Native Americans Reap Benefits From Health Care Reform

[bluestateguy]

http://www.capitolnewsconnection.org/node/14339

Description:

Native American advocates say they scored a legislative victory in the recently passed health care reform bill. The legislation – which will be signed into law Tuesday – reauthorizes the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
Transcript:


Advocates will no longer have to lobby Congress every few years for reauthorization. National Congress of American Indians Executive Director Jackie Johnson says the new legislation makes its permanent.

JOHNSON: “With that we get the much needed improvement in modernization that we’ve been seeking like being able to address long-term care and home health care for assisted living for our aged membership and being able to address things like some additional mental health and behavioral health issues.” (:15)

Johnson says the legislation also will pay for grants to help prevent diseases like Hepatitis, HIV and tuberculosis.

Native Americans are insured through Indian Health Service, but Johnson says they also rely on federal programs like Medicaid and Medicare.

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[FSogol]

1. Long overdue. n/t

[kestrel91316]

2. Excellent!!!!!!