American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) veterans now have increased access to health care services closer to home following a recent Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Indian Health Service (IHS) joint national agreement.
As a result of a national agreement, the reimburses IHS for direct care services provided to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. While the national agreement applies only to the VA and IHS, Tribes are actively advocating to ensure that their agreements mirror those applied to the IHS-operated facilities. VA copayments do not apply to direct care services provided by IHS to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native veterans under this agreement, as required by 38 U.S.C. 1730A.
The VA and IHS, in consultation with the federally recognized Tribal governments, have worked long and hard to come to an equitable agreement that would ensure access to quality health care would be made available to our Nation’s heroes living in tribal communities,” said Dr. Robert Petzel, Undersecretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration. “This agreement will also strengthen VA, IHS and Tribal health programs by increasing access to high-quality care for Native veterans, particularly those in highly rural areas.
This reimbursement agreement between the VA and the IHS will help improve health care services for American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans and further the IHS mission and federal responsibility of raising the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives to the highest level possible,” said Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, director of the Indian Health Service.
This IHS-VA agreement will allow our federal facilities to work with the VA more closely as we implement this critical provision in the recently reauthorized Indian Health Care Improvement Act, passed as part of the Affordable Care Act.
There is a long, distinguished tradition of military service among tribes . VA is committed to expanding access to native Veterans with the full range of VA programs, as earned by their service to our Nation.
– Eric K. Shinseki
Secretary of Veterans Affairs
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