WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all Federally recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments by advocating for the improvement of health care delivery to AI/ANs, as well as upholding the Federal government’s trust responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments; and

WHEREAS, the unmet health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives are severe and the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives is far below that of the general population of the United States, resulting in an average life expectancy for American Indians and Alaska Natives 4.2 years less than that for the U.S. all races population; and

WHEREAS, the Indian Health Service (IHS) operates 28 Federally funded/Federally staffed hospitals and 62 health clinics across the IHS system; and

WHEREAS, at least three of these hospitals in the Great Plains Region have been terminated or received threats of termination from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) making the facilities ineligible to bill Medicare or Medicaid for eligible services provided; and