The Midwest Alliance of Sovereign Tribes welcomed passage of the national health care reform bill, which includes a permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

MAST President Michele Stanley said tribes worked for over a decade to reauthorize the IHCIA. It finally became law when President Barack Obama signed H.R.3590 last week.

"Our life will not be affected overnight, but our jobs and desires of leading our Nations into positive and healthier directions have just been made a little easier. These laws and actions are historical and they show a firm commitment from this President and majority of Congress that they wish to live up to years of forgotten promises and contracts," said Stanley, a member of the Saginaw Chippewa Tribe of Michigan.

Stanley said tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and Iowa continue to face significant unding disparities when compared to the rest of Indian Country. Despite representing over 200,000 tribal members, the Midwest region has the lowest appropriated funding in the Indian Health Service, she said.

Indian Health Care Improvement Act:
S.1790 | H.R.2708

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