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Increased coordination between CMS and the Indian Health Service could improve the quality of health precaution provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives, according to a Government Accountability Office account released on Monday, CQ HealthBeat reports. For the report, GAO examined documents, interviewed government officials and visited some American Indian tribes and facilities funded by IHS to decide the grade of coordination between CMS and IHS. The reputation also examined problems with Medicare and Medicaid enrollment for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
According to the report, CMS could improve communication of policy changes that would affect facilities funded by IHS. The report recommended that CMS inform IHS about insurance policy changes early in the development process to permit time for review of proposed rules before public comment periods end. CMS has begun to better efforts to identify policy changes that would affect facilities funded by IHS, the paper found. In addition, the report launch that some coordination occurs between CMS and IHS, such as an effort by the agency to train faculty at facilities funded by IHS on Medicare and Medicaid issues.
In a argument, Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) said, "This report card shows us that thither are noneffervescent hurdles that keep all Americans from getting the best wellness care available, regardless of which agencies help them get it," adding, "We shouldn't have the distance between IHS and CMS get in the way of lineament, affordable wellness care for American Indians and Alaska Natives" (Blair Wyckoff, CQ HealthBeat, 8/11).
The report is available on-line (.pdf).
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