Kennedy Pledges $1 Billion for Indian Health Service During Bismarck Roundtable
U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged $1 billion for the Indian Health Service during a visit to Bismarck, North Dakota, on Thursday, addressing critical shortages and health disparities facing rural and tribal communities. Valley News Live reported that the funding commitment came as part of a broader discussion on rural and tribal health care, bringing federal officials and North Dakota congressional leaders together for roundtables.
“I am always looking for ways that we can improve on their health outcomes,” Kennedy said during the visit.
Staffing Shortages Driving Rural Hospital Closures
Kennedy pointed to staffing shortages for rural hospital closures and described the closures as a matter of life or death for communities. Beyond basic emergency access, he emphasized the economic and social weight these facilities carry.
“But these hospitals play a critical role in these communities. The largest payer in the community, the highest salaries in many of these communities, and they are cultural centers, they’re centers really just centers of the soul of the community,” Kennedy said.
Sens. Kevin Cramer and John Hoeven, and Rep. Julie Fedorchak joined Kennedy for the discussions. U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum also took part in the sessions to address intersecting crises in regional nutrition and chronic illness.
Nutrition and Chronic Disease in Tribal Country
Burgum highlighted the direct link between agricultural access and community wellness during the talks, pointing to geographic food deserts on tribal lands.
“A healthy nation, you have to have healthy food,” Burgum said, pointing out that the prevalence of chronic conditions, especially diabetes, exceeds national averages within tribal areas.
To combat workforce shortages, Kennedy outlined active federal recruitment and retention efforts. He mentioned that roughly two out of every five doctors completing their residency training in countryside locations ultimately remain there long-term. “We’re doing all kinds of residency programs to encourage that,” Kennedy said.
North Dakota Secures Federal and Local Funding for Rural Health
Sen. Hoeven called for a stronger partnership among North Dakota Health and Human Services, the federal Health and Human Services Department, and local providers to ensure resources reach the communities that need them most.
Those state-level efforts are already underway. The North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has rolled out close to $60 million worth of initiatives and grant opportunities since August aimed at reshaping rural medical care.
