Faculty Mentor

Rosalee Allen

Document Type

Poster

Publication Date

2020

Department

Health Services Administration

Abstract

Indigenous people of the United States make up roughly 1.7% of the total population; this is including those of mixed race but still qualify for indigenous benefits. These 5.2 million individuals are dispersed across the nation and some live in rural and isolated locations where health care has not always been readily available. When the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976 was implemented it meant that any indigenous person that met racial qualifications was financially covered if the care was provided by an indigenous health service or facility. Due to this act, health and wellness of indigenous people across the nation increased and statistics regarding mortality rate and death due to illness began to decline. Although this implementation proved to be beneficial for short term care, there are still gaps in the care offered to indigenous people and the resources that are still readily available in rural and isolated communities. This dissertation will be discussing the gaps in indigenous health care across the nation and how they have hindered the improvements made by the Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1976. By analyzing literature and statistics that demonstrate health trends that correlate with the implementation of acts chronologically, it will analyze the need for improvements that are still a right of indigenous people for proper health care. It’s important to understand the significance of reparations and how it has aided and will continue to aid indigenous health care and their future wellbeing.

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