PORTLAND, Ore.—The director of the federal Indian Health Service says health care for Native Americans is still vastly underfunded despite gains made in recent years.
Yvette Roubideaux (ROOB’-i-doh) spoke Friday to a gathering of American Indian doctors in Portland.
IHS mortality statistics show Native Americans are twice as likely as the population as a whole to die from suicide, three times more likely to die from diabetes-related complications and six times more likely to die from alcohol abuse.
Roubideaux says the IHS has been fortunate to avoid budget cuts so far, but deficit-reduction negotiations could erode significant increases made in 2010.
She also says she is working to improve the agency’s care and customer service.
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