Subject: RELEASE: Clinton Applauds Senate Passage of Indian Health Legislation
From: "Clinton, Press Office (Clinton)" <[email-masked]>
Date: Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:54:37 -0500

For Immediate Release

February 26, 2008

Contact:  Press Office

202-224-2243 or [email-masked]

CLINTON APPLAUDS SENATE PASSAGE OF INDIAN HEALTH LEGISLATION

Bill Takes Essential Steps to Address Health Care Crisis for Native
Americans

WASHINGTON, DC-Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today welcomed
Senate passage of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of
2007, of which she is a co-sponsor.  The bill will reauthorize and make
amendments to the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), which was
originally enacted in 1976 and last reauthorized in 1992. 

"Native Americans face a devastating health care crisis in our country
today," said Senator Clinton. "Not only are they more likely to die from
diseases such as diabetes and tuberculosis, but they also face
debilitating mental health and substance abuse issues, including
alcoholism and high rates of suicide.  This bill will provide much
needed improvements to existing services to better address these
challenges and ensure Native Americans have access to the health care
they need and deserve."

The Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007 will
reauthorize the Indian Health Service (IHS), provide comprehensive
revision of the original legislation, and incorporate Native American
specific amendments to the Social Security Act. The reauthorization
modernizes many of the services available to Native Americans, including
long-term care and aging services, as well as a full range of behavioral
health services.  It also emphasizes enrollment of all eligible
individuals in government health care programs such as Medicare,
Medicaid and SCHIP.  

The legislation also contains an amendment cosponsored by Senator
Clinton that will delay a recent CMS ruling to cut Medicaid funding for
case management and targeted case management (TCM) services.  Passage of
the amendment ensures that our most vulnerable Americans will receive
the comprehensive care they need.

There is a severe and persistent health care crisis among Native
Americans in this country.  They are 200 percent more likely to die from
diabetes, 500 percent more likely to die from tuberculosis, and 550
percent more likely to die from alcoholism than are non-Native
Americans.  The rate of sudden infant death syndrome among Native
Americans is the highest of any population group in the U.S. and more
than double that of non-Native Americans.  Native Americans are also 60
percent more likely to commit suicide than non-Native Americans.  

Senator Clinton has long been an advocate for the health of Native
Americans, and the elimination of health disparities that exist between
Americans of different ethnicities. This legislation will take important
steps towards improving the health and well being of Native Americans by
providing increased access to a full range of quality health services.

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