What is the Indian Health Care Improvement Act?
The Indian Health Care Improvement Act (abbreviated as IHCIA) is a key piece of legislation that was passed by the United States Congress in 1976. The IHCIA is a federal law that provides health care services to Native Americans in the United States, including those in North Carolina. The Act is administered by the Indian Health Service, which is a part of the Department of Health and Human Services. It is the purpose of the IHCIA to improve the health care of Native Americans, including access to health care, health promotion, health education, and disease prevention and treatment. The Act provides for programs to improve the health of Native Americans by addressing disparities in health care quality, health outcomes, and medical care access. The Act also seeks to improve the cultural competence of health care providers and increase access to health care services for both urban and rural Native Americans. It authorizes health care services, such as medical, dental, vision, and mental health services, as well as programs to address substance use disorders, HIV/AIDS, elder care, and alcohol and substance use prevention and treatment. The IHCIA also provides for Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance, which allows Native Americans to have greater control over the delivery of their health care through self-governance. This includes contracting with the Indian Health Service to manage health care services, thus allowing tribal governments to better meet the individual needs of their citizens. Additionally, the Act authorizes the Indian Health Service to provide funding for public health programs, such as environmental health, chronic disease prevention, and other health promotion activities.
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