Senate Passes Bill To Improve Health Care On Indian Reservations

WASHINGTON — American Indians would have better access to health care services, including screening and mental health programs, under legislation the Senate passed yesterday.

The bill, approved 83–10, would boost programs at the federally funded Indian Health Service, prompt new construction and modernization of health clinics on reservations, and attempt to recruit more Indians into health professions. It also would increase tribal access to Medicare and Medicaid.

The legislation would authorize spending about $35 billion for Indian health care programs over the next 10 years.

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee chairman, Byron Dorgan, a Democrat of North Dakota, called it a first step in addressing a crisis in American Indian health care.

The system is underfunded and inefficient, he said.

American Indians suffer much higher death rates of most leading causes than the rest of the country. Alcoholism, drug use, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and suicide rates are especially high.

The Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, a Democrat of Nevada, said American Indians have access "to some of the least adequate health care in America."

"Far too many native children are diagnosed with diabetes, suffer from abuse and neglect, or die prematurely because of accidents or illness that could be prevented or cured," Mr. Reid said.