IHS budget eliminates urban Indian health program

[Waya]

For the second year in a row, the Bush administration has proposed to eliminate all funding for urban health clinics that serve more than 100,000 Native Americans.

In the fiscal year 2008 budget released on Monday, the Indian Health Service zeroed out the $33 million Urban Indian Health Program. "Unlike Indian people living in isolated rural areas, urban Indians can receive health care through a wide variety of federal, state, and local providers," according to the document.

The administration says it wants to focus on health care services on or near reservations. But Geoffrey Roth, the director of the National Council of Urban Indian Health, called the cut "an outrage" and a threat to tribal sovereignty.

"While the elimination comes as no shock to Indian Country, the administration's continued disregard of the urgent health care needs of the urban Indian population and tribes' rights to self-determination is nevertheless disconcerting," said Roth.......


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