Yvette Roubideaux Sworn in as IHS Director

The Indian Health Service has a new director. Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, M.D., M.P.H., a member of the Rosebud Sioux, was sworn in on May 12, less than a week after she was confirmed by the U.S. Senate.

As IHS director, Roubideaux will administer a $4 billion, nationwide program that provides health care to approximately 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Roubideaux previously worked for IHS as a clinical director and medical officer at the San Carlos Service Unit on the San Carlos Apache Indian reservation and as a medical officer at the Hu Hu Kam Memorial Indian Hospital on the Gila River Indian reservation.

She recently served as assistant professor of family and community medicine at the University of Arizona College of Medicine and has conducted extensive research on American Indian health issues.

You can find out more about Roubideaux in the IHS Director’s Corner on the IHS Web site.

IHS may stop funding to tribes charging co-pays

Several tribes could be in danger of losing IHS funding within the next few months if they do not cease charging eligible beneficiaries for any portion of health services or medicine they receive at IHS-funded facilities, according to Indian Country Today.

The paper reports that federal agency has been holding consultations with tribes nationwide since April to try to get a handle on the number of tribes conducting the practice.

Ronald B. Demaray, acting director of the agency's Office of Tribal Programs said the agency is considering terminating its relationship with tribes charging co-pays.