What is the Indian Health Care Improvement Act?
The Indian Health Care Improvement Act, or IHCIA, is a federal law that was passed in 1976 to improve access to health care for Native American and Alaska Native people in the United States. The law was enacted to address the fact that Native Americans have some of the worst health outcomes of any racial or ethnic group in the United States. The IHCIA extended the previous Indian Health Care Improvement Act of 1955, and provides resources to federally recognized tribes for health care services and programs. Resources provided by the IHCIA include health care facilities, medical personnel, training of health care professionals, and health care and prevention services for tribal members. In South Carolina, the IHCIA is administered by the federal Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Catawba Indian Nation Health Services. The IHS is responsible for providing healthcare services to Native Americans in the state and serves as a liaison between federal, state, and tribal governments to ensure that access to health care is provided to tribal members. The Catawba Indian Nation Health Services provides comprehensive health care services to members of the Catawba Tribe and is funded through a combination of federal, state, and tribal sources. The IHCIA has made it easier for Native Americans in South Carolina to get access to quality health care. It has provided increased access to care, increased resources, and better coordination between federal, state, and tribal governments to ensure that Native American communities receive the health services they need.
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