AP looks at Indian Health Service

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2002

An Associated Press analysis of the Indian Health Service has found numerous shortcomings that have long been known in Indian Country.

Among the findings:

A rate (2.6 percent) of IHS doctors being sanctioned that is more than four times the average for the federal government.
Sixteen out of 49 IHS hospitals fail to meet at least one criterion for quality health care.
From 1997 to 2000, 342 malpractice complaints against IHS doctors, although most were denied.
One out of five diagnoses in the Portland Area of the IHS was wrong, according to an Indian health study.
Lack of adequate services for patients.

The IHS has settled $23.6 million in malpractice cases, according to the AP.

The IHS budget for fiscal year 2003 is $2.9 billion, an increase of $60 million over the current fiscal year. Most of the increase is due to higher costs of providing health care and not to increased spending on programs.

Get the Story:
Underfunded Indian Health Service: rationed care, malpractice and sanctioned doctors (AP 2/28)

Get Budget Documents:
IHS Budget Justification [HHS] | IHS Budget Authority Chart [HHS] | IHS Profile [HHS] | HHS Budget [HHS] | HHS Budget [OMB]

Relevant Links:
The Web Source for IHS Budget Documents - http://www.ihs.gov/AdminMngrResources/Budget/index.htm
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov
Department of Health and Human Services - http://www.hhs.gov

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