Montana seeks new American Indian health director

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) – Montana is looking for someone to help close a 20-year life expectancy gap between the state’s white people and American Indians.

The Lee Newspapers of Montana report that a new director of American Indian Health will coordinate with tribal governments and urban Indian centers to identify the causes of that gap and develop strategies to reverse them.

That could include developing new protocols, training, services or education initiatives, or it could mean providing technical assistance to tribes.

A 2013 study by the state health department showed that American Indian mortality rates from many illnesses, accidents and violent attacks are higher than white mortality rates.

Crow Tribal health Director Todd Wilson says the causes of health disparities in Indian Country “are pretty complicated” and will be difficult to solve.

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Information from: The Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com