Authors: National Council of Urban Indian Health

Publication Year: 2009

Last Updated: 2010-10-04 11:08:24

Journal: NCUIH

Keywords: NCUIH, National Council of Urban Indian Health, dissemination, partnership, collaboration, UIHP, Urban Indian Health Program

Short Abstract:

The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is a non-profit organization devoted to educate policymakers on health issues of the poorest and most underserved communities in the US: the Native Americans and Alaska Natives living in urban settings. Although the “Secession of Land in Exchange for Services” Federal Trust established the U.S. Government’s responsibility to continually provide health services to Native Americans, the evolution of federal Native American policy has complicated the actual and effectual delivery of these services.

Relocation policies in the 1950’s-60s as well as a pervasive lack of opportunities on reservations have forced more than half of the total Native population to move to cities across the US. Moreover, the funds provided to both the tribes and urban programs do not suffice to adequately provide the healthcare service guaranteed by the fore fathers of the U.S.

In addition to this dire situation, the current administration proposed to eliminate Urban Indian Health Program funding (Title V) in the FY 2008 budget (for the second year in a row). As reported by the clinics, losing Title V would result in bankruptcies and defaults on leases as well as the near-certain discontinuation of well over half of the clinics providing services to approximately 150,000 urban Indian patients annually. In sum, lack of services would increase—not decrease—the gross health care disparities for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Abstract:

The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is a non-profit organization devoted to educate policymakers on health issues of the poorest and most underserved communities in the US: the Native Americans and Alaska Natives living in urban settings. Although the “Secession of Land in Exchange for Services” Federal Trust established the U.S. Government’s responsibility to continually provide health services to Native Americans, the evolution of federal Native American policy has complicated the actual and effectual delivery of these services.

Relocation policies in the 1950’s-60s as well as a pervasive lack of opportunities on reservations have forced more than half of the total Native population to move to cities across the US. Moreover, the funds provided to both the tribes and urban programs do not suffice to adequately provide the healthcare service guaranteed by the fore fathers of the U.S.

In addition to this dire situation, the current administration proposed to eliminate Urban Indian Health Program funding (Title V) in the FY 2008 budget (for the second year in a row). As reported by the clinics, losing Title V would result in bankruptcies and defaults on leases as well as the near-certain discontinuation of well over half of the clinics providing services to approximately 150,000 urban Indian patients annually. In sum, lack of services would increase—not decrease—the gross health care disparities for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Source: Link to Original Article.

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