“Problems at the Indian Health Service are snowballing as concerns about quality grow and a mishandled investigation into sexual assault allegations are pulling the agency into the battle over Medicare for All.”
“Scrutiny of the agency heated up in February when an investigation by the PBS documentary series “Frontline” and the Wall Street Journal reported that the IHS routinely hired physicians with troubled backgrounds. The investigation centered on the pediatrician Stanley Patrick Weber, who was allowed to treat children at multiple IHS facilities despite suspicions of misconduct and abuse.”
“As a result, lawmakers are renewing efforts to find a way to improve long-standing quality issues at the IHS. Some of the ideas include…”
“Rounds said in an interview that the goal of the bill is to provide tribes with information on the quality and adequacy of IHS direct-care services. He hopes tribes can then use the information to decide for themselves whether to adopt what is called a 638 contract, in which the tribe contracts with an existing private healthcare organization to provide healthcare instead of going through a direct care facility…” Read the full article here.
Source: Indian Health Service swept up in efforts to boost transparency, oppose Medicare for All – By Robert King, March 16, 2019. Modern Healthcare.
