Authors: Beverly Russell

Publication Year: 2005

Last Updated: 2010-09-28

Journal: NCUIH

Keywords: Testimony, NCUIH, National Council of Urban Indian Health, IHCIA, Indian Health Care Improvement Act, reauthorization, UIHP's, Urban Indian Health Programs, health disparities

Abstract:

It has been twenty-nine years since that commitment was made, and twenty-two years since the deadline for achieving it has passed. And yet Indians, whether reservation or urban, continue to occupy the lowest rung on the healthcare ladder, with the poorest access to America's vaunted health care system.

Although more research is needed, we know that urban Indian unemployment is double that of all other races [in some cities, like Boston, there is evidence that the Indian unemployment rate is quadruple the rate for all other races]; urban Indian poverty levels are three times that of any other race; the urban Indian high school drop-out rate is over 75%; the urban Indian business development rate is the lowest of any race; urban Indians have a higher mortality rate from alcoholism and related causes than other races; the urban Indian suicide rate is four times that of all other races; and urban Indians have three times the national rate for diabetes and heart disease.

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