Cortez Masto, Murkowski, Murray, Tillis Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Support Tribal Health Organizations

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) introduced legislation that would bolster health care for Tribal communities. The Public Health Service (PHS) Access Act would allow PHS Commissioned Corps officers to be assigned to Urban Indian Organizations (UIO).

UIOs play a critical role in serving the health care needs of the estimated 2.9 million urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN), 70 percent of the total AI/AN population. However, these organizations face significant health care workforce shortages. Current law does not grant UIOs the authority to authorize PHS Commissioned Corps officers to perform health care services. The PHS Access Act give UIOs that authority, addressing their health care workforce crisis.

"Nevada's Urban Indian health facilities are chronically understaffed," said Senator Cortez Masto. "Even the best doctors and nurses can't provide patients with the quality of care that they need if there simply aren't enough of them. This commonsense fix gives the Department of Health and Human Services the flexibility it needs to ensure that Tribal communities across the Silver State can get the health care they need."

"UIOs provide far more than a place for an annual check-up; they deliver culturally grounded care that reflects the needs and values of the communities they serve," said Senator Murkowski. "All Native people deserve access to quality health care, whether they live in a city or a rural community. Ensuring these facilities are adequately staffed will strengthen health outcomes for American Indian and Alaska Native communities nationwide and help fill a critical gap in care."

"We are grateful to Senators Murkowski and Murray for championing this bipartisan effort to allow U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Officers to be detailed directly at urban Indian organizations. Due to limited funding, Urban Indian Organizations continue to face significant challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled health care professionals, and detailing Commissioned Officers help them address workforce shortages and increase collaboration across the federal health care system. Recently, Secretary Kennedy detailed 70 officers to Indian Health Service facilities to help stabilize staffing needs. We urge Congress to pass this legislation swiftly so that Urban Indian Organizations can similarly benefit from this vital workforce support," said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), CEO of National Council of Urban Indian Health.

Senator Cortez Masto is among the strongest advocates for Tribal communities in the Senate and has consistently fought for better health care for Tribal members. She has introduced bipartisan legislation to extend the reporting deadline for emergency medical care for Tribal members and to make it easier for the Indian Health Service to recruit and retain medical workers. She is pushing three bipartisan bills to address the epidemic of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

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