Increasing Funding for the Indians Into Medicine (INMED) Program

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, Despite significant increases in appropriations to the Indian Health Service (IHS), there continues to be significant regional shortages of physicians; and

WHEREAS, The Indian Health Professions line item, which includes, but is not limited to, the IHS Scholarship Program (Sections 103-104), Loan Repayment Program (Section 108), and Indians Into Medicine Program (INMED) (Section 114), has seen significant increases in appropriations from FY 2014 to FY 2021 after minimal changes from FY 2010 to FY 2014¹ ; and

WHEREAS, The Indians Into Medicine Program (INMED), a five-year grant supporting the recruitment, advancement, and graduation of AI/AN medical students saw no change or decreases in funding from FY 2009 to FY 2016¹ ; and

WHEREAS, National exposure to INMED is limited by a low number of INMED awards (3-4) and available program funding, with most funding disproportionately directed to the University of North Dakota, the originating institution of this program¹ ; and

WHEREAS, all medical schools in states with the greatest AI/AN population (i.e., California, Oklahoma, Arizona, Texas, New Mexico, Washington, New York, North Carolina, Florida, and Michigan) collectively enroll AI/AN medical students below their AI/AN state population percent² ; and

WHEREAS, There are recognized disparities in the geographic distribution of AI/AN physicians³ ; and

WHEREAS, Physicians are more likely to practice in areas where they train or feel connected to³ ; and

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, the National Indian Health Board calls upon the Indian Health Service to expand the number of Indians Into Medicine (INMED) program from 4 to 12 awards with commensurate increase in line-item funding and award parity between all competitive and non-competitive awardees; and

• Justification of Estimates for Appropriations Committees. US Department of Health and Human Services: Indian Health Committees.
• Table B-5.2: Total Enrollment by U.S. Medical School and Race/Ethnicity (Alone or In Combination), 2020-2021. Association of American Medical Colleges.
• Reshaping the Journey: American Indians and Alaska Natives in Medicine. 2019. Association of American Medical Colleges