The Indian Health Service says it is not withholding millions in the Great Plains Region but is promising to work with tribes to reduce a larger than usual residual fund, Indian Country Today reports

ICT previously reported that the fund contained $6 million. Another $6 million was marked as "unavailable" for distribution, the paper said.

The large amounts prompted the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Association to seek a reduction in the fund. IHS says it was the chairmen of tribes in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Iowa who approved the percentage to be used for the account.

The $6 million is based on "inherent" functions performed by the IHS. In other regions, the residual is much smaller. Tribes in the Great Plains rely more on the IHS to provide direct services rather than enter into contracts for the programs.

Get the Story:
IHS defends budget in Aberdeen Area (Indian Country Today 10/3)

Relevant Links:
Indian Health Service - http://www.ihs.gov

Related Stories:
IHS holