2010: Indian Health Care Improvement Act permanently renewed

The cornerstone legal authority for the provision of health care to American Indians and Alaska Natives becomes permanent when President Barack Obama signs the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on March 23. The Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976 had not been reauthorized since 2000: without authorization, the Indian Health Service (IHS)—the primary provider of medical care to American Indians and Alaska Natives—risked losing funding. Under the new authorization, the IHS can begin to modernize its services, developing mobile health care, mental health counseling, and long-term in home or community care, as well as hospice services.

“Earlier today, I signed into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the health insurance reform bill passed by Congress. In addition to reducing our deficit, making health care affordable for tens of millions of Americans, and enacting some of the toughest insurance reforms in history, this bill also permanently reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which was first approved by Congress in 1976. As a Senator, I co-sponsored this Act back in 2007 because I believe it is unacceptable that Native American communities still face gaping health care disparities. Our responsibility to provide health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives derives from the nation-to-nation relationship between the federal and tribal governments. And today, with this bill, we have taken a critical step in fulfilling that responsibility by modernizing the Indian health care system and improving access to health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives.” —President Barack Obama, March 26, 2010

“Indian health care programs – both the health services we provide and the way we provide them – urgently need to be updated. This legislation will modernize Indian health care programs and provide innovative ways to increase access to heal." —Senator Dorgan.

Theme

Federal-Tribal Relations

Region

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