Rep. Stansbury Fights to Bring More Healthcare Providers to Indian Country

ALBUQUERQUE — U.S. Representative Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) introduced the IHS Provider Expansion Act, which establishes an Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs within the Indian Health Service (IHS). This legislation would expand the existing IHS Residency Program, building from the Shiprock-University of New Mexico (SUNM) Family Medicine Residency which is the first in the nation. 

"Access to healthcare should not be determined by history or geography,” said Rep. Melanie Stansbury (NM-01). “The IHS Provider Expansion Act is a vital step towards ensuring that Native and Indigenous communities can access healthcare and grow the number of medical professionals serving Native communities. By investing in medical education within the Indian Health Service, we can help expand healthcare and bridge the gap in healthcare disparities that have persisted for far too long."

In New Mexico, which is home to 23 Tribal Nations and a population that is nearly 12% Native, access to healthcare services is a pressing issue. Currently, IHS provides services in 37 states to about 2.2 million out of 3.7 million Indigenous people in the country. 

This bill is projected to directly impact millions of people across the country served by the IHS to improve access to healthcare and medical professionals who understand the unique health challenges faced by Tribal communities. 

By expanding access through IHS, this bill will also help to address the significant deficit of rural primary healthcare providers across the country. Recent data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services shows rural areas across the country face a significant deficit in primary care providers, with more than 80 million Americans living in Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).  

 By expanding graduate medical education opportunities through IHS, we can expect an increase in the number of physicians willing to practice in these underserved regions. 

 Key Provisions of the Legislation: 

• Establishment of the Office: The Secretary of Health makes permanent the Office of Graduate Medical Education Programs to oversee residency and fellowship initiatives within the IHS. 
• Creating a Pipeline: The Office will facilitate opportunities for future healthcare professionals, paraprofessionals, and other health-related workers to engage in residency and fellowship programs. 
• Oversight of Residency Programs: The Office will oversee existing residency and fellowship programs at IHS facilities and support the creation of additional programs aimed at recruiting and retaining healthcare professionals. 
• Coordination with Academic Institutions: The Office will work in collaboration with academic institutions to strengthen educational ties and enhance training opportunities. 
• Interagency Working Group: An interagency working group, involving various federal agencies, will assist in the implementation and sustainability of the Office, ensuring ongoing support and resources. 

Read the bill here. 

View the press conference here.   

Other statements of support: 

"Investing in healthcare for Indian Country means supporting the professionals who provide it. This legislation will help address critical clinical shortages by creating a pipeline of well-trained, culturally competent providers for our tribal communities. We know long-standing vacancies have a negative effect on patient access, quality of care, and employee morale," said Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03). "By establishing an Office of Graduate Medical Education through IHS, we are taking steps to bridge the gap in care and make sure Native communities have the medical support they deserve." 

"With Tribal communities in Arizona and across the country facing a critical shortage of health care professionals, it’s vital that we pass theIHS Provider Expansion Act,"said Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ). "This legislation will address health care worker recruitment and retention challenges at IHS facilities and establish a much-needed pipeline of health care professionals. I’m proud to support fully funding IHS and providing the resources, personnel, and training required to serve Indian Country’s health care needs."

"Tribal communities across the country face unacceptable barriers to accessing quality health care—a crisis that is exacerbated by chronic understaffing at the Indian Health Service. As Ranking Member of the Interior Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees IHS, I've heard firsthand how provider shortages lead to delayed care for patients and expensive travel contracts," said Congresswoman Chellie Pingree (D-Maine). "By establishing an Office of Graduate Medical Education at IHS that focuses on a dedicated pipeline to recruit and train talented physicians in tribal health systems, this legislation will help build a robust, sustainable workforce tailored to the unique needs of Native communities. I'm proud to be an original cosponsor. Together, we can tear down barriers to quality, culturally-competent care in tribal health systems from Maine to New Mexico and beyond."

 "The University of New Mexico Health Sciences is very supportive of this legislation that seeks to increase the number of physicians who work caring for Native American populations by supporting residency and fellowship training in Indian Health Service facilities," said Dan Waldman, MD Vice Chair of Education Department of Family & Community Medicine University of New Mexico.  "The proposed Office of Graduate Medical Education within the Indian Health Service would provide much-needed federal programmatic infrastructure and help create partnerships with academic institutions such as UNM.  Where physicians train has an important impact on where they choose to work after they complete their training, and it can also impact their cultural knowledge of the populations they will ultimately work with.  UNM also recognizes the potential value of expanding “grow your own” professional pipelines, including new opportunities for our local Indigenous medical residents and fellows to remain closer to home.  Attracting, educating, and retaining New Mexico’s health professional talent remains a top priority for UNM Health Sciences educational administration."

"First Nations Community HealthSource supports Representative Stansbury’s Indian Health Service (IHS) Provider Expansion Act," said First Nations Community HealthSource CEO Linda Stone. "First Nations Community HealthSource is New Mexico’s Urban Indian Health Center in Albuquerque. Its mission is to provide a comprehensive healthcare delivery system that addresses the physical, social, emotional, and spiritual needs of urban Indigenous people and other underserved populations in Albuquerque and the surrounding areas. First Nations Community HealthSource faces significant shortages of healthcare professionals, a national and state-wide challenge. The IHS Provider Expansion Act will help alleviate these shortages and improve access to essential healthcare services in American Indian communities."

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