Support for Direct Funding to Tribes and the Indian Health Service for Hepatitis C Prevention, Screening, and Treatment
WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all federally recognized American Indian and 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 NIHB has a strong history of advancing the well-being of American Indian and Alaska Native people through the support of regulatory and congressional action, advocacy for increased funding for healthcare in Indian Country, creation of national venues to discuss health issues, and creation of educational and programmatic materials for Tribal public health professionals; and
WHEREAS, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal Nations share a unique government to government relationship with the federal government; and
WHEREAS, the federal government has a trust responsibility to deliver quality healthcare and public health services to all AI/ANs; and
WHEREAS, AI/AN communities have been disproportionately impacted by the national opioid overdose epidemic, experiencing the second highest overdose fatality rate nationwide in 2016 at 13.9 deaths per 100,000 population; and
WHEREAS, the national opioid overdose epidemic has been the primary driver of a 400% increase in rates of acute Hepatitis C (HCV) infections among 18 to 29 year olds and a 325% increase among 30 to 39 year olds nationally from 2004 to 2014; and
WHEREAS, AI/AN people have the highest HCV mortality rate at 10.8 deaths per 100,000 compared to a national average of 4.5 deaths per 100,000 population; and
WHEREAS, rates of chronic liver disease and cirrhosis deaths associated with HCV infections are 2.3 times higher among AI/ANs compared to Whites; and
WHEREAS, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2016 included $1.5 billion in supplemental funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) specifically for expansion of HCV screening and treatment without any matching funds for the Indian Health Service (IHS); and
