Markey: Health Care Repeal Would Threaten American Indian Community

1.9 Million American Indians Would Lose Services, Rights from Republican Repeal

JAN 19, 2011

January 19, 2011 – The first major act by House Republicans to repeal the services and patient freedoms in the historic health care reform package would affect 1.9 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives currently served by the Indian Health Service. The health care reform law that passed Congress and was signed into law last year updated and permanently authorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, and the repeal of the larger law would strip new services and freedoms like hospice and community-based care, along with the benefits of the larger law.

"Rolling back these health care reforms would be a serious setback for the health of American Indian communities everywhere," said Rep. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), the new top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, the committee tasked with addressing American Indian issues. "Native American communities need more health care, not less, and the Republican efforts to take away patient rights will affect millions of our citizens, neighbors, friends and family members."

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act amended and permanently reauthorized the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). The IHCIA sets out the national policy for health services delivered to American Indians and Alaskan Natives and authorizes many specific activities of the Indian Health Service (IHS).

The IHS, which provides health services to 1.9 million American Indians and Alaskan Natives, makes available impatient, emergency, dental, and preventive health care to a segment of our population that has been chronically underserved. In addition to the hospitals, clinics, and other health care facilities operated by the IHS, hundreds of thousands of American Indians and Alaskan Natives benefit from the services and programs the law makes available to tribes and tribal organizations.

It has been nearly two decades since the IHCIA was last reauthorized in 1992 and efforts to update and modernize the law took years of work. Enhancements that the law provides includes authorization for hospice, assisted living, and long-term care, as well as comprehensive behavioral health, prevention, and treatment programs.

"Whether you live on a reservation, or off, whether you are a young child or an elder, the repeal of health care reform will have a negative impact on access to quality health care," said Rep. Markey. "Now is the time to stand together and tell Republicans to stop this misguided effort to take away patients' rights and affordable health care."

According to studies, American Indians serviced by the IHS have historically had a greater incidence of illness and higher mortality rates than the general U.S. population. Indians are 6.5 times more likely to die from alcoholism, 6 times more likely to die from tuberculosis, and almost three times more likely to die from diabetes.

In terms of life expectancy, IHS has found that "American Indians and Alaska Natives born today have a life expectancy that is 2.4 years less than the U.S. all races population (74.5 years to 76.9 years, respectively; 1999-2001 rates)."