Hoosiers now have more information available to help make important health care decisions. 

The Indiana Department of Insurance launched the Indiana All Payer Claims Database (APCD). 

Created by a 2020 law championed by Senate Republicans and unanimously supported by the General Assembly, the APCD allows consumers to see where they can get the most cost-effective and highest quality medical services close to home. 

Information available in the database includes: 

• A list of health care providers that perform a service within certain distances from your zip code;
• The average out-of-pocket cost for a service; and
• The quality rating for that facility.

To learn more about the APCD, click here. 
 

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ Division of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (DHPA) has announced the recipients of its annual Indiana Archaeology and Indiana Historic Preservation awards, which recognize outstanding efforts in each field.
The awards will be presented by DHPA director Beth McCord and the rest of the division’s staff at local award ceremonies this fall.

The recipients include professional consultants Jerry Sweeten, James Heimlich, and Ryan Duddleson; Turner Chapel AME Church in Fort Wayne; and the city of Huntington. 
Jerry Sweeten, James Heimlich, and Ryan Duddleson will receive the Indiana Archaeology Award for their diligently conducted research and coordinated efforts to archaeologically document certain dams across the state. Documentation of the dams has led to interesting finds regarding the engineering and architectural history of Hoosier dam building.

The Turner Chapel AME Church congregation will receive the Indiana Historic Preservation Award for choosing to place the historic church on the National Register of Historic Places (NHRP), sharing its rich heritage. The congregation purchased the 1927 brick and limestone Gothic Revival church from a United Brethren congregation. In 1969, the congregation chose to protest the lack of integration in Fort Wayne’s public school district by hosting a Freedom School. Many families enrolled their children in this school, withdrawing from the public school system, and within a week district officials agreed to additional integration measures.

The city of Huntington will also receive the Indiana Historic Preservation Award for its outstanding grant-assisted rehabilitation project to repair the stone water race in Memorial Park, which is listed on the NHRP. The community applied for a $60,000 grant from the DHPA’s Historic Preservation Fund matching grant program. Constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1937, this stonework channel averages 8 to 12 feet wide, 3 to 5 feet deep, and is nearly 500 feet long. Repair work included cleaning debris and silt from the channel, building curbs to support undermined walls, reconstructing collapsed sections of walls and floor using both new and salvaged stones, and repointing deteriorated mortar joints. The project was originally estimated at $350,000 but the final cost was $565,000. The award recognizes Huntington’s significant financial commitment to this historic resource, its outstanding grant administration, and the excellent workmanship of its masonry contractor.

As the State Historic Preservation Office, the DHPA oversees the federally funded Historic Preservation Fund grant program, the federal Reinvestment Historic Tax Credit program, and the state’s Historic Homeowner Tax Credit program. The DHPA also functions as Indiana’s central repository for historic structures and archaeological site records.

To view more DNR news releases, please see dnr.IN.gov.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

The Salem Board of Public Works and Safety and Common Council met Monday, Aug. 12, and handled the following business:

APPROVED: A band invitational will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 7. Lori Gilstrap said buses will begin to arrive around 3 p.m. and asked if emergency responders could be alerted to the additional traffic that will result.

APPROVED: Bike Night will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 31, on the east side of the square.

APPROVED: Beer on the Bricks will be held from 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 28.

APPROVED: The closure of Harrison Street for Varsity games on Aug. 23, Sept. 13, Oct. 11, and Oct. 18.

APPROVED: The Salem Linebackers 1st Annual Homecoming Parade at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 8.

APPROVED: The vacation of three alleys at Seneca Drive; Marshall Avenue, Market and Walnut streets, and Washington Boulevard; and Market and Standish streets.

By Becky Killian, Staff Writer

Washington County has four different roads named “County Line,” and it makes it difficult when emergency dispatchers are handling 911 calls from residents.
The possibility of changing the road names was discussed during the Tuesday, Aug. 6, meeting of the Washington County Board of Commissioners.

Evan Bridgewater, a Gibson Township resident, raised the concern about the confusion. He explained he called 911 when his wife experienced a medical emergency. When he gave the dispatcher the address he uses at the request of the U.S. Postal Service – which is County Line Road – the dispatcher couldn’t locate his home. Then he recalled the original street name given to him by the county when addresses were converted from rural routes to the current system – Scott County Line Road. Using that address, the dispatcher found his home and sent responders to it.

Bridgewater said his wife recovered from the emergency and that he was pleased with the county’s response. He asked if county officials could meet with Postal Service authorities to find a resolution that would prevent future confusion.

Commission President Phillip Marshall said he had a similar concern about confusing County Line addresses when he was a volunteer firefighter; however, changing road names can cause inconvenience to residents and can be costly for businesses.

The county’s dispatch director, Kelly Sargent, shared Marshall’s and Bridgewater’s concern. He said in addition to the County Line roads, some roads have similar sounding names that can also be difficult for dispatchers to discern.

It was noted these problems are shared by other counties and that it is unlikely the U.S. Postal Service would participate in any discussion to remedy the situation.

Officials agreed to further discuss the matter to try and find a solution.