Mr. Chairman and Members of the Committee:
Good morning. I am Dr. Michael H. Trujillo from Laguna Pueblo, New Mexico. I am
the Director of the Indian Health Service. Accompanying me today are Mr. Michel E.
Lincoln, Deputy Director; Ms. Luana L. Reyes, Director, Headquarters Operations;
Dr. W. Craig Vanderwagen, Director, Division of Clinical and Preventive Services,
Office of Public Health, Mr. Gary J. Hartz, Director, Division of Facilities and
Environmental Engineering, Office of Public Health and Department representative
Mr. Dennis P. Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Budget. We are pleased to be
here today to discuss the President's fiscal year (FY) 1998 budget request for the Indian
Health Service.
Mr. Chairman, I want to acknowledge the Committee's continuing support of the Indian
Health Service. Its support for the principal health program for Indian people and its
positive influence over other programs that affect Indian people has greatly assisted our
agency, and our tribal and urban health partners in meeting many of the health care
needs of Indian people. We depend on the Committee's continued support as we begin
another year of delivering health services to America's first citizens. I am committed to
working with the Committee in reviewing the Indian health priorities for fiscal year
1998 and to address any questions you and other committee members may have
regarding the Indian Health Service budget request.
The provision of Federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives is based
upon a special government-to-government relationship between Indian tribes and the
United States which has been reaffirmed throughout the history of this Nation. In the
1860s, President Lincoln presented the then governor of my tribe a cane which symbolized
that special relationship. Subsequently the relationship has been repeatedly reaffirmed by
all three branches of this Nation's government. During the President's first term, he
hosted two National tribal meetings at the White House. In each of those meetings, he
issued policy statements acknowledging the government-to-government relationship
between the Indian Tribes and the United States. Most recently, the President issued an
Executive Memorandum directing all Federal Departments and Agencies to implement
policies and procedures for consulting with Indian Tribes on matters that effect Indian
people.
American Indians and Alaska Natives believe strongly in the treaties our forefathers signed
with the United States Government and in the status of their tribes as sovereign nations.
Many of our ancestors lost their lives forging this government-to-government relationship.
.They gave up land, water rights, mineral rights, and forests in exchange for, among other
things, health care. I believe it is our solemn responsibility to provide the best health care
this Nation has to offer as we carry out the commitment the United States is honor bound
to keep.
The Indian Health Service provides a comprehensive health system in partnership with
Indian people to develop and manage programs to meet their health needs. In addition, the
Indian Health Service also acts as the principal federal health advocate for Indian people.
Our goal is to raise the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest
level possible.
We have made much progress over the years. Infant mortality rates, maternal death rates,
morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases have all decreased dramatically over the
past 40 years. The resultant increase in the life expectancy Indian people enjoy today is
something in which we take pride. However, American Indians and Alaska Natives
continue to bear an increased burden of illness and premature mortality compared to
other U.S. populations. Health conditions related to life style choices such as diabetes,
heart disease, substance abuse, and domestic violence are especially troublesome.
Poverty, lack of employment and educational opportunities, and communities whose
social fabric has been torn all contribute to these health problems. In addition, while the
Indian Health Service has made great strides in improving the water and sanitation
systems of many reservation communities, 12 percent of all American Indian and Alaska
Native homes lack safe water and adequate means of waste disposal.
Although we maintain accreditation for most of our health facilities, the aging health
facility infrastructure in Indian country requires costly upkeep and maintenance which
diverts precious resources away form health care. While the average age of our health
facilities is nearing 40 years, some facilities are in excess of 80 years old. Geographic
isolation also contributes to lack of access to health professionals and services, and
lower per capita health care expenditures add to this increased burden of illness and
premature mortality.
The American Indian and Alaska Native population experienced a decrease in the
number of physicians per 100,000 population from 99.7 in FY 1982 to 89.8 in FY
1994. The physician ratio for non-Indian communities is 229 per 100,000 population.
By comparison, in the four state region of the IHS Aberdeen Area, the ratio for the
Indian population is 87 physicians per 100,000. In fiscal year 1996, the IHS per capita
health care expenditure was $1,578, compared to the U.S. civilian per capita
expenditure of $3,920.
