Official: Lack of funding harms Indian health
The director of the federal Indian Health Service says health care for Native Americans is still vastly underfunded despite gains made in recent years.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The director of the federal Indian Health Service says health care for Native Americans is still vastly underfunded despite gains made in recent years.
Yvette Roubideaux (ROOB’-i-doh) spoke Friday to a gathering of American Indian doctors in Portland.
IHS mortality statistics show Native Americans are twice as likely as the population as a whole to die from suicide, three times more likely to die from diabetes-related complications and six times more likely to die from alcohol abuse.
Roubideaux says the IHS has been fortunate to avoid budget cuts so far, but deficit-reduction negotiations could erode significant increases made in 2010.
She also says she is working to improve the agency's care and customer service.
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