New Mexico trying to make up for IHS shortfalls

Thursday, February 22, 2007  

The state of New Mexico is trying to find money to make up for shortfalls in the Indian Health Service budget.

Gov. Bill Richardson (D) is asking the state's congressional delegation to reauthorize the Indian Health Care Improvement Act and to restore President Bush's budget cuts. In the upcoming budget, the IHS would lose the $33 million urban health care program and see cuts in maintenance and facilities.

To make up for some of the cuts, Speaker of the House Ben Lujan is seeking $10 million to fund health care for tribes. Rep. Ray Begaye has secured $2 million for basic health care services that he says the IHS no longer provides.

Lujan is sponsoring the Native American Health Care Act. It passed a committee last week and will be put to a vote in the House.

Get the Story:
State trying to make up for health care cuts (The Gallup Independent 2/21)

$rl Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov

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