SENATE PASSES CAMPBELL’S SELF GOVERNANCE IN INDIAN HEALTH CARE BILL

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Senate last night unanimously passed Chairman Ben Nighthorse Campbell’s bill to expand tribes’ ability to manage their health care programs. This landmark legislation will strengthen tribal self governance by making permanent a demonstration project allowing tribes to contract with the Indian Health Service to design and implement their own health care programs.

A similar bill has passed the House of Representatives. The two bills may have to go to a Conference Committee to work out the differences.

“This is a big win for Indian Country,” Campbell said. “After years of hearings, consultation with the tribes and negotiations we have a good bill that will endorse and expand Indian self governance in health care.”

The self governance law was enacted in response to President Nixon’s 1970 “Special Message to Congress on Indian Affairs” which made the case for Indian political self determination and economic self sufficiency as the foundation for current federal Indian law and policy.

“I am a strong believer in the wisdom of local governments,” Campbell said. “Experience shows that when Indian tribes are allowed the flexibility to design health care programs, the quality of care to their members increases and at the same time the tribes’ ability to govern is increased as well.”

In addition to making the pilot program permanent, Campbell’s “Tribal Self Governance Amendments of 2000" will allow tribal contractors to purchase pharmaceuticals at the same rate as the federal government, allows tribes to redesign programs to fit their needs and to consolidate their resources to provide health services and will require the Health and Human Services Department to prepare a feasibility study to determine whether self governance should be expanded to other areas within the HHS such as Head Start.

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CONTACT: Chris Changery (202) 224-1489
April 5, 2000