Indian Country Supports and Gets Support from Obama Administration on Health Care Reform

For anyone concerned about how Obama's Health Care Reform, with its individual mandates, would affect Indian Country, some words from the HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, should help.
From Indian Country Today:

WASHINGTON – The nation’s top health official has told Indian country health leaders that the Obama administration believes American Indians deserve special consideration in any national reform to health insurance.

Speaking today on Capitol Hill before an audience of Indian health leaders, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius noted that President Barack Obama himself said in an appearance before a joint session of Congress Sept. 9 that he supports a mandate that says individuals must purchase health insurance, much like car insurance.
...snip...
“I’m going to make it very clear. ... this is what was left out on Wednesday night: the administration strongly believes that the individual mandate and the subsequent penalties don’t apply to American Indians or Alaska Natives.”

In a related story, North Dakota tribes, in a Resolution by the United Tribes, came out in support of Obama's Health Care initiatives.

From a story on Indianz.com:

The resolution cites health disparities among American Indians and Alaska Natives. It calls on members of Congress to take action to address health care in Indian Country.
"The President's proposals will greatly assist Native Americans who do not have access to the Indian Health Service or in situations where the IHS cannot provide adequate health care services because of lack of funds, and any health care reform legislation should ensure a continuum of care for Native Americans between the IHS, any public component of the reform legislation, and private health insurance," the resolution states.