CAMPBELL'S INDIAN HEALTH CARE BILL READY TO BECOME LAW

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Senate last night gave unanimous final passage to a bill by U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell (R-Colo.) to expand Indian tribes' ability to manage their health care programs. The "Tribal Self-Governance Act Amendments of 2000" now goes to the White House for the president's signature.

Campbell's landmark legislation will strengthen tribal self governance by making permanent a demonstration project allowing tribes to contract with the Indian Health Service to design and implement their own health care programs. The self governance law was enacted in response to President Nixon's 1970 "Special Message to Congress on Indian Affairs" which made the case for Indian political self determination and economic self sufficiency as the foundation for current federal Indian law and policy.

"Communities thrive when they are given the chance to make their own decisions," Campbell said. "The top-down management that dominated federal Indian policy for a century was a disaster. This bill will continue our efforts to assist tribes in their transition to self-determination.

"I am a strong believer in the wisdom of local governments. Experience shows that when Indian tribes are allowed the flexibility to design health care programs, the quality of care to their members increases and at the same time the tribes' ability to govern is increased as well. This is a big win for Indian Country."

In addition to making the pilot program permanent, Campbell's "Tribal Self Governance Act Amendments of 2000" will allow tribal contractors to purchase pharmaceuticals at the same rate as the federal government, allows tribes to redesign programs to fit their needs and to consolidate their resources to provide health services and will require the Health and Human Services Department to prepare a feasibility study to determine whether self governance should be expanded to other areas within the HHS such as Head Start.

### CONTACT: Chris Changery (202) 224-1489
July 27, 2000