Northwest Tribes Celebrate Historic Congressional Funding Provision for Indian

For the first time in history, the United States has agreed to provide federal funding for Native American health services through advance appropriations, the commitment by Congress to provide federal dollars in a future year.

PORTLAND, Ore., Dec. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Today, Congress passed the $1.7 trillion fiscal 2023 spending package, which included $5.1 billion in advance appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS) in fiscal year 2024, by a 68 to 29 vote in the Senate and a 225 to 201 vote in the House. Although the IHS is the principal federal agency responsible for providing health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives, a chronic pattern of underfunding has contributed to a well-documented disparity in health status, with their unmet health care needs remaining among the most severe of any group in the United States.

This monumental legislative victory is largely due to the tireless work of tribal leaders across the country to advance health care for their people. In the pursuit of an advance appropriation commitment from Congress, tribal leaders united in a coordinated advocacy effort along with tribal organizations, urban Indian organizations, allies, members of Congress, the White House, and the Administration.

“Today is a historic day for the Indian Health Service. In addition to including almost $7 billion for IHS in fiscal year 2023, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023 will provide the agency with advance appropriations for the first time. This change will provide critically needed protection from budgetary uncertainty to the entire Indian health system and will align IHS with other federal health care providers. It is also a direct result of years of advocacy from tribal and urban Indian organization leaders, who have long highlighted the need for a more stable and predictable funding stream for the IHS.

Advance appropriations are necessary to ensure continued access to critical health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Predictable funding will allow us to disburse funds more quickly and enable IHS, tribal and urban Indian health programs to effectively and efficiently manage budgets, coordinate care and improve health outcomes for American Indians and Alaska Natives. This predictability is especially important during a lapse in appropriations or a continuing resolution.

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We want to thank Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Congress and the Biden Administration for their support in upholding the federal government’s commitments and assuring we will not face the negative impacts of budget uncertainty in fiscal year 2024. We would also like to especially thank the numerous tribes, tribal and urban Indian organizations and advocates who worked tirelessly to secure stable health care funding across Indian Country.”
     —     Statement from Indian Health Service Director Roselyn Tso on historic funding for the agency

“This is a big deal. Health care for Tribal communities should never shut down because we fail to pass a budget— health challenges and emergencies do not wait on…