"Indian Health Services is getting renewed attention.

Last week, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the government’s handling of Native American health care was a “historic failure” and she was taking steps to improve care.

The next day, Indian Health Services Director Dr. Yvette Roubideaux said the agency was underfunded, yes, but because of the hard work of staff it was far from a “failure.”

We applaud both Sebelius and Roubideaux for their efforts to put the focus on Native American health care and the shortfalls of Indian Health Services.

Clearly there’s something amiss when a segment of the population — many of them right here in South Dakota — has nearly the lowest life expectancy in the Western Hemisphere."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Attention is due in the IHS issues (The Rapid City Journal 6/26)

Related Stories:
House Resources Committee hearing on IHCIA (6/25)
Editorial: Get started on Indian health care (6/22)
Roubideaux won't call IHS a 'historic failure' (6/18)
Tribes want action, not words, on health care (6/17)
HHS Secretary promises Indian health focus (6/16)
Indian Country still waiting for better health care (6/15)