The House Committees on Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce are currently considering the "Indian Health Care Improvement Act," (H.R. 1328). Among other provisions, the legislation would extend authorization for Indian health care through FY 2017; expand coverage for qualified Native Americans under SCHIP, Medicare, and Medicaid; direct the Secretary of HHS, through the Indian Health Service, Indian tribes and tribal organizations to consolidate identified existing programs into a new program of comprehensive behavioral health, prevention, treatment, and aftercare for Indian tribes; and require confidentiality of medical quality assurance records of the Indian Health Program or any health program of an urban Indian organization as part of a medical quality assurance program.



The Senate approved its version of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (S. 1200) on February 26, but the Senate bill includes Senator David Vitter's (R-LA) amendment (S. 3896) excluding funding for abortion services or use of Indian Health Services facilities for this care in most circumstances. S. 1200 is currently pending before the House Committees on Natural Resources, Energy and Commerce, and Ways and Means.



Native American communities and advocates remain concerned that reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, which is critical to the well-being of many Native Americans, may become a casualty of the Vitter Amendment to the Senate bill. Not only does that amendment tether Indian health to an unrelated, highly political issue, but also it undermines tribal sovereignty by prohibiting the use of tribal monies to provide certain services in what are often the only health facilities in their nations.



Possible Action: Those wishing to do so could contact their elected officials and urge them to support reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act without amendments that impinge upon tribal sovereignty and women's rights.