STATEHOUSE (Feb. 12, 2010) - Evansville could benefit from the work of two in-depth study committees, if legislation passed recently in the Indiana Senate becomes law.

An amendment I introduced on a recent Senate bill would create a two-year study committee composed of local lawmakers, advocates and mental health professionals from the Evansville community. This 13-member work group would develop, review, and recommend possible changes in the administrative and mental health practices of the Evansville Psychiatric Children’s Center. Members would also review the admission practices currently in place at the EPCC.

Part of the discussion would focus on the EPCC as well as possible ways to collaborate with the Evansville state hospital. The committee would analyze the availability of mental health and addiction services for children, the qualities of care provided to patients by the facilities and determine if changes in administrative as well as admission policies are needed.

By 2012, the council must submit recommendations of their findings to the department of mental health.

A second piece of legislation recently approved by Senate lawmakers addresses the rehabilitative services offered to Hoosiers who sustain traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

Currently, more than 120 Hoosiers with TBI travel out of state to receive their rehabilitative care. Hoping to better develop these health care services here at home, a concurrent resolution I co-authored, would allow lawmakers to develop ways Indiana can better offer these health care services.

Each year, about 21,000 Hoosiers sustain TBI of varying degrees at a cost of more than $1.15 billion, according to the Centers for Disease Control. About 5,150 of the total affected will require hospitalization and an estimated 1,600 will have long-term effects.

Hoosiers in Evansville and throughout the state of Indiana stand to gain possible benefits from these two pieces of legislation. Efforts by lawmakers to craft legislation focused on improving access as well as quality health care for Hoosiers could lead to stronger communities and an even better Indiana.

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