2005: U.S. spends more on health care for prisoners than Indians

Ron His Horse is Thunder, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, tells the U.S. Senate Indian Affairs Committee that the U.S. spends nearly twice as much on health care for prisoners as it does for Americans Indians. Federal appropriations for the Indian Health Service amount to $2,130 per person in 2005, while, per person, it spends $7,600 for Medicaid; $5,200 for the Veterans Administration; $5,000 for Medicare; and $4,000 for the Bureau of Prisons.

“It is important to note that as tribal members, we are the only population in the United States that is born with a legal right to health care. This right is based on treaties in which the Tribal Nations exchanged land and natural resources for several social services, including housing, education and health care. Tribes view the Indian Health Service as being the largest pre-paid health plan in history.” —Ron His Horse is Thunder, chairman of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

Theme

Federal-Tribal Relations

Region

Arctic, California, Great Basin, Great Plains, Northeast, Northwest Coast, Plateau, Southeast, Southwest, Subarctic