Authors: National Council of Urban Indian Health

Publication Year: 2008

Last Updated: 2010-08-18 15:41:41

Journal:

Keywords: NCUIH, Bush Administration, FY2009, FY2007, FY2008, National Association of Community Health Centers, Urban Health Centers, Indian Health Service, Tribal Health Clinics, Geoffrey Roth

Short Abstract:

Todays release of the Administrations proposed FY 2009 budget was met with mock surprise by the National Council of Urban Indian Health. This year marks the third consecutive year that the Administration has called for the elimination of funding for the Urban Indian Health Program based upon the assertion that medical services offered by Urban Indian Health Programs are a duplication of services already provided by community resources.

"We are once again infuriated by the Administrations inability, or perhaps unwillingness, to see the value and unique nature of our programs," NCUIH Executive Director Geoffrey Roth stated this afternoon. The past two years Congress has reinstated our funding, because they see the integral role that the Urban Indian Health Program plays in providing quality health care for American Indian and Alaska Native peoples.

Abstract:

WASHINGTON February, 4th 2008

Todays release of the Administrations proposed FY 2009 budget was met with mock surprise by the National Council of Urban Indian Health. This year marks the third consecutive year that the Administration has called for the elimination of funding for the Urban Indian Health Program based upon the assertion that medical services offered by Urban Indian Health Programs are a duplication of services already provided by community resources.

"We are once again infuriated by the Administrations inability, or perhaps unwillingness, to see the value and unique nature of our programs," NCUIH Executive Director Geoffrey Roth stated this afternoon. The past two years Congress has reinstated our funding, because they see the integral role that the Urban Indian Health Program plays in providing quality health care for American Indian and Alaska Native peoples.

The unique and non-duplicative services offered by the Urban Indian Health Program have long been recognized by the national community and health partners. As a response to the FY 2007 and 2008 proposed elimination proposals the National Association of Community Health Centers indicated in strong terms that Community Health Centers have neither the means nor the capacity to take on the significant urban Indian patient load. Similarly, sending the urban population back to Tribal Health Clinics is not a viable option due to an Indian Health Service's system of care that is presently under-funded and stretched to its limit.

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