The Indian Health Service, part of the Department of Health and Human Services, serves about 2.6 million Native Americans and Alaska Natives, yet experiences chronic underfunding.
Resource shortages, complex rules, and administrative fumbles severely impede access to the referral program, leading to tens of thousands of denied medical care requests each year.
In fiscal year 2022, the Indian Health Service denied or deferred nearly $552 million for about 120,000 requests from eligible patients, exacerbating health disparities.
Though theoretically entitled to free healthcare, the practical access to that care is limited due to a lack of funding and infrastructure in the IHS system.
#indian-health-service #native-american-health #health-care-access #federal-agency #healthcare-funding
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