Why medical debt hits Indigenous Washingtonians especially hard

According to recent government reporting, Native Americans have medical debt that is double the national average. That’s despite the fact that the federal government is under a legal and moral obligation to provide healthcare to registered members of federally recognized tribes. In many cases, the debt stems from medical care the Indian Health Service was unable to provide but was supposed to pay for when members sought care elsewhere. The resulting debt damages credit scores and adds to health disparities that impact many indigenous communities, including high costs and poor access to care. Indigenous Affairs reporter Melanie Henshaw has been covering problems with healthcare access for InvestigateWest and joins Libby to share her reporting. Guest: Melanie Henshaw, InvestigateWest Indigenous Affairs Reporter Relevant Links: Native Americans face double the average medical debt, report finds — often for bills that aren’t their responsibility | InvestigateWest Colville tribal citizens left on the hook when Indian Health Service doesn’t pay medical bills | InvestigateWest Report lays bare stark disparities in health care outcomes for Native Americans in Washington | InvestigateWest Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.