Indian Health Care Improvement Act Review Coursework

Introduction

Despite all concerted efforts to the contrary, reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) failed to take off in the 110^th congress. The Act is basically a commitment by the federal government to provide healthcare services to Indian and Alaskan citizens within the US. With its reauthorization, the overall health of the Native American would improve. In view of this, there’s amplified effort to authorize the act in 2009. The main driving force for this effort is the National Congress for American Indians and the National Indian Health Board (Ncai, N.D.).

Benefits of the IHCIA

Reauthorization of the IHCIA is expected to greatly improve health care delivery to the American Indians. It’s also expected to mainstream and pave the way for other programs to address the health care problems of the communities. The elderly will benefit from a customized in-home care provision. IHCIA provides for a greater adaptation of the health services to local conditions. All these will result in improved prospects for the American Indians, while reducing the burden on the federal administration. On a grand scale, the wide disparity between the mortality rates of American Indians and the Caucasians is expected to narrow down. So will the five year difference between the life expectancy of the two groups. Suicide cases amongst Indians and Alaskans should also progressively reduce (Ncai, N.D.).

The IHCIA is expected to achieve its objectives through several inherent mechanisms. The improved efficiency it will bring about will feasibly reduce backlogs of health facility needs. It will directly tackle the glaring disparity in the health status of the Indians and their Caucasian counterparts. It is also expected to be a perpetual source of health care through the main prevention and treatment avenues. Tribal populations are likely to benefit from the enhanced and more efficient decision-making processes that IHCIA will provide. IHCIA will also integrate all the health care provided by such bodies as the Indian Health Service, Tribal Organizations and Urban Indian Organization (Ncai, N.D.).

IHCIA and the Snyder Act

Reauthorization of the IHCIA would fall in with US’s custom of evaluating and modifying every major law every five to seven years. The process involves analyzing the present law and optimizing it to the changing conditions and needs. Without this process, the mainstream laws can very soon become obsolete and unworkable. The IHCIA last underwent a comprehensive reevaluation in 1992. Since then, proposals to reevaluate it have failed to be passed. Fiscal funding of projects as provided by this act is threatened by the fact that IHCIA’s provisions expired in 2001. Indeed, were it not for the Snyder Act (created in 1921), many health-related funds would stall for the American Indians. The Snyder Act provides for a permanent provision of health services to American Indians. It however doesn’t provide for an adaptation of the health services to evolving needs (Ncai, N.D.).

Hope for IHCIA

It’s in view of all this that IHCIA’s leading lobbyists are hoping for a turn of the tide in Obama’s forthcoming administration. During Bush’s administration, the IHCIA bill was rejected in the 109, 110 and 111^th congress. With a democratic administration coming up, the lobbyists expect better response to the bill. Chief amongst their concerns is the federal budget allocated to IHCIA’s functions. Currently, funds for the American Indian health service support come from the 18% of federal budget dedicated to discretionary spending. As matters stand, the appropriation of funds within this fraction leaves many of the lobbyists unsatisfied. In the wake of the recent national credit crunch, the hope is that IHCIA woes will reduce (Jerry, 2008).

Reference

Ncai. Reauthorization of the IHCIA. Web.

Jerry Reynolds (2008). Advocates consider next step in health care bill. Web.