California increases funding for State Indian Health Program

The California Legislative Native American Caucus recently achieved a significant victory by restoring funding for the Indian Health Program (IHP) in the Legislative Budget Proposal. The IHP funds play a crucial role in reducing disparities among Native Americans and Alaska Natives residing in California. The State Indian Health Program had been eliminated in 2009 by then-Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger but was reinstated in 2023. Unfortunately, the funding was slashed by $23 million in the 2024 May Revise, but thanks to the efforts of California Assemblymember James Ramos and others, the funding was restored.

Assemblymember Ramos expressed pride in the Caucus, consisting of 63 members, for collaborating with organizations like the California Rural Indian Health Board and the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health to advocate for health care access in the state’s Indian Country. He emphasized their commitment to supporting this critical program and thanked the legislative budget committees and subcommittee chairs for their support. Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia also underscored the importance of restoring funds for California’s Indian Health Program to address the urgent health needs of tribal communities and potentially save lives.

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