@ethan.sweetlandmay: In 1950, Harrison County opened its own hospital because we believed something fundamental: you shouldn’t have to leave home to get the medical care you need. Built during the postwar baby boom, Harrison County Hospital brought essential care closer to home, including the ability to deliver babies here rather than making families travel to Louisville or elsewhere. But for the mothers and families of Harrison County today, we’ve watched state support and commitment to sustaining these services suffer and contract. In 2025, 75 years after the first babies were welcomed into the world in its maternity ward, Harrison County Hospital suspended labor and delivery services because it couldn’t recruit enough OB providers. This was in addition to the federal “Big Beautiful Bill” deepening the financial pressure on rural hospitals through sweeping Medicaid cuts. Over the course of this campaign, I have reflected on the words of Wendell Berry when he compared the treatment of rural America to that of a colony, from exploitation and extraction regarding rural economies,to erasure and neglect of rural communities. There aren’t many examples quite as clear as losing the birthing center in Harrison County without a peep or plan from our elected leaders. But this doesn’t have to be our future. Indiana can expand Medicaid reimbursements to help give rural hospitals like HCH critical resources. We can create meaningful incentives to recruit and retain OB-GYNs We can invest in keeping rural maternity care and essential medical services accessible. We can choose to put people before corporate profits and stop handing out billions in tax breaks to corporations like Amazon while the hospitals, schools, and essential services that hold our communities together struggle to survive. Our communities built these institutions because our families mattered. They still do. I’m running for State Senate to fight for a future where every Hoosier can get the care they need, close to home. It’s just 7 days until November 3rd. If you’re ready to help make a difference, join us for a morning, afternoon, or evening of knocking doors and helping us get even more of our neighbors to polls. Sign up here! #ethanforstatesenate #earlyvoting #healthcare #rural #voting

Ethan Sweetland-May

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Region: US

Tuesday 27 October 2026 12:32:29 GMT