"Passage of this vital legislation is long overdue. "Governor Bill Richardson said. "States like New Mexico depend on it to adequately serve the health needs of our American Indian citizens."
The IHCIA expired in 2000. The Senate is currently considering reauthorization and Governor Richardson is pushing the House of Representatives to do the same.
American Indians in New Mexico, and across the nation, are among the poorest population, and experience the highest rates of cancer, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease. Further, American Indians have limited access to care. Due to the under-funding of the Indian Health Service (IHS) system New Mexico's Indian population has been adversely affected.