Authors: Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

Publication Year: 2006

Last Updated: 2010-09-01 11:23:11

Journal: NA

Keywords: NPAIHB, northwest portland area indian health board, IHS, Indian health service, budget

Short Abstract:

An Administration’s budget is a statement of its priorities. This year’s FY 2007 IHS budget provides a 4.1% increase for Indian health programs. When the President or members of his Administration meet with tribal leadership, they will most certainly defend this as a very good budget given the current fiscal realities. It will be reasoned that given the reduction in other discretionary funded programs that the IHS budget did quite well. This argument is based on faulty reasoning because the IHS budget is not like other discretionary programs. In effect it is like the Medicaid program and should be funded at the approximate level. Unlike any other agency within Health and Human Services, the IHS provides direct medical care and is subject to much higher rates of inflation than other discretionary programs. When these services are not funded, ultimately services have to be cut. When taking into account both the consideration of significant health disparities of Indian people, and the need to fund medical inflation, the IHS budget is deserving of increases that allow it to truly meet its need. One thing is clear: the lack of significant increases to fund the real costs of health programs indicate that Indian health care is not a priority for this President.

Abstract:

An Administration’s budget is a statement of its priorities. This year’s FY 2007 IHS budget provides a 4.1% increase for Indian health programs. When the President or members of his Administration meet with tribal leadership, they will most certainly defend this as a very good budget given the current fiscal realities. It will be reasoned that given the reduction in other discretionary funded programs that the IHS budget did quite well. This argument is based on faulty reasoning because the IHS budget is not like other discretionary programs. In effect it is like the Medicaid program and should be funded at the approximate level. Unlike any other agency within Health and Human Services, the IHS provides direct medical care and is subject to much higher rates of inflation than other discretionary programs. When these services are not funded, ultimately services have to be cut. When taking into account both the consideration of significant health disparities of Indian people, and the need to fund medical inflation, the IHS budget is deserving of increases that allow it to truly meet its need. One thing is clear: the lack of significant increases to fund the real costs of health programs indicate that Indian health care is not a priority for this President.

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