Senate: Helping the U.S. Uphold Its Trust Responsibility

Good news: the weekend before Christmas, the Indian Health Care Improvement and Reauthorization and Extension Act (S. 1790) was included in Sen. Reid's manager's amendment for the Senate health care reform bill! The senate passed this legislation on Christmas Eve.

What does this mean? It means that the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) has been included in both the House and Senate health care reform acts. In both cases, this includes permanent reauthorization. This is really good news; after over a decade of struggle, the IHCIA will be reauthorized -- permanently, this time. What we don't know at this juncture is exactly what that bill will look like, as the House and Senate versions differ slightly. For a comprehensive analysis of the two bills, you can click here. In the mean time, what is (almost -- let's not count our chickens before they hatch) certain is that there will be legislation for improvement and reauthorization of Indian health care passed within the next few months. Hooray!

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