Indian Health officials to face Senate critics

[September 28, 2010]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Officials from the federal Indian Health Service are being called to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to answer questions about mismanagement and possible criminal behavior at a regional office that serves four Midwestern states.

The chairman of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee began an investigation last summer after years of complaints about poor patient care, mismanagement and long-term vacancies at the Aberdeen Area of the Indian Health Service, which includes North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Nebraska.

North Dakota Democratic Sen. Byron Dorgan said mismanagement over many years has hindered health care provided to Native Americans in the region.

[Associated Press; By MATTHEW DALY]

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