Indian Health Care Act introduced in House

[Waya]

A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act on Tuesday.

Led by Rep. Nick J. Rahall (D-West Virginia), Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-New Jersey) and Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska), the lawmakers said the bill would modernize the Indian Health Service. They said reauthorization of the IHCIA, which expired in 2000, was long overdue.

"We should not be debating, year after year, whether or not a live-saving program like the Indian Health Care Improvement Act merits reauthorization," said Rahall, the chairman of the House Natural Resources Committee, which has scheduled a March 14 hearing on the bill.

"Many Native Americans are forced to endure a level of health care that is far below the general population," added Pallone, the chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, which will also consider the measure......


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