Indiana’s Long-Term Care Industry Honors Sen. Brown with Public Servant of the Year Award

FRENCH LICK, Ind. (Aug. 19, 2025) – Before a crowd of more than 450 long-term care professionals from across the state at the Indiana Health Care Association’s (IHCA) annual Convention, State Senator Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) was recognized as the IHCA’s Long-Term Care Champion and Public Servant of the Year.

The IHCA is the state’s largest trade association and advocacy group representing more than 500 not-for-profit and for-profit long-term care communities, in addition to the 80,000 health-care professionals who provide nationally recognized care to more than 50,000 Hoosiers each day. The association’s Public Servant of the Year Award recognizes a distinguished public official who champions Indiana’s long-term care profession and Hoosiers in need of post-acute care. Previous recipients of the award include former Congressman Greg Pence and State Representative Brad Barrett.

“State Senator Liz Brown is a devoted policymaker who tirelessly fights for Hoosier seniors, individuals with disabilities, and health care practitioners,” said Paul Peaper, IHCA President. “She has successfully passed numerous bills into law that are strengthening the long-term care workforce, holding insurance companies accountable, and enhancing Medicaid services for vulnerable and elderly Hoosiers. On behalf of Indiana’s long-term care industry, it is an honor to recognize Senator Brown as a Long-Term Care Champion and to present her with this year’s Public Servant of the Year Award.”

Sen. Brown has long been a fervent supporter of vulnerable and elderly Hoosiers and the providers who care for them. Recently, Sen. Brown authored and sponsored multiple bills^[1] that have been signed into law, importantly reforming the beleaguered PathWays for Aging Program by enacting payment and network adequacy safeguards and increasing penalties on insurance companies that have chronically been delinquent on payments to Medicaid providers; streamlining occupational licensure standards for health care administrators, registered nurses and frontline nursing staff; cracking down on predatory and unscrupulous business practices by temporary health care staffing agencies; and better aligning the state’s education system with health care careers through expanded clinical opportunities and on-the-job training.

“It is truly an honor to receive the Indiana Health Care Association’s Public Servant of the Year Award, but the true champions of long-term care are the nurse aides, nurses, therapists, administrators, and other practitioners who work daily to bring dignity to vulnerable and elderly Hoosiers. They deserve our appreciation and recognition as the health care heroes that they are,” Sen. Brown said. “I’m humbled to represent Senate District 15 in the General Assembly, and I’m glad I’ve had the opportunity to improve policies for these caregivers and those whom they serve.”

Elaine Wilson, COO and Administrator at Saint Anne Communities in Fort Wayne, who also serves on the IHCA Board of Directors, presented the IHCA Public Servant of the Year Award to Sen. Brown.

“As a strong ally for long-term care providers and those we serve, Sen. Brown is very deserving of this award,” said Elaine Wilson. “We are fortunate to have her advocating for the needs of the aged, disabled, and their caretakers, not only in Fort Wayne but in the state legislature.”

Sen. Brown was first elected to the Indiana Senate in 2014. She serves as the chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee and is a member of the Senate committees on Appropriations, Health and Provider Services, Ethics, and Corrections and Criminal Law.

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Photo Caption: From left to right, Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne), Meghan McNab, Elaine Wilson, and Paul Peaper.

^[1] House Enrolled Act (HEA) 1001-2023, HEA 1461-2023, Senate Enrolled Act (SEA) 132-2024, HEA 1259-2024, HEA 1001-2025, SEA 473-2025, HEA 1457-2025, HEA 1474-2025

IHCA/INCAL is the state’s largest trade association and advocacy group representing for-profit and not-for-profit nursing homes, assisted living, and independent living communities. The association provides education, information, and advocacy for health care providers, consumers, and the workforce on behalf of its more than 500 member communities. Visit www.IHCA.org to learn more.

State Sen. Liz Brown (R-Fort Wayne) represents Senate District 15, which includes a portion of Allen County. Click here to download a high-resolution photo.