Duke City Indians Face Health Care Crisis

Of the $23 million given to the Albuquerque Service Unit, $13 million is contracted out to the six pueblos and tribes. The remaining $10 million is split between earmarked funds and hospital operating causes. The service unit needs $10 million for operations.

As a last-ditch effort, a letter was sent in December to Dr. Charles W. Grim, Director of the Indian Health Service, by New Mexico congressional representation to request additional funding from within Indian Health Service or the Department of Health and Human Services as well as recurring funds.

Rickert said, as of yet, no response has been received; however, the Navajo Nation's Health and Human Services Committee as well as the Inter-Governmental Relations Committee passed legislation requesting its own Navajo Area Indian Health Service to assist the Albuquerque Service Unit with its funding shortages as long "no recurring funds intended to serve the Navajo Area Indian Health Service user population ... are diverted to the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Service."

IHS Director, Dr. Charles Grim

In 2002, the Navajo Area Indian Health Service gave $100,000 to the Albuquerque Service Unit for pharmaceuticals and supplies.

But rising costs of health care, decreases in federal health care dollars, and the service unit's allocation methodology has resulted in the recurring problem.

"If the Navajo Area Indian Health Service gave the needed $5 million to the Albuquerque Service Unit, then other service units, such as Phoenix and Salt Lake City, which serve more users, will request funding too," said Peterson Yazzie, a member of the Navajo Nation's Health and Social Services Committee and sponsor of the legislation.

Under the Indian Self-Determination Act, it is the responsibility of the Department of Health and Human Services Secretary to provide services to tribes not served by the contract.

"Nothing in the Indian Self-Determination Act is to limit or reduce in any funding for any program, project, or activity serving a tribe," the act states.

To contact reporter Pam Dempsey, call (505) 879-1707 or email pamelagdempsey@msn.com/