Major Breakthrough on Indian Health Services

Senator Byron Dorgan (D-North Dakota), the chairman of the Senate committee on Indian Affairs said S.1790, a bill to bring great benefits to the terribly funded Indian Health Services is included in H.R. 3590, the national health care reform package that is currently being discussed in a positive manor.

According to Dorgan's office, the bill will:
*Permanently re-authorize all current Indian health care programs.
*Recruitment and retain good health care professionals with incentives for good care.
*Authorize long term care, including long-term health care, assisted living, and community based care. Current law provides none of these benefits.
*Establish mental and health care benefits beyond substance abuse.
*Greatly improve Native American suicide prevention, a very serious problem.
*Greatly increase funding and allow for inflation every year.
*Change Indian Health Services so it is easier for Native Americans to use.
Link to map locations of IHS: Map to locations link
(Click on the title of this story to see bill S.1790)