INDIAN HEALTH CARE NEWS
Health care around the nation has never been in worse shape. Here in Albuquerque, the urban Native community is feeling, firsthand, the effects of a broken system. Urban Native health care is in a state of crisis - federal and state budget cutbacks and the rising costs of providing care are forcing institutions like the Indian Health Center and First Nations Community Health source to drastically reduce critical services to our community. At UNM Hospital there is a decades-long agreement between Bernalillo County and the All-Indian Pueblo Council to provide at least 100 beds for area Native Americans, but the resources are not available to provide them. At a time when almost 70% of the nation’s Native American population resides in urban areas like Albuquerque, we are witnessing the most severe cutbacks in funding and services to the institutions most prepared to meet the health care needs of Native Americans in our cities.
While the Federal government spends over $3,900 per patient for healthcare for federal prisoners, the current IHS budget provides the equivalent of just $2,200 per patient for Native Americans. Recent News
An Urban Indian Health Institute Report
March 1994
Indian Clinic Funding Gets Support
Tuesday, May 9, 2006
New Medicaid Law Could Affect American Indians' Coverage
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Associated Press
Federal Budget puts Albuquerque Clinic at Risk
Up Health Care Dose For Indians in Cities
Saturday, April 29, 2006
Crisis for Urban Indian Health Care
By SAGE Council |
