The Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage is managed by the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium. Photo from ANTHC
Tribal health care providers in Alaska so far have received $449 million to resolve contract support costs disputes with the Indian Health Service, The Alaska Journal of Commerce reports. Another 11 providers remain in negotiations, the Journal reported. The money is owed under self-determination contracts that were never fully funded by the IHS. “The federal government has broken too many promises with tribes and though we have more work to do, I am pleased that we are seeing good progress with Alaska tribes receiving the money they are owed,” Sen. Mark Begich (D-Alaska) said in a press release. “Failure to pay the full costs is unacceptable and I will continue to use my position on the Senate Indian Affairs Committee to keep up the pressure on the federal government.” For years, the IHS failed to provide full contract support costs. It took U.S. Supreme Court and a change in administration for the federal government to finally pay up. The Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium settled for $153 million, the largest amount so far. Get the Story:
Tribes still waiting for IHS contract support cost settlements (The Alaska Journal of Commerce 8/14) Federal Register Notices:
Contract Support Costs (April 8, 2014)
Contract Support Costs (February 21, 2014) Relevant Documents:
FY14 Omnibus Text & Joint Explanatory Statement | Detailed Omnibus Summary | Subcommittee Allocations Supreme Court Decisions:
Salazar v. Ramah Navajo Chapter (June 18, 2012)
Cherokee Nation v. Leavitt:
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