Annual Tribal Budget Consultation Session – Written Testimony of Georgiana Ignace, President of National Council of Urban Indian Health for the 8th Annual National Health and Human Services Tribal Budget and Policy Consultation Session May 16-17, 2006
Authors: Ignace G,
Publication Year: 2006
Last Updated: 2016-02-22
Journal: Library of Congress
Keywords: Written Testimony, Georgianna Ignace, NCUIH, National Council of Urban Indian Health, UIHP, Urban indian Health Programs
Abstract:
Introduction. On behalf of the National Council of Urban Indian Health, its 34 member programs and the 120,000 Native patients that our members serve annually; I would like to thank you for this opportunity to provide written testimony addressing the FY 2007 and FY 2008 budget for the Urban Indian Health Program (UIHP) within the Indian Health Service.
In the strongest possible terms, NCUIH opposes the zeroing out of funding for the Urban Indian Health Program in FY 2007, which is a clear mistake that could presumably set a precedent and be repeated in the FY 2008 proposed budget. If adopted, this proposal would lead to the complete collapse of many urban Indian health centers and greatly constrain the efficiency and work of those that could survive such a cut. Contrary to the assertions made in the Presidents FY 2007 Budget, urban Indian health centers do not duplicate the functions of other programs but rather serve a unique, non-duplicable and culturally-specific purpose within the large urban Indian communities. The fact that there are other health services available in urban areas is already reflected in how IHS funding is distributed, with urban Indian programs receiving only 32 million dollars in FY 2006, despite 2000 census data that showed nearly 70% of Americans identifying themselves as of American Indian or Alaska Native heritage, live in urban areas.
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