Senate considers bill for Indian health programs

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

This might be a good bill to watch.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Indian health care programs will get some rare attention on the floor of the U.S. Senate next week when the chamber is expected to vote to extend and expand federal health care for tribes.

The legislation, sponsored by Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., would attempt to bring more Indians into health professions, boost screening and health prevention programs and call for new construction and modernization of health clinics on reservations. It would also attempt to address backlogs in getting health services to American Indians and expand mental health programs. A similar bill was approved by two House committees last year.

Dorgan, the Democratic chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee, acknowledged the legislation is only a small step in repairing the Indian health care system, which he says is underfunded and inefficient. The United States spends substantially less per person for Indian health care than it does federal prisoners, he says.

According to Indian Health Service testimony before Dorgan's Senate committee last year, 2001-2003 rates of most leading causes of death for Indian people were more than double the rates for the rest of the country. Rates of alcoholism, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and suicide are especially high.

Source

**TreeHugger** · Associate Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 2

This appears as if this would be a very good program. If they're going to pass something like this, they need to make sure that the program is focused on the Native American community's unique healthcare needs.....as well as make sure it's individual components are affordable to the vast majority of Native Americans.

From the article:

Quote:

The United States spends substantially less per person for Indian health care than it does federal prisoners, he says.

This is incredibly sad. It needs to change.

**Season Fair** · Just new to talking Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

Now...this is so sad. does it have to do with the Lakota, do you think?

**Tumbleweed** · Admin Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 4

I think it has to do with all tribes.

**CHUQ** · Agitator Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts votes: 3

Evdery Congress puts forth a Native american bill of one sort or another and every year it falls way short of doing anything substantial to help NAs.