PRIORITY: OneZone Chamber of Commerce supports policies that improve overall public health outcomes for Hoosiers, and encourage transparency and competitiveness within the healthcare system in an effort to lower employer costs.
RATIONALE: The cost of providing health care, including but not limited to hospital fees, prescription medication, insurance costs, and specialty drugs and services, are some of the most significant expenses for Indiana employers. Additionally, Indiana is continuously ranked poorly in public health metrics such as smoking, obesity, maternal mortality, and mental/behavioral health challenges.
Full cost transparency of healthcare industry partners should be required in order to drive market forces, increase competitiveness, and support employer and consumer choice. Promoting transparency and competitiveness in healthcare costs, will shine the spotlight on inequities in the system, eliminate unnecessary duplication, and offer more employer and consumer choice. Recognizing that the total cost of care is directly correlated with an individual's underlying state of health, policies to encourage preventative care, address social determinants of health, and support the adoption of healthy lifestyles should be pursued by all stakeholders.
Additionally, OneZone supports healthcare policies that empower employers’ autonomy to make decisions for their businesses. Every stakeholder in the healthcare space, including hospitals, insurance companies, and providers, must be at the table to find solutions.
SUPPLIER DIVERSITY CERTIFICATION PROGRAM
PRIORITY: OneZone Chamber of Commerce supports policies that optimize the supplier diversity certification process, including simplicity and accessibility.
RATIONALE: The Supplier Diversity Certifications (Women-Owned Businesses, Minority-Owned Businesses and Veteran-Owned Businesses) help to recognize and support the types of business owners who have historically faced obstacles in securing contracts with Indiana state and local government. OneZone supports ensuring that the process to get certified as such a business is optimized, streamlined and simple.
WORKFORCE
PRIORITY: OneZone Chamber of Commerce supports policies and incentives that encourage attracting, training, and retaining talent to meet the needs of current and future workforce.
RATIONALE: While the labor market remains robust, the number of qualified workforce participants continue to dwindle, with job vacancies causing problems for industries across the board. It is critical that Indiana creates an environment that allows Indiana businesses to remain competitive and, thus, spurring growth in existing and future economic development. This could include policies that: incentivize attainable housing for all income levels; investments in tourism that create more quality opportunities for residents and celebrate all vibrant Indiana communities; removing overly burdensome regulations; and keeping Indiana’s tax climate business friendly.