Repealing Obamacare May Severely Impact Native American Tribes

A presidential candidate to the National Congress of American Indians says that a possible repeal of Obamacare would severely affect US Native American tribes.

MILWAUKEE (Sputnik) — A possible repeal of the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, would severely affect the US Native American tribes, Presidential Candidate to the National Congress of American Indians Jefferson Keel told Sputnik on Monday.

"It will have a severe impact on Indian country, particularly with the Medicaid and Medicare issues," Keel said of a possible repeal. "If they do eliminate Medicaid payments, that would have a severe impact on Indian country and our ability to continue to serve a lot of our citizens."

Keel, who is also the lieutenant governor of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, explained that Obamacare includes the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act.

"So, if they alter it or completely repeal it, that means we'll have to go back and redo the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act," he noted. "So, we have to work with the Congress to make sure that does not happen."

US President Donald Trump has pledged to repeal and replace Obamacare. So far his both attempts have failed in Congress.

Keel spoke on the sidelines of the 74th Annual Convention & Marketplace in Milwaukee, Wisconsin that kicked off on October 15 and will last through October 20. The six-day event focuses on tribal legislation, health, education and Native vote.