At the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) we acknowledge that as long as congressional appropriations to the Indian Health Service (IHS) provide only 60% of Tribal health care needs, perhaps it’s time to take a more sophisticated and dedicated approach to the appropriations process.
Please utilize the first edition of the NIHB Tribal Appropriations Toolkit. In the toolkit, you are provided with basic information about how a bill becomes law, appropriations committee contact information, tips about preparing testimony and much more.
At the NIHB, it is important that we provide you with the tools necessary to assist you in becoming an effective Indian health care advocate. Our resource guide is one tool that can assist with that effort. You may also rely on our staff and website for support.
As long as American Indian and Alaska Native health care is not an entitlement program, we must ask Congress for funding every year through the annual appropriations process. Thank you for being here today so that we can begin this journey together.