Authors: National Council of Urban Indian Health

Publication Year: 2009

Last Updated: 2016-04-21

Journal: NCUIH

Keywords: UIHP, Urban Indian Health Programs, IHCIA, Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Definition, Uniqueness, Mobility, Transient, American Indian or Alaska Native, AI/AN

Abstract:

Although the Urban Indian Health Program (UIHP) constitutes only 1% of the Indian Health Service budget, it provides an important link in the circle of health services that connects the reservation Indian population and the Urban Indian population (between which there is an ongoing mixing and movement). Removing Urban Indians from the IHCIA would also be a complete financial debacle for Tribal Programs nationwide. This proved to be the case with the closing of the IHS-operated urban facility in Albuquerque in 2005. Urban Indians were forced to return to reservations to obtain medical care, consuming the scarce resources available in the already overburdened Tribal facilities. The end result of the closing of this urban facility was indeed financial chaos for a series of Tribes; especially if we consider that- according to the 2000 Census- 67 % of Americans identifying themselves as of American Indian or Alaska Native heritage live in urban areas.

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