Health Care Rights for Natives Across the United States

Written by: Michael Solazzo

Photo Source: (Graef)

There are many issues going on within the Department of Health and Human Services that affect many in the United States. Though a larger number affected by poor policy and oversight are the native people of North America, particularly within the United States. A common saying that health professionals hear is that native Americans get free health care from the federal government. While natives gave up there lands and resources in order to gain support from the United States, the government in question has done the bare minimum and has fallen short to help the very people they swore by treaty to protect.

Indian Health Services provides comprehensive health care for 573 recognized tribes in the United States, in total that is close to three million people out of the estimated total of five million indigenous within the United States and its territories. (Services) It is estimated that the native populations within the United States have shorter life expectancy by about six years. The shortened life of people in tribal communities has been attributed to high rates of poverty, lower education, and poor health services. (Services) Many of the diagnoses that natives are affect from can be treated with preventable measures that everyday United States citizens take for granted. Native Americans are three to five more likely to die from preventable disease compared to every other person within the U.S. (Walker)

             One of the major issues within the native communities is the lack of funding from federal resources. To put some perspective on the issue of funding, in 2016 the United States had spent per capita, close to nine thousand dollars on inmates within the Federal Bureau of Prisons. (Walker) While congress spent a little under three thousand dollars per patient within the Indian Health Services network. (Walker) The following year the United States spent close to thirteen thousand per patient on Medicare and a little under eight thousand per patient for Medicaid, while Indian Health Services only spent a bit over three thousand dollars per patient. (Walker) Another major issue regarding health care is the ability to staff the facilities with qualified doctors, nurses, and support staff that are provided for native reservations. (Smith) According to the New York Times, after researching government data, found that over twenty five percent of the necessary positions for medical treatment are not filled and in some reservations that total is up to fifty percent. (Walker)

            These are the major issues that are plaguing native American communities everywhere, but natives have been taking a stance and some with out government help. In 2019, a nonprofit organization that represents eighteen tribal communities, the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board, took over the operations of the failing Sioux San Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota. (Walker) The board overhauled the existing operation and employed qualified staff to meet the needs of patients. In Nebraska, the Winnebago tribe took over a failing hospital were the United States Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services had cut funding for due to “quality of care deficiencies.” (Press) It was found out that in 2017 the hospital had unintentionally infected 35 patients with diseases like Hepatis and human immunodeficiency virus  (Press) After the take over from the Indian Health Services, the hospital redesign its operation to better fit patient’s needs. The hospital itself provides medical services for over ten thousand people that are members of the Ponca, Winnebago, Santee Sioux, and Omaha tribes. There are steps that tribes are taking to get away from federal health aid but does this this solve the underlining problem of the health care services. With the 2020 United States presidential election coming around, the current administration is not favored amongst many.

A grass root progressive movement under the leadership of Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders has taken the charge for a better system of health care for all citizens and native tribes alike. Medicare for all would help ease a heavy burden that has been placed upon all people, especially the native populations that have endured so much in the rising of this nation and the numbers do not lie. The Indian Health Services operates at a budget of six billion dollars annually that services over two million native people. (Trahant) If a plan like Senator Sanders were to go into effect the total Medicare/Medicaid funding would increase to over twenty five billion dollars. (Press) That means native Americans would receive over twelve thousand dollars per capita. Though with Senator Sanders dropping out of the presidential race and his continued support for former Vice President Joe Biden, who has promised to expand Medicare and Medicaid, the future may look helpful for native tribes across the United States.   

Sources:

Graef, Christine. MPN News. 14 September 2014. Article. 20 April 2020. <https://www.mintpressnews.com/indian-country-grapples-health-funding-shortfalls-non-payment/196625/>.

Press, Associated. Associated Press. 2 July 2018. Article. 20 April 2020. <https://apnews.com/40369e6cc82b46938fe5c13bd3f63ad3>.

Services, U.S. Department of Health and Human. Indian Health Service. October 2019. Data sheet. 20 April 2020.

Smith, Mary. American Bar Association. n.d. article. 20 April 2020. <https://www.americanbar.org/groups/crsj/publications/human_rights_magazine_home/the-state-of-healthcare-in-the-united-states/native-american-crisis-in-health-equity/>.

Trahant, Mark. Our Future. 14 September 2017. Article. 22 April 2020.

Walker, Mark. New York Times. 15 October 2019. Article. 20 April 2020. <https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/15/us/politics/native-americans-health-care.html>.

Whitney, Eric. NPR. 12 December 2017. Article. 20 April 2020. <https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2017/12/12/569910574/native-americans-feel-invisible-in-u-s-health-care-system>.