Internal and Legislative meetings
aim to open communications

State Legislators share ideas with CHS

A mix of new and experienced state legislators visited Maria Bingham Hall in December to formulate relationships and discuss local and national healthcare issues.

The visit from State Representatives Bill Davis, Dennis Tyler, and State Senator Sue Errington marked the second time in as many months that CHS has hosted guests from the Statehouse. Governor Mitch Daniels held a conference at BMH in November to announce his initiative to expand health insurance to uninsured Hoosiers. The Governor’s proposal was among topics discussed at the legislative meeting.

Representing CHS were Robert Curtis, president and CEO, CHS; Brent Batman, president, BMH; Thomas Gardiner, MD, executive vice president, Clinical Development; Robert Gildersleeve, executive vice president and chief financial officer, CHS; Gail Bumgarner, vice president, Strategic Management and Marketing; Terry Allen, vice president, Human Resources; Michelle
Altobella, in-house counsel and director, Office of Legal Regulatory Affairs, Kent Bullis, MD, medical director, BSU Student Health Center; Gordon Hughes,
MD, Medical Consultants; Charles Routh, MD, Cardinal Health Ventures; Kelly Stanley, president, BMH Foundation; and Dan Allen from the Muncie Chamber
of Commerce.

The legislators heard a short presentation about CHS, focusing on the services and community benefit the System provides, the building project, and CHS’s economic impact on East Central Indiana. This was followed by a discussion of a range of issues including the Governor’s plan to expand health insurance, health care labor pool and training issues, patient safety, economic development, and the economic impact of healthcare spending.

“It’s a good forum for us to have with the legislators, and an opportunity to provide them with our perspective on important healthcare issues that we face in East Central Indiana,” said Curtis. “This was essentially a forum to discuss issues of mutual interest. The meeting went very well, and there was a lot of good dialogue and discussion.”

The group will meet every nine to twelve months to discuss issues and ideas and will be expanded to include other local providers.

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