Times Staff Report

GARY | Indiana University healthcare experts want to hear views about how to handle rising costs and other issues during a forum June 6 at Indiana University Northwest Savannah Center, 3400 Broadway, Gary.

The Healthcare Reform Town Hall Forum begins at 7: 30 p.m.

A group of IU experts is conducting the Gary forum and eight other forums across the state. The forums are part of an effort to study potential reforms in healthcare delivery in Indiana. The group includes representatives from the IU Schools of Medicine, Law, and Public and Environmental Affairs.

The group's primary product will be a public report outlining alternative strategies to address the future of healthcare delivery in Indiana.

The healthcare reform study was requested by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration.

Information obtained during the forums will help provide data-driven and evidenced-based policy recommendations about such issues as the growing numbers of Hoosiers with no or inadequate health insurance, uneven quality distribution of healthcare in Indiana and how Hoosiers can get higher quality healthcare for their money.

Persons interested in participating in a healthcare focus group that will meet prior to the forum should visit www.healthcarereform.iupui.edu.

In addition to Gary, healthcare reform forums will be held Monday in Fort Wayne, June 8 in South Bend, June 11 in Evansville, June 13 in Richmond, June 15 in Lawrenceburg, June 18 in Indianapolis, June 20 in Terre Haute and June 22 in New Albany.