Award created in his honor recognizes extraordinary support for Indiana’s Community Health Centers and the nearly 900,000 Hoosiers they serve
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 20, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Leaders of the Indiana Primary Health Care Association (IPHCA) today presented Governor Mike Braun with the inaugural Governor Mike Braun Community Health Center Champion Award in the Governor’s Office. The award recognizes his longstanding support for Community Health Centers and his leadership in protecting access to affordable care for Hoosiers.
Created in Governor Braun’s honor, the award recognizes the most extraordinary acts of support or service for Indiana’s Community Health Centers. It reflects a partnership spanning his service in the United States Senate and his work as Governor, with a shared focus on primary care, affordability, and the needs of rural and underserved communities.
“Governor Braun’s support for Community Health Centers has carried from Washington to the Statehouse,” said Ben Harvey, CEO of IPHCA. “He understands that strong local primary care is essential to a healthier Indiana. This award recognizes a record of listening to health center leaders and standing with the patients and communities we serve.”
“I’m honored to receive this award and grateful for the vital work Community Health Centers do to provide affordable, quality care to Hoosiers. I remain committed to protecting access to care, supporting rural communities, and working with local health leaders to build a healthier, more affordable Indiana,” said Governor Mike Braun.
That commitment was especially meaningful this year when his administration exempted Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) from proposed Medicaid 340B changes. The decision protected resources that health centers reinvest in affordable medications, behavioral health care, care coordination, clinical teams, and other services for Medicaid patients and uninsured Hoosiers.
“When health centers raised concerns about the consequences for patients, Governor Braun listened and acted,” Harvey said. “His leadership protected care in communities across Indiana and demonstrated the value of working together on practical solutions.”
Community Health Centers provide comprehensive care regardless of a patient’s insurance status or ability to pay. Their model combines primary and preventive care with services that help patients manage chronic conditions, obtain medications, and overcome barriers to treatment. Reliable funding and sustainable Medicaid reimbursement support that full scope of care, helping health centers maintain local access and address health needs before they become more serious and costly.
“Investing in health centers is an investment in both access and responsible stewardship of healthcare dollars,” Harvey said. “We look forward to continuing our partnership with Governor Braun and his administration to sustain the care Hoosiers depend on and strengthen the value health centers deliver.”
About the Indiana Primary Health Care Association
The Indiana Primary Health Care Association represents Indiana’s Community Health Centers and supports their work through advocacy, education, and operational assistance. Community Health Centers provide primary and preventive care and related services in rural and urban communities, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. Learn more at www.indianapca.org.
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SOURCE Indiana Primary Health Care Association
