Tribal Leaders Push for Managed Care to Fix IHS Delays

(Undated) — South Dakota tribal leaders say long waits and deadly delays at Indian Health Service clinics show why a change in Native healthcare is needed. At a recent tribal-state meeting, leaders discussed shifting to Tribal Managed Care, a system that could improve access and even save lives. Representative Peri Pourier says she’s lost relatives waiting for care, while others have died being transferred miles away for treatment. State and federal leaders are pushing to fund the switch, and all nine South Dakota tribes have the option to opt in.