Indian Health Service Not Yet Distributing Funds Equitably Among Tribes
HRD-82-54
Published: Jul 02, 1982. Publicly Released: Jul 02, 1982.
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Highlights
GAO reviewed the Indian Health Service's (IHS) distribution of its fiscal year 1981 equity health care fund.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should require the Director of IHS to: (1) develop more reliable data for estimating health care requirements and available resources, including accurate and complete contract health care estimates and uniformly developed and verifiable workload data; (2) develop a mechanism for identifying and reporting alternate resources which offset health care requirements; and (3) include community health representatives and emergency medical services programs in the comparison of tribes' health care services. |
Closed – Implemented
When we confirm what actions the agency has taken in response to this recommendation, we will provide updated information.
|
| Department of Health and Human Services | The Secretary of Health and Human Services should require the Director of IHS to develop and implement a more equitable funding allocation system by the end of fiscal year 1984, when the equity fund is expected to be discontinued. Specifically, the Director should be required to reduce and eventually abandon reliance on program continuity and, in its place, use standards and criteria that will distribute IHS funds equitably. |
Closed – Not Implemented
HHS disagreed with this recommendation. This report was written, as directed by Senate Report 96-985, September 23, 1980. In the absence of any additional congressional requests there is apparently no further interest in pushing this recommendation. Additionally, the Equity Health Care Fund expired at the end of fiscal year 1984.
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