FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Adam McMullin at 202-466-7767 or amcmullin@ncai.org
Kitty Marx at 202-664-7885 or kmarx@nihb.org
Geoffrey Roth at 202-544-0344 or groth@ncuih.org
U.S. Senate Passes Indian Health Care Improvement Act Reauthorization A Monumental Step in Improving Health Care for Native Americans
WASHINGTON—February 26 2008—After nine years of negotiations, with resounding bi-partisan support the U.S. Senate finally affirmed its commitment to health care for Native Americans, passing the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 2007 (S. 1200) in a 83-10 vote. Indian Country now takes this strong show of support onto the U.S House of Representatives for swift passage. "It's about time and I applaud the Senate for this historic vote" said National Congress of American Indians President Joe A. Garcia. "Federal prisoners continue to receive better health care than Native people and this is a major step in reversing that alarming statistic. I encourage swift consideration in the U.S. House so that we can begin to bring modernized health services to Native people this year." There are massive disparities in Indian health care when compared to the general population: American Indians and Alaska Natives face dramatically higher diagnosis rates and overall death rates from many chronic illnesses including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer than their non-Indian counterparts. "We have been working for nearly ten years to reauthorize the bill" said Sally Smith, Chairman of the National Indian Health Board. "We appreciate the leadership of Senators Dorgan (D-ND) and Murkowski (R-AK) and other key Senators on both sides of the aisle that made passage by the Senate a reality. Indian Country will continue to work with the House leadership to ensure a final bill can be sent to the President for his signature." S. 1200 will modernize and improve Indian health care services and delivery; provide the basic tools to address the overall health of our communities and the increasing problems of teen suicide and methamphetamine abuse; and allow for in-home care for our elderly population. "The reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act will help to provide a higher level of care to all American Indians and Alaska Natives no matter where they live," said Georgianna Ignace, President of the National Council of Urban Indian Health. "As such we are both pleased and proud of the bi-partisanship displayed by the Senate in making such essential legislation a success."
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Founded in 1944, the National Congress of American Indians is the oldest, largest and most representative American Indian and Alaska Native organization in the country. NCAI advocates on behalf of tribal governments, promoting strong tribal-federal government-to-government policies, and promoting a better understanding among the general public regarding American Indian and Alaska Native governments, people and rights. The National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all Federally Recognized American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments by advocating for the improvement of health care delivery to AI/ANs, as well as for upholding the Federal government's trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments. We strive to advance the level and quality of health care and the adequacy of funding for health services that are operated by the Indian Health Service (IHS), health programs operated directly by Tribal governments, and other programs. Our Board Members represent each of the twelve Areas of IHS and are elected at-large by the respective Tribal Governmental Officials within their Area. For more information, visit the NIHB website at www.nihb.org. The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), founded in 1998 is a membership based organization that represents Urban Indian Health Programs in 21 states and 38 cities. NCUIH serves as a resource center engaged in advocating, training, educating and providing leadership development for urban Indian healthcare providers and supporting the development of quality, accessible and culturally sensitive healthcare programs for all. For more information, please visit www.ncuih.org.