The civic record
Read. Follow. Verify.Senate Hearing on Indian Health Service (IHS) 2018 Budget
Record date · January 1, 2017
Track this bill to get notified when it advances a stage. One tap to stop, anytime.
What This Bill Does
The Senate Appropriations Subcommittee held a hearing to review the proposed 2018 budget for the Indian Health Service (IHS). The discussion focused on the $4.7 billion funding request, ongoing staffing shortages, facility maintenance backlogs, and recent reports of dangerous medical care conditions at IHS facilities.
The hearing sets the stage for federal funding levels for the Indian Health Service, which provides healthcare to 2.2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives, and addresses critical oversight concerns regarding patient safety and facility management.
Who It Affects
Groups the bill's text affects, as described in the record. Being affected is not a position for or against it.
American Indian and Alaska Native populations
This group relies on the Indian Health Service for medical care and is directly impacted by budget levels, staffing, and facility quality.
IHS medical staff
Staffing levels, facility resources, and operational protocols directly dictate their working conditions and ability to provide care.
Key Facts
- The proposed 2018 budget for the Indian Health Service is $4.7 billion.
- The proposed budget represents a $300 million (6%) decrease from the previous year's enacted budget.
- The budget maintains full funding for Contract Support Costs using indefinite appropriations language.
- The IHS vacancy rate for doctors, dentists, and physician assistants is approximately 30%.
Show all 9 facts
- The backlog for facilities maintenance at IHS hospitals exceeds $500 million.
- The average age of IHS facilities is four times that of private-sector healthcare facilities.
- American Indians and Alaska Natives are three times more likely to die from diabetes than the general population.
- The suicide rate among Native Americans is roughly twice that of the general population.
- The drug-related death rate for Native Americans has increased 454% since 1979.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Indian Health Service budget being cut?
What are the main challenges facing IHS facilities mentioned in the hearing?
What else do you want to know?
News Coverage
Follow the record
Votes, people, money & the original sourceLobbying Activity
VAN SCOYOC ASSOCIATES
on behalf of BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF EASTERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY
VAN SCOYOC ASSOCIATES
on behalf of WATER AND SEWER DISTRIBUTORS OF AMERICA
VAN SCOYOC ASSOCIATES
on behalf of EJ WATER COOPERATIVE, INC.
LEWIS-BURKE ASSOCIATES, LLC
on behalf of UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
HARO SOLUTIONS LLC
on behalf of COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS
HOLLAND & KNIGHT LLP
on behalf of POLK COUNTY
Full breakdown
Who this bill affects and the strongest case for and against it, written only from the bill’s own text.
Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Mitigated Budget Cuts
The subcommittee noted that IHS budget cuts were limited to 6% compared to an average 18% reduction for other Department of Health and Human Services agencies.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance85How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy60Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment40Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz30Current news / social attention level
Publisher tools