U.S. Senator Mike Rounds says officials in his office are working on an in depth analysis of the Indian Health Service. He’s a co-sponsor of legislation addressing IHS issues in the Great Plains area, including employer recruitment and retention and accountability. Rounds says it’s critical that Tribes are included in the decision making process.
“Until we understand the organization and its system we can’t solve the problem,” Round says. “Sadly, South Dakotans, they’re all too familiar with IHS’s failures to live up to the trust responsibilities to deliver quality healthcare to Native Americans. We’ve been working closely with the Tribal Chairman’s Association and other Tribal leaders to find solutions to these problems.”
Next week the Senate Indian Affairs Committee is holding a field hearing in Rapid City to examine problems within IHS in the Great Plains area. Senator Rounds is participating in the meeting.