{"id":20400,"date":"2022-01-26T17:14:59","date_gmt":"2022-01-26T22:14:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.indianz.com\/News\/?p=20400"},"modified":"2022-01-26T17:16:31","modified_gmt":"2022-01-26T22:16:31","slug":"its-really-time-speculation-grows-about-leadership-at-indian-health-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/indianz.com\/News\/2022\/01\/26\/its-really-time-speculation-grows-about-leadership-at-indian-health-service\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018It’s really time\u2019: Speculation grows about leadership at Indian Health Service"},"content":{"rendered":"
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AAIP physicians across the nation share diverse reasons why they choose to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza. For more information, visit us at a…<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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Association of American Indian Physicians: COVID-19 Vaccination Message from AAIP Physicians<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n
\u2018It’s really time\u2019: Speculation grows about leadership at Indian Health Service <\/div>\r\n
Funding levels and COVID-19 pandemic are among top concerns<\/div>\r\n
Wednesday, January 26, 2022<\/div>\r\n
By Acee Agoyo<\/div>\r\n
Indianz.Com<\/div>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nWASHINGTON, D.C. — It’s been a year since Joe Biden took office as president of the United States and he has yet to name a permanent leader of the Indian Health Service<\/a>, even amid a pandemic that increasingly affects the lives of the first Americans.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nBut change is coming to the federal agency charged with providing health care to more than 2 million American Indians and Alaska Natives<\/a>, according to tribal leaders and policy experts. Speculation has grown in recent days, in Indian Country and in the nation’s capital, about a potential announcement for the vacant position at the IHS.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nAccording to several tribal advocates who closely monitor Indian policy developments in Washington, D.C., the White House<\/a> has singled out a candidate for the job of IHS director.\r\n

<\/P>\r\n\u201cWe understand there is a person undergoing vetting,\u201d said one Indian health advocate, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the uncertain nature of the situation.\r\n

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Cases of #COVID19 continue to surge across Indian Country, according to Indian Health Service\u200b. Since January 1, 2022, the 7-day positivity rate @IHSgov has increased by 97 percent. And in some areas, nearly every other person is testing positive. https:\/\/t.co\/8JBPs0vEZV<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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<\/P>\r\nThe timing of an announcement for the IHS position, though, is up for significant debate. One tribal health leader expected the White House to make an announcement as soon as this week, a year after President Biden asked the prior director<\/a> to step down.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nBut another Indian policy expert with connections to the Biden administration believes word from Washington might not come until next week, as members of the U.S. Senate<\/a> return to work. The IHS director must be confirmed by the chamber, which is led by Democrats<\/a>.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nThe identity of the potential IHS nominee is also a huge unknown. Although seven people independently confirmed increased chatter about the position in the last week, all said the White House was being extremely tight-lipped about the next steps in the process.\r\n

<\/p>\r\nFor Dr. Aaron Payment, the chairperson of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians<\/a>, an announcement couldn’t come at a more critical time. Pointing to the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 in Indian Country<\/a>, he said the Biden administration must demonstrate its commitment to the trust and treaty responsibility.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cWe’re in the middle of a pandemic,\u201d Payment said in an interview with Indianz.Com. \u201cSome of the impacts on Indian Country are worse than in other racial and ethnic populations.\u201d\r\n

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AAIP physicians across the nation share diverse reasons why they choose to get vaccinated against COVID-19 and Influenza.<\/p>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/div>\n\t

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Association of American Indian Physicians: COVID-19 Vaccination Message from AAIP Physicians<\/a>\r\n<\/figcaption>\r\n

<\/p>\r\nAccording to the data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>, American Indians and Alaska Natives are more likely to contract the coronavirus, to be hospitalized for the disease and to die of COVID-19 when compared to other racial and ethnic groups.\r\n

<\/P>\r\nAnd while COVID-19 vaccination rates are high among the first Americans<\/a>, Payment said inadequate data hinders the ability of the U.S. government to truly provide health care to all Native people, especially those who aren’t close to the IHS service areas<\/a> designated for their respective tribal nations. He believes permanent leadership at the agency can help address the situation.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cRight now we’re, we’ve got a lot of critical questions during the pandemic that really warrant a solid commitment in terms of making the nomination known,\u201d Payment said of the IHS position, which he was once under consideration for during the early days of the Biden presidency.\r\n

<\/p>\r\n\u201cAnd so we’re a year into this administration,\u201d he added. \u201cWe’re not at the levels of Donald Trump, you know, where he went three years before nominating Admiral Michael Weahkee.\u201d\r\n

<\/p>\r\nStill, Payment added: \u201cIt’s really time for us to see a nominee.\u201d\r\n

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