Government Must Provide Competent Health Care to Sioux Tribe

The U.S. government is required by treaty and federal law to provide competent health care to members of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, the Eighth Circuit ruled Wednesday.

Under the 1868 Treaty of Fort Laramie, the government must “furnish annually to the Indians” a physician and cover the cost of pay and lodging. Since the treaty was signed, federal laws have also been adopted under which the government agreed to provide quality health services to Indian tribes.

The Rosebud hospital’s emergency room closed in 2015. Citing noncompliance with Medicare conditions, Indian Health Services placed it on divert status, requiring emergency patients ...