American Indian/Alaska Native cancer policy: systemic approaches to reducing cancer disparities.
Members of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) tribes have a unique political status in the United States in terms of citizenship, and that political status determines eligibility for certain unique healthcare services. The AI/AN population has a legal right to healthcare services based on treaties, court decisions, acts of Congress, Executive Orders, and other legal bases. Although the AI/AN population has a right to healthcare services, the Indian Health Service (the federal agency responsible for providing healthcare to AI/ANs) is severely underfunded, limiting access to services (including cancer care). In order to overcome distinct cancer health disparities, policy changes will be needed. This paper reviews the historical pattern of AI/AN healthcare and the challenges of the complex care needed from prevention through end-of-life care for cancer.
North Dakota State University, NDSU Dept 2660, PO Box 6050, Fargo, ND 58108-6050, USA. donald.warne@ndsu.edu
Donald
D
Warne
Judith
J
Kaur
David
D
Perdue
D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004930:Inuit / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D011057:Politics; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D016549:United States Indian Health Service