FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 4, 2020
Congress Must Hear from Indian Country
NOW
on 5-Year Renewal of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB), National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) are working closely together to ensure that Congress passes a 5-year renewal of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) before it expires on May 22, 2020.
But lawmakers NEED to hear directly from Tribes, Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations urging them to swiftly pass a 5-year reauthorization NOW
!
SDPI is one of the most successful public health programs ever implemented. Because of SDPI, rates of End Stage Renal Disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives fell by 54% from 1996 to 2013. Meanwhile, rates of diabetic eye disease fell by 50%. Not only does SDPI improve and save lives, it also saves millions of taxpayer dollars. A 2019
federal report
found that
SDPI is responsible for saving Medicare $52 million per year!
These results are unmatched, and speak directly to the value and success of SDPI. Congress must achieve 5-year renewal of SDPI now!
If Congress fails to pass 5-year renewal of SDPI, our People’s health will be placed in grave danger. Our communities will lose medical and public health providers. Our facilities will be forced to cut vital diabetes care services. Our youth and adult health education programs would close down. And most importantly, our People’s lives will be lost.
In December 2019, key members of Congress including Chairman Pallone (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Walden (R-OR) of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, along with Chairman Alexander (R-TN) of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement that would fund SDPI, community health centers, teaching medical centers, and other critical health programs for
five years
!
Congress almost passed 5-year renewal of these programs under the fiscal year 2020 spending package but special interests got in the way. A 5-year renewal would be the longest stretch of guaranteed funding in over a decade. It is long past due for Congress to do its job and pass 5-year renewal of SDPI.
Contact your Member of Congress TODAY to demand that they put our health first and swiftly pass 5-year renewal of SDPI and other critical health programs NOW!
- Click here for talking points on SDPI
- Click here for a sample template letter to send to your Representative
- Click here for a sample template letter to send to your Senators
Your Representative’s contact information can be found
here
, and your Senators' information can be found
here
.
The clock is ticking!
Congress must hear from
YOU
about SDPI Renewal
NOW
!
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