Raul Ruiz to co-chair bipartisan Indian health service task force

A Coachella Valley congressman announced today that he will co-chair a bipartisan task force aimed at improving health services for the country’s Native American population.

Rep. Raul Ruiz, D-Palm Desert, will co-chair the Indian Health Service Task Force with Rep. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma. The task force, created under the House Energy and Commerce Committee, includes seven Democrats and seven Republicans.

“The Indian Health Service is an important program that often flies under the radar. It’s imperative that members have a thorough understanding of the IHS and the work it does,” Ruiz and Mullin said in a joint statement. “We look forward to beginning our work to raise awareness for this important issue among our colleagues on both sides of the aisle and identify ways we can work together.”

The task force will review the health care delivery system for the American Indian and Alaska Native communities and keep policymakers informed of the state of IHS and other health programs serving the Native American population, according to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

“The health disparities tribal communities face are often overlooked and their health needs underserved,” said Ruiz, who is a physician.