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November 2015 Blogs

Great News for Native Americans Battling Diabetes-End-Stage Renal Disease Rates Drop Significantly

Dr. Ann Bullock, Director of the Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention

November 24, 2015
by Dr. Ann Bullock, Director of the Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention

Diabetes affects the American Indian and Alaska Native population at almost twice the rate of the general U.S. population. To help end this health epidemic, Congress has committed $150 million per year through fiscal year 2017 for the continued prevention and treatment of this disease. The IHS Special ... Continue reading


Improving Care for Veterans by Sharing Medical Records with VA

CDR Mark Rives, DSc, Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office of Information Technology

November 23, 2015
by CDR Mark Rives, DSc, Chief Information Officer and Director of the Office of Information Technology

November is the month that we celebrate and recognize veterans. This is a great time to highlight how information technology advances at the Indian Health Service are improving medical care for American Indian and Alaska Native veterans. The Indian Health Service and the U.S. Department of Veterans ... Continue reading


IHS Participates in Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Conference

Ben Smith, Director, Office of Tribal Self-Governance

November 20, 2015
by Ben Smith, Director, Office of Tribal Self-Governance

This week, I traveled to Hamilton, New Zealand, to join more than 1,000 Indigenous peoples from around the world at the seventh gathering of the Healing Our Spirit Worldwide Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  conference to present and share the lessons learned in the United States about the IHS ... Continue reading


Affordable Care Act Native American Week of Action: November 16-20, 2015

Robert McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

November 18, 2015
by Robert McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

This week, November 16-20, 2015, marks the Affordable Care Act Native American Week of Action. IHS, Tribal and urban Indian health care facilities across the country are hosting outreach events, making presentations and answering your questions about health benefits coverage, the Marketplace and the ... Continue reading


American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

Mary L. Smith,  Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

November 12, 2015
by Mary L. Smith, Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

Today I gave remarks at the Department of Health and Human Services annual American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month event in Washington, D.C. The theme was: Our Native Elders: Our Past. Our Present. Our Future. I shared my own story of my Cherokee heritage, which begins with my grandmother, ... Continue reading


IHS Honors American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans

Robert G. McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

November 10, 2015
by Robert G. McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

Our American Indian and Alaska Native veterans are the warriors and protectors of our Tribal communities. They are brave. They are honorable. They are the men and women who have sacrificed so much to keep our lands and our people safe. On this special day of recognition - Veterans Day - I humbly say ... Continue reading


Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period: November 1, 2015 – January 31, 2016

Robert G. McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

November 2, 2015
by Robert G. McSwain, Principal Deputy Director, Indian Health Service

The third Open Enrollment period for the Health Insurance Marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act is November 1, 2015, through January 31, 2016. This period is an opportune time for people of Indian descent or who are otherwise eligible for services from the Indian Health Service, tribal program ... Continue reading