According to CalVet, Native Americans serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other demographic. (Photo: CalVet.Ca.Gov)
The Department of Veterans Affairs announced last week that it renewed its partnership with the Indian Health Service to improve access to healthcare services for the 145,000 Native American veterans living across the United States.
Together, the two departments aim to improve overall access and quality of healthcare, improve ease of enrollment for eligible veterans, better integrate electronic records, and increase department cooperation in areas such as “technology, partners, training, human resources, services, facilities, communication, and reimbursement.”
As part of the deal, the VA and IHS will also work together on the newly announced Rural Native Veteran Health Care Navigator Program.
The VA says the program is intended to help Native American veterans living in rural communities—approximately 50% of the total population, according to U.S. Census data—overcome obstacles to health care by “coordinating care” and better facilitating resource sharing among federally recognized tribes, IHS, and several unnamed state and federal agencies.
Native American Veterans in California
Preliminary data from the 2020 U.S. Census indicates that California is home to more Native American veterans than any other. Additionally, the California Department of Veterans Affairs notes that Native Americans serve in the U.S. Armed Forces at a higher rate than any other demographic. Despite this, a disproportionate percentage of Native American veterans are homeless or live below the poverty line.
In addition to the programs offered by the VA, CalVet offers several programs intended to improve quality of life for Native American veterans.
Readers can reach out to California American Legion for free help with VA services and benefits.
Author: Christian Southards
Coming from a family with a proud military background and wanting to contribute his writing skills to a worthy cause, Christian began writing for the California American Legion in August of 2020. His father is a 25-year Army Veteran and his grandfather served in the Navy during Vietnam.
