March 15, 2008
Sen. Lisa Murkowski speaks at the Senate passage of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act in Washington, DC.
Senate passes Indian Health Care Improvement Act
The United States Senate on February 26 passed comprehensive legislation to modernize the Indian health care delivery system. The bill, S. 1200, reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which was last comprehensively reauthorized in 1992.
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski, Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, co-managed the bill with Committee Chairman Byron Dorgan of North Dakota.
"I am proud to finally deliver to Alaska Natives and American Indians a greater opportunity to receive the health care they deserve," said Senator Murkowski when the measure passed. "Their needs have been neglected for far too long, but today, the Senate has passed a bill that will carry the Indian health care system into the 21st Century."
YKHC President/CEO Gene Peltola said, "I applaud and appreciate the hard work of Senators Stevens and Murkowski and their Senate colleagues in approving the Indian Health Care Improvement Act reauthorization bill. I am hopeful that the U.S. House will diligently work for early enactment of S 1200 that will benefit our people and help to cover unmet health needs, including increased funding for cancer/diabetes screenings."
The bill expressly authorizes the Veterans Administration to enter into agreements with the Alaska Native healthcare delivery system to provide care to veterans living in rural areas with reimbursement to the Native health system.
"In reviewing the legislation, one of the many benefits that will result when it reaches the President's desk for his signature is helping our veterans of all ages of the YK region," Peltola said. "Currently, Veterans' Affairs does not reimburse YKHC for services for those men and women who served bravely for our country. These veterans must now travel outside of the region for attention to their medical needs."
In response to the high rate of sexual assault and domestic violence in American Indian and Alaska Native communities the bill authorizes domestic and sexual violence prevention and treatment programs, requires protocols and policies for those programs at Indian health facilities and requires that the Indian Health Service and the US Department of Justice work together to improve forensic examinations which will enable more effective prosecutions of these acts of violence.
"I am particularly proud to include in this legislation domestic and sexual violence prevention and treatment programs," said Senator Murkowski. "For too long this abuse has devastated families and communities in Indian Country."
The bill also..
Authorizes Alaska's Dental Health Aide Therapist program and establishes a process through which the program will be evaluated;
Attempts to reduce the high rate of youth suicide in American Indian and Alaska Native communities by establishing a demonstration project to connect at-risk Native youth with behavioral health professionals using telemedicine technology;
Enables Native health providers to focus more effectively on the needs of Native Elders by expanding offerings in long term care and hospice care;
Reauthorizes Urban Indian Health Programs which provide basic health services to Alaska Natives residing in Seattle and other urban centers;
Increases the opportunities for American Indians and Alaska Natives to enter health professions;
Authorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund to address backlogs in health care services to Indians;
Authorizes Health Facilities Construction;
Addresses key components of Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Indian provisions to increase access to health care; and,
Improves access of the Director of the IHS to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
"This is not a bill conceived in an ivory tower," said Senator Murkowski. "It was written primarily by Indian health care providers and tribal leaders who know the challenges we face in improving the health conditions of our Native people. The leaders of our Alaska Native healthcare delivery system were key players in the process of formulating this legislation. It is an honor and a privilege to give voice to their ideas in the Senate."
-Office of US Senatory Lisa Murkowski and YKHC Public Relations.