10.23.09
“The job of reforming the Nation’s health care system and providing access to quality care for all Americans will not be complete until such care is extended to those living in Indian Country. In the 17 years that have lapsed since the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) was last reauthorized, the dire needs of health recipients throughout native communities that rely on these services have suffered. That is why it is more important now, than ever, that we work to fulfill our federal responsibility and see that the needs of our First Americans are attended to through national health insurance reform legislation,” said Chairman Rahall.
“We have a special responsibility to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act after more than a decade of delay. Today's news is a critical step for Indian Country and the best chance for passage of this legislation. Improving the quality and availability of care to American Indians and Alaska Natives is an important piece of our effort to ensure access to affordable, quality health care for every American,” said Chairman Miller, one of three Chairmen writing the health insurance reform bill.
“Words cannot express my gratitude to Chairman Rahall and Chairman Miller, who have been with us from the beginning as we worked together to address long-standing deficiencies in the delivery of Indian health care. We are elated that our long journey to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act is one giant step closer to being realized, through the inclusion of this critical legislation in the House health insurance reform bill. This critical effort to modernize our health care delivery system will go a long way in improving the health status of those living in Native American and Alaska Native communities,” said Rachel Joseph, Co-Chair of the National Tribal Steering Committee for the Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
First enacted in 1976, IHCIA is the primary source of medical care for 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives, many of whom live in isolated, sparsely populated, and underserved areas of the country. Yet, the program was allowed to expire in 2001 and has not been reauthorized in 17 years, keeping the programs far out of pace with the dire needs of health service recipients throughout the native communities that rely on these services.
In June 2009, Rahall and Miller co-sponsored bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2708, to reauthorize the Act. Later that month, Rahall, who has long made IHCIA reauthorization a priority, led a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on the critical and needed legislation.
Chairmen Rahall and Miller Deliver for Indian Country in House Health Insurance Reform Bill
Washington, D.C. – House Natural Resources Committee Chairman Nick J. Rahall (D-WV) and House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-CA) today announced that they successfully secured provisions in the House version of the health insurance reform package that would provide for reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) – a long-sought priority for the two Chairmen.“The job of reforming the Nation’s health care system and providing access to quality care for all Americans will not be complete until such care is extended to those living in Indian Country. In the 17 years that have lapsed since the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) was last reauthorized, the dire needs of health recipients throughout native communities that rely on these services have suffered. That is why it is more important now, than ever, that we work to fulfill our federal responsibility and see that the needs of our First Americans are attended to through national health insurance reform legislation,” said Chairman Rahall.
“We have a special responsibility to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act after more than a decade of delay. Today's news is a critical step for Indian Country and the best chance for passage of this legislation. Improving the quality and availability of care to American Indians and Alaska Natives is an important piece of our effort to ensure access to affordable, quality health care for every American,” said Chairman Miller, one of three Chairmen writing the health insurance reform bill.
“Words cannot express my gratitude to Chairman Rahall and Chairman Miller, who have been with us from the beginning as we worked together to address long-standing deficiencies in the delivery of Indian health care. We are elated that our long journey to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act is one giant step closer to being realized, through the inclusion of this critical legislation in the House health insurance reform bill. This critical effort to modernize our health care delivery system will go a long way in improving the health status of those living in Native American and Alaska Native communities,” said Rachel Joseph, Co-Chair of the National Tribal Steering Committee for the Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
First enacted in 1976, IHCIA is the primary source of medical care for 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives, many of whom live in isolated, sparsely populated, and underserved areas of the country. Yet, the program was allowed to expire in 2001 and has not been reauthorized in 17 years, keeping the programs far out of pace with the dire needs of health service recipients throughout the native communities that rely on these services.
In June 2009, Rahall and Miller co-sponsored bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2708, to reauthorize the Act. Later that month, Rahall, who has long made IHCIA reauthorization a priority, led a House Natural Resources Committee hearing on the critical and needed legislation.
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