Senate Confirms Mark Cruz as Indian Health Service Director
The Senate confirmed Mark Cruz, a citizen of the Klamath Tribes and former HHS adviser, as director of the Indian Health Service on August 7, 2026, following President Trump's June 1 nomination. President Trump signed the commission on August 21. The IHS director oversees federal health services for approximately 2.8 million American Indians and Alaska Natives through direct care facilities, tribal health programs, and urban Indian health centers. Cruz's appointment comes as IHS facilities face ongoing staffing shortages and underfunding challenges that affect care delivery.
IHS facilities are major safety-net providers in rural areas where many Medicaid beneficiaries receive care, and leadership changes may affect coordination between IHS, tribal Medicaid programs, and state Medicaid agencies on coverage expansion and managed care carve-outs.
Managed Care
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