The fiscal year 1998 budget request for the Indian Health Service is $2.122 billion
which is a 3 percent increase over FY 1997. The additional funds will be used
primarily for increased pay costs for both tribal and Indian Health Service employees,
first phase construction of two replacement health facilities, contract health care
services, for tribes assuming the operation of their local health programs, additional
staff in four new health facilities, sanitation facilities construction, and for improved
services for the most vulnerable segments of the population such as women, elderly,
children and urban Indians. The request assumes collections of $285 million from third
party health carriers for Indian patients consistent with the FY 1997 levels. This request
also includes an increase of $12 million for Indian Self-Determination Fund and an
increase of $2 million for Sanitation Facilities Construction of water and sewer lines to
Indian homes.
Dramatic change remains a constant factor in the operation of the health programs of the
Indian Health Service, tribal, and urban Indian health organizations. Meeting the
evolving challenges facing the Indian health system is accomplished first by working
with tribal and urban Indian health leaders to gauge the impact of change on their
programs. The second step is to assess and undertake the most effective approach to
assist Indian communities in addressing their own health needs. The final report, titled
"Design for a New IHS" included 50 recommendations for redesigning the IHS in two
phases. Phase One is focused on Headquarters restructuring and is to be completed in
1997, with implementation of a streamlined corporate structure to begin next month.
This year the IHS Headquarters will be consolidated from 132 organizational units into
less than 50. Selected components that support field programs will be transferred to the
field. New headquarters core functions will focus on advocacy and leadership for Indian
health, the advancement of a community based approach to health care, documentation
of Indian health needs, and the support of a nation-wide Indian health network. Phase
Two implementation involves Area restructuring and is to be completed in 1998. One
of the recommendations suggested to make the Area Offices more supportive of
increased autonomy of local tribal, urban, and Indian Health Service health programs is
the formation of area office work-sharing arrangements for functions that are no longer
practical or economically feasible for a single area to perform efficiently and to build
incentives into policies, governance structure, and performance standards to meet tribal
and urban Indian expectations.
I remain committed to an approach that ensures that Area level restructuring is guided
by the health needs of Indian people. A shared principle of the Indian Health Service
and the Indian Health Design Team is that "patient care comes first." That principle
requires that we direct resources recovered from future streamlining efforts to federal
and tribal health care programs. To further that effort we have developed, jointly with
tribal leaders, a business plan to integrate more corporate business planning practices
into key segments of Indian Health Service operations.
All tribes and urban Indian organizations are being included in the processes of the
Agency to ensure fairness and balance. No major decisions of the Agency are made
without consideration of the viewpoints and concerns of all tribes: those that contract,
those that compact, and those that choose to stay within the federal system of health care
delivery. The Agency also includes urban Indian organizations in the decision making
process of the Agency, particularly in policy decisions that would impact on them.
In the fifth year of implementing the Self-Governance demonstration program, there are
now 34 compacts and 48 Annual Funding Agreements in place. At the present time,
more than one-third of health services for Indian people are being provided by tribal and
urban Indian health programs through contracts and compacts. The Agency budget
request proposes a 60 percent increase in the size of the Indian Self-Determination Fund
(from $7.5 million to $12 million) to assist tribes with building their local health
program administration capability.
I have committed the Agency to increase the opportunity for tribal participation in
developing the IHS budget request. The budget formulation process for fiscal year 1999
will provide expanded opportunities for tribal and urban participation in establishing
budget request funding levels, addressing health priorities, and identifying performance
measures of success. We are conducting 2 day budget formulation workshops in each of
the 12 Areas of the Indian Health Service to more fully explain the federal budgeting
process and begin developing budget priorities for FY 1999.
In context of the proposed 5 year federal budget, the FY 1998 budget request for IHS is
critical to the future viability of the Indian health system it supports. Federal funding
for Indian health programs must remain a priority for this Nation. The trend toward
downsizing the role of the Federal Government cannot be used to abrogate historic
treaty and trust obligations. I look forward to working with the members of the
Committee to honor and strengthen this commitment and to work toward realizing the
goal of elevating the health status of American Indian and Alaska Native people to the
highest possible level.
Mr. Chairman, this concludes my statement. We will be pleased to answer any
questions you may have. Thank you.
