Washington DC –
This Congress, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs has held three hearings on tribal health care issues, a series of listening sessions, and multiple meetings with tribal leaders and tribal organizations to discuss the decade long struggle to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and the need to reform the Indian health care system. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, released a concept paper which was sent to tribal leaders on July 7, 2009. The concept paper, found below, is a number of proposed solutions to enhance and reform the Indian health care delivery system based on an examination of health care problems on reservations and comments from tribal leaders.
The Committee will continue to meet with tribal leaders over the next few weeks as it develops an Indian health bill to address the current needs of Native Americans across the country. For those who wish to provide additional comments, we invite you to share your ideas. Please click on the link below and share with us your thoughts on this important matter. If you wish to submit any documents in addition to your comments, please e-mail the documents to health@indian.senate.gov or fax to (202) 228-2589.
Indian Health Care Concept Paper 2009