Legislation proposed by Sen. Mike Rounds calling for a comprehensive assessment of the Indian Health Service (IHS) passed out of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee and now moves to the Senate. The legislation, S. 465, would require the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to contract an assessment of IHS’s health care delivery systems and financial management processes at direct-care facilities.
Sen. Rounds has identified three primary areas of concern with IHS: No funding strategy for the 12 IHS regions, no standard of quality measurement and high staff turnover resulting in low accountability by management.
The legislation is supported by the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Association.
