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Washington, DC – U. S. Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., author of the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act Reauthorization, met with the National Indian Health Board this morning to discuss what Congress is doing to improve the health and well-being of Native Americans around the country. The New Jersey congressman has been fighting for better access and better quality of care for Indian Country for years.
"Native Americas continue to suffer from a number of problems when it comes to health care, including lower rates of insurance coverage, restricted access to medical care and health professionals, and poorer health outcomes," Pallone said. "For too long there has been a growing divide between the health care services afforded Native American communities. We have made some progress, but more has to be done to improve their health care services.”
The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) Reauthorization Act of 2009 and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), both of which were signed into law by President Obama earlier this year, included key provisions from the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act Reauthorization, including:
· Allowing states to use more of their Medicaid and CHIP funds to enroll Indian children who are eligible for these programs;
· Encouraging states to take steps to provide for enrollment of Indians residing on or near a reservation in Medicaid and CHIP;
· Medicaid cost sharing protections for Indian beneficiaries, as well as new protections for Indians so that they are not denied Medicaid because of certain property or assets they hold;
· $415 million specifically for HIS facilities and construction, which will improve the delivery of health care services to Indian Country; and
· New grants and loans to help providers, including Indian providers, use and adopt health information technology since so many American Indians live in remote locations.
Pallone believes that while Congress has made great strides in improving access to health care for these communities, there is still more work to be done.
“Access to affordable health insurance for Native Americans is not where our obligation ends. We must make sure that health reforms recognize the unique needs of Indian Country,” Pallone said.
The America’s Affordable Health Choices Act H.R. 3200 requires every American to have a basic level of health insurance or face a tax penalty. However, the congressman is working to exempt Native Americans from that tax penalty because they have already paid for their health care and shouldn’t have to pay again.
Pallone is also working to ensure that Native Americans who enroll in the new insurance plans have the ability to choose a doctor that is conscientious of his or her unique health needs. In addition, the congressman is working to improve public health in Indian Country by awarding grants to Indian Tribes, Tribal Organizations and Urban Indian Organizations that seek to implement community-based prevention and wellness programs. Grants will also be awarded to support public health infrastructure improvements.
Another very pressing problem in Indian Country is the shortage of health professionals working in accessible areas. Pallone has included provisions in health reform that will address these workforce shortages and will ultimately help improve access to care for American Indians and Alaskan Natives.
“We have made great progress and are working towards even more improvements within health care reform,” Pallone said. “However, there is more we must do and that is why we must pass the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act Amendments of 2009. This legislation will expand access to health services for the nearly two million Native Americans in this country. We have waited too long for this bill to be reauthorized.”
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