American Indian Health Grants

American Indians, or Native Americans, have particular health risks and concerns, including increased risk for cancer, diabetes and obesity. As with other minority groups, the government offers health grants to address these issues.

National Institutes of Health Grants

• The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is one source of grant money to address Native American health concerns. In 2010, the NIH, together with the National Institute of Diabetes and Kidney Diseases, awarded a $1 million research grant to UC Davis School of Medicine to develop a program to decrease obesity and type-2 diabetes among Native American tribes living in northern California.

Medicaid Grants

• In November 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services, together with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, initiated a grant program offering funds to 41 health programs operated by the Indian Health Service as well as tribes and tribal organizations. The grants were designed to improve outreach and enrollment of uninsured Native American children eligible for state Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Programs. More than $10 million was available for distribution among grant recipients.

Medicare Grants

• In July 2010, the Administration on Aging offered the Affordable Care Act Medicare Beneficiary Outreach and Assistance Program for Title VI Native American Programs. The program offered $1,000 in grant money for Title VI Native American programs to implement a program to reach out to eligible Native American elders about their options for Medicare, low income subsidies, Medicare savings and Medicare-funded prevention benefits and screenings.