including standardizing worker titles and training, implementing portable credentials, and enhancing wages and benefits.
Emphasizing the crucial role of states in this effort, Dr. Maxey stated, “States have a critical role in reinforcing the front line of our nation’s communities of care.” She stressed the importance of data collection to inform workforce planning and policy decisions, noting that “Data is the foundation of informed workforce policy.” Dr. Maxey also addressed the challenges faced by the workforce, including low wages and the potential loss of benefits as wages increase, known as the “benefits cliff.”
Reflecting on the universal importance of this issue, Dr. Maxey remarked, “Time waits for no man. The issues of the aging are the issues of us all.” She concluded by underlining the significance of the home care workforce in supporting seniors and the ongoing need for efforts to bolster this essential component of community care, saying, “At some point in our lives, many of us will rely on this workforce, for a loved one or even for ourselves.”
Read Dr. Maxey’s full testimony here
Watch Dr. Maxey’s testimony here on the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging website (begins around the 43:00 minute mark)
by Guest Author | Mar 16, 2023 | Data, Policy
In the last month the Bowen Center has published our two bi-annual data and brief reports from license renewals, but also two separate briefs. These two extra briefs look at how the Demand for RNs is expected to grow (our RN Demand Brief) and Licensing of APRNs, how Indiana does it versus how other states in the United States regulate these professionals (APRN licensure brief).
So to keep you in the loop on all things nursing, we’re going to do a quick overview of each of our nursing workforce materials that are hot off the press.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensing: Indiana’s Current Environment & Other State Approaches
Current Indiana law requires that all APRNs be licensed as Registered Nurses (RNs) and meet certain educational criteria to provide APRN-level services in their respective APRN role. An estimated one-fourth (28.8%) of RNs self-identified as APRNs but do not hold any additional licenses or authorities, and are providing advanced nursing care under their RN license. The absence of an advanced license for all APRNs in Indiana, regardless of prescriptive authority, poses some challenges for policymakers and the public.
Indiana’s approach to occupational regulation for APRNs is relatively unique. A 50-state review of APRN regulation determined that only one other state has a similar approach. The brief presents four (4) other approaches to APRN licensure and identifies considerations for each approach in terms of intersection with prescriptive authority, consumer perspectives, impact on practicing professionals, and administrative feasibility.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse Licensing: Indiana’s Current Environment & Other State Approaches
RN Demand Brief
Over the next ten years, workforce projections estimate that demand for RNs jobs will increase by 30%. This brief examines the specifics of this predictions and breaks down that demand at a county-level. We hope this resource will give policymakers and stakeholders information to support planning for Indiana’s future nursing workforce
Indiana Registered Nurse Workforce Demand Brief
by Guest Author | Jul 1, 2022 | Policy
Indiana’s last election was November 3, 2020 and the next election is November 3, 2022
Indiana Senate
The 50 seats in the senate are divided with Republicans in the majority.
Republicans: 39
Democrats: 11
Indiana House
The 100 seats in the house are divided with Republicans in the majority.
Republican: 71
Democrats: 21
Who are the legislators on Indiana’s standing health committees?
[R] - District 5
Sen. Charbonneau also serves on the Ethics, Appropriations, Rules and Legislative Procedure, and Tax and Fiscal Policy standing committees.
[R] - District 50
Sen. Becker also serves on the Local Government and Public Policy standing committees.
[R] - District 15
Sen. Brown also serves on the Judiciary, Appropriations, Ethics standing committees, and the School Funding Subcommittee.
[R] - District 16
Sen. Busch also serves on the Agriculture, Corrections and Criminal Law, and Natural Resources standing committees.
[R] - District 28
Sen. Crider also serves on the Homeland Security and Transportation, Veterans Affairs and the Military, Appropriations, and Rules and Legislative Procedure standing committees.
[R] - District 18
Sen. Donato also serves on the Commerce and Technology, Education and Career Development, Elections, Family and Children Services, and Utilities standing committees.
[R] - District 46
Sen. Groom brings experience to the committee as a Pharmacist. Sen. Grooms also serves on the Family & Children Services, Elections, and Public Policy standing committees.
[R] - District 42
Sen. Leising brings experience to the committee as a retired nurse. Sen. Leising also serves on the Agriculture, Natural Resources, Commerce and Technology, Education and Career Development, and Utilities standing committees.
[R] - District 9
- Sen. Mishler also serves on the Appropriations and Tax & Fiscal Policy standing committees as well as the State Budget Committee.
[D] - District 34
Sen. Breaux also serves on the Agriculture, Commerce and Technology, Natural Resources, Public Policy, and Utilities standing committees.
[D] - District 3
Sen. Melton also serves on the Appropriations, Education and Career Development, Environmental Affairs standing committees, as well as the School Funding Subcommittee.
[D] - District 40
Sen. Yoder also serves on the Commerce and Technology, Education and Career Development, Environmental Affairs, and Utilities standing committees.
[R] - District 56
Rep. Barrett brings medical experience to the committee as a retired general surgeon.
Rep. Barrett also serves on the Agriculture and Rural Development standing committee
[R] - District 19
Rep. Olthoff also serves on the Family, Children and Human Affairs, and Veterans Affairs and Public Safety standing committees.
