Inequality in health care access and coverage has become a key issue for American Indian voters in the upcoming Presidential election on November 2.
Senator John Kerry disclosed his health policy plan on September 28 that promises to provide billions of dollars to Native American health programs if he is elected. According to Indianz.com Bush's campaign aides believe that Kerry's proposed budget for 2005 is impractical and will "break the bank."
Kerry's plan is part of a broader minority health initiative that intends to deal with disparities that are presently affecting American Indians and Alaska Natives. Kerry's aides explained to Indianz.com that the health plan would concentrate on the increasingly high rates of diabetes, alcoholism, and obesity that are prevalent on Native American Reservations in the United States.
President George W. Bush has proposed adding $45 million to the Indian Programs budget, which will fund construction of sanitation facilities and environmental health support. However, the National Indian Health Service (NIHB) says that this amount, "falls well short of the level of funding that would permit American Indians and Alaska Natives to achieve health and health system parity with the majority of other Americans" according to minoritynurse.com.
Indianz.com reported that the majority of American Indians believe the main difference between President Bush and Senator Kerry is their approach to health care.
Kristen Bossi, the Democratic Press Secretary for the House Committee on Resources, gave some Indian health statistics during a phone interview. Compared to the average American, American Indian infant mortality is 150 percent higher, alcohol related death is five times greater, the mortality rate from tuberculosis is 650 percent higher, the suicide rate is 190 percent higher, and the life expectancy is five years less. Additionally, American Indians have the highest rate of diabetes in the world.
Sally Smith, chairman of the NIHB and a member of Alaska's Yupik tribe arguedin February before the Senateof Indian Affairs Committee, "No other segment of the population ismore negatively impacted by health disparities than American Indian/AlaskaNatives, and tribal members suffer from disproportionately higher rates ofchronic disease and other illnesses ... Health care spending for American Indian/AlaskaNatives lags far behind spending for other segments of society ... It is unfortunatethat despite two centuries of treaties and promises, American Indians are forcedto endure health conditions and a level of health care funding that would beunacceptable to most other U.S. citizens."
Indian Country Today recently quoted John Kerry saying that the current Bush administration is, "spending more money on federal prisoner's health care than on the health of Native Americans."
