U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

2003 NEWS RELEASES, PRESS ADVISORIES AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

U.S. COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS TO EXAMINE NATIVE AMERICAN HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES

Two-Day Trip Will Include Medical Center Visit, Community Meeting, and Briefing

 
 

Thursday, October 16, 2003
Tour, Gallup Indian Medical Center
Forum, Sacred Heart Family Center
Gallup, NM
Open to the media.

Friday, October 17, 2003
Doubletree Hotel
201 Marquette Avenue, NW
Albuquerque, NM
Open to the media and the public.

 

(Washington, DC) -- Members of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights will travel to New Mexico on October 16 and 17 to examine disparities in the delivery of health care to Native Americans.

On Thursday, Commissioners will tour the Gallup Indian Medical Center in Gallup, N.M., and speak with the front-line medical staff who provide health care to residents of the reservation. The Commission will also hold a forum with local tribal leaders and health advocates to discuss concerns including health care and infrastructure development.

Following the field visit, the Commission will conduct a day-long briefing on Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at the Doubletree Hotel in Albuquerque. The briefing will explore the causes of health care disparities faced by Native Americans.

Access to health services, quality of care provided, funding for health care and recommendations for improving health services provided to Native Americans will be discussed by expert panelists, including U.S. government representatives, tribal leaders, advocates, and public health specialists. The nationally focused briefing will conclude with a 90-minute open session to provide an opportunity for Commissioners to hear directly from audience members about health care concerns.

For more information about the Commission's October 16 activities and/or the October 17 briefing, please contact Danielle Lewis at 202/833-9771 (office) or 804/690-0277 (cell, after 10/15).

10/14/03