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Indian Health Service: Funding Based on Historical Patterns, Not Need

HRD-91-5 Published: Feb 21, 1991. Publicly Released: Mar 01, 1991.
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Highlights

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO obtained information on: (1) Indian Health Service (IHS) funding distribution methods and the funds allocated for fiscal year (FY) 1980 through FY 1990; (2) per-capita funding for the Oklahoma IHS area; and (3) the effect of IHS funding constraints on health services delivery in Oklahoma, with special attention to the Contract Health Services (CHS) program.

Recommendations

Matter for Congressional Consideration

Matter Status Comments
If Congress wants IHS to redistribute funding among the areas, it should consider requiring IHS to distribute its funds based on different methods, for example, methods that give greater weight to measures of need.
Closed – Not Implemented
Relevant committees decided not to alter the allocation formula during consideration of reauthorization of the Indian Health Service Act.

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Topics

Cost analysisFunds managementHealth care costsHealth care programsHealth care servicesHealth services administrationIndian affairs legislationIndian landsNative AmericansPublic Health Service facilities