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WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2002

The Sioux Falls Argus Leader in an editorial today throws its support behind a bill to use federal funds for reservation nursing homes.

Tribes are free to build elder care facilities, the paper points out. But residents won't be able to receive state Medicare benefits due to a state moratorium.

A bill sponsored by South Dakota Sens. Tom Daschle and Tim Johnson, both Democrats, would shift responsibility to the Indian Health Service.

"This isn't about a handout," the paper writes. "It isn't about state government shifting its responsibilities to the federal government. This is all about who should be taking care of this needed service. It should be the federal government."

Get the Story:
Editorial: Feds responsible for tribal nursing homes (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 9/25)

Get the Bill:
South Dakota Tribal Nursing Facilities Act of 2002 (S.2738)

Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov

Related Stories:
Reports address long-term elder care (8/20)
Elder care study shows worsening problems (7/11)
Senate holds elder health care hearing (7/10)
Report stresses importance of health insurance (5/22)
Poor Indian health blamed on federal failures (3/21)
IHS pressed to include tribes in reform (2/28) Roundtable