INDIANZ.COM LISTENING LOUNGE Senate Indian Affairs Committee oversight hearing on Access to Contract Health Services in Indian Country. June 26, 2008. • Opening Statements Panel 1 - Testimony | Q&A Panel 2 - Testimony | Q&A • Webcast | Written Testimony

It's June so that means the Kickapoo Tribe of Kansas has run out of contract health service funds, Chairman Steve Cadue said in a letter to members of Congress.

The Indian Health Service uses contract health service to pay outside providers for care that it cannot provide at its facilities. Tribes have discovered that the money runs out quickly, leading to the common phrase -- "Don't get sick after June."

"Native Americans continue to experience health disparities at a far greater rate than other Americans," Cadue said in the letter, WIBW-TV reported. "The lack of federal assistance health care monies is becoming a matter of life and death."

The Senate Indian Affairs Committee held a hearing yesterday to address the shortfall. Tribal witnesses said IHS is denying more and more claims for contract health services.

Get the Story:
Indian Health Care System Deemed Inadequate by Kansas Tribe (WIBW 6/26)
Low funds mean low-quality care for American Indians (Medill Reports 6/26)

Related Stories:
Senate Indian Affairs hearing on contract health (6/26)
Witness list for Senate hearing on contract health (6/25)
Senate Indian Affairs hearing on contract health (6/23)
Senate committee to examine contract health services (4/7)