[R] - District 25
Rep. Lehe also serves on the Agriculture and Rural Development and Environmental Affairs standing committees.
[R] - District 79
- Rep. Lehman also serves on the Financial Institutions and Insurance and Public Policy standing committees.
[R] - District 73
Davisson also serves on the Agriculture and Rural Development and Commerce standing committees.
[R] - District 24
Rep. Schaibley also serves on the Courts and Criminal Code and Financial Institutions and Insurance standing committees.
[R] - District 31
Rep. Vermillion brings experience to the committee with her history at a health care and public health consulting firm.
Rep. Vermillion also serves on the Family, Children and Human Affairs and Elections and Apportionment standing committees.
[R] - District 51
Rep. Zent is a retired endodontist and brings a medical background to the committee.
Rep. Zent also serves on the Local Government and Veterans Affairs and Public Safety standing committees.
[R] - District 55
Rep. Ziemke also serves on the Courts and Criminal Code and Employment, Labor, and Pensions standing committees.
[D] - District 98
- Rep. Shackleford also serves on the Courts and Criminal Code and Financial Institutions and Insurance standing committees.
[D] - District 71
Rep. Fleming brings experience to the committee as a former RN/NP and obstetrician/gynecologist.
Rep. Fleming also serves on the Commerce, Small Business and Economic Development and Natural Resources standing committees.
[D] - District 77
Rep. Hatfield also serves on the Employment, Labor and Pensions, Judiciary, and Utilities, Energy and Telecommunications standing committees.
[D] - District 96
Rep. Porter also serves on the Ways and Means and Financial Institutions and Insurance standing committees.
Learn about the Bowen Center’s role in policy and more. To view our published policy resources visit the Bowen library and filter by topic area “policy.”
by Guest Author | Oct 2, 2019 | Data, Topics of Interest
Why is it needed?
Over the last several decades, information has been collected from health professionals during their online license renewal. In 2018, Senate Enrolled Act 223 identified this information (including educational and practice characteristics) as being critical to the State of Indiana for health workforce planning. Beginning in January 2019, health professionals are now required to provide this information.
Questions asked at the beginning of the online license initiating and renewal process provides information which is collected and maintained in the Indiana Health Professions Database by the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy. This information will provide the State of Indiana with an accurate representation of the health workforce and will be used to inform: workforce shortage areas, recruitment incentives, policy and programming, profession-specific initiatives and health workforce evaluations.
Need a printable version of this document? Click here.
Survey Related
- I have answered every survey question and hit the submit button, why can’t I proceed?
The system will not proceed unless each question has a response. Please review each individual question to verify that a response has been selected> Even if the question is not applicable to you, please select “not applicable”.
- I am retired. Some of these questions don’t apply to me.
Please scroll down to the bottom of the survey options and select Not Applicable. For questions with a text box, type in NA.
- What if I practice in more than one location?
The survey will allow you the opportunity to provide information on multiple practice locations.
- What if I do not know the percentage of Indiana Medicaid patients at my primary practice location?
This question is used to inform health professional shortage area designations. Please estimate to the best of your ability or select “Not Applicable” if you are not actively practicing.
- What if I do not know if my primary practice location is accepting new Indiana Medicaid patients?
Your practice administrators and staff may have the answer to this question. Please ask to see if this information is available through them.
- What if I do not know the percentage of patients on a sliding fee scale at my primary practice location?
Your practice administrators and staff may have the answer to this question. Please ask to see if this information is available through them.
- I recently received additional health professional credentials, yet I am not currently practicing in that role. How do I respond when asked to indicate my health professional role along and specialty?
Please provide information that responds to your current role.
Technical Issues
- Which is the recommended internet browser to use while completing my online license renewal?
The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency recommends using Internet Explorer.
- Why am I being kicked out of the system?
This may occur due to the high volume of simultaneous online users or a browser issue. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency recommends using Internet Explorer. If you are currently using a browser other than Internet Explorer, proceed with the following steps:
- Close out of your current browser
- Open Internet Explorer in a new tab
- Sign into the IPLA license renewal system
- Proceed with the license renewal process
- If you are currently using Internet Explorer and continue to experience technical issues, please try again at another time.
- Why are my survey responses being erased?
This may occur due to the high volume of simultaneous online users or a browser issue. The Indiana Professional Licensing Agency recommends using Internet Explorer. If you are currently using a browser other than Internet Explorer, proceed with the following steps:
- Close out of your current browser
- Open Internet Explorer in a new tab
- Sign into the IPLA license renewal system
- Proceed with the license renewal process
- If you are currently using Internet Explorer and continue to experience technical issues, please try again at another time.
General
- Is there a paper license renewal form that I can complete and mail in?
Yes. For each licensed health profession, there is an option of completing a paper license renewal document. The link to the renewal document is listed on each health professions board’s webpage. It is also linked below for easy access:
Print and mail the completed document, along with the required renewal fee, to the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency. The mailing address is found on the license renewal document.
Still Have Questions?
If you have additional questions, please contact the Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research & Policy at bowenctr@iu.ed or 317-278-0316
Need a printable version of this document? Click here.
