Article on Daschle Appointment from Medical News Today

Goevernment health care for Native Americans has been terrible, at best. I've heard stories about the poor care that make my blood boil. But things may be looking up under an Obama Administration, with Tom Daschle as head of HHS.

American Indian tribal leaders are anticipating that former Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-S.D.) could make significant improvements to Indian Health Services to address funding shortages, health disparities and access to care if he is confirmed as HHS secretary, the Sioux Falls Argus Leader reports (Bremner, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 11/21). Daschle has reportedly accepted an offer from President-elect Barack Obama to become the new HHS secretary, according to Democratic officials.(Kaiser Daily Health Policy Report, 11/20).

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In the last fiscal year, IHS received $4.3 billion in funding, which tribal leaders say was less than half of what the agency needed to fully fund its health programs. Leaders said that funding for specialty health care services, such as cancer treatment and hospital care, is usually depleted three months before the end of the budget year. James Melbourne, director of the Fort Peck Tribal Health Department in Montana, said, "When the money runs out, you ration health care, people die" (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 11/21).
© 2008 Advisory Board Company and Kaiser Family Foundation. All rights reserved.

People die? Why aren't we up in arms about this national disgrace? And don't think that rape kits aren't included in this rationing - not all IHS facilities even have them, or the staff trained to do them.

See the full Medical News article here

The article from the Sioux Falls Argus Leader is here.