On Thursday, March 17, National Indian Health Board Secretary Lisa Elgin presented testimony to the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies on the FY 2017 Indian Health Service Budget (IHS).  The testimony was delivered as part of the subcommittee's American Indian and Alaska Native public witness hearings which heard testimony from over 70 representatives from across Indian Country.

Ms. Elgin delivered the recommendations of the Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup for full funding of IHS at $30 billion, with a FY 2017 recommendation of $6.2 billion.  She reiterated the Workgroup's top priorities of Purchased/Referred Care; Hospitals & Clinics; Alcohol & Substance Abuse Services; Mental Health; and Dental Services.   She also described the need for Congress to provide oversight over hospitals administered by the IHS, but urged the committee not to cut funding.  Other priorities included enacting advance appropriations for the IHS and funding currently unfunded provisions of the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act.  You can read NIHB's full testimony here. You can video of the hearing here (NIHB's statement starts at 2:38:29).

Subcommittee members continued to express their commitment to ensuring that IHS provides quality care to American Indians and Alaska Natives and that that they will be working directly with IHS to see needed reforms.  NIHB will also work directly with the Appropriations Committee and other members of Congress to ensure that IHS implements a strategy that has been vetted with Tribes and will lead to better health outcomes for our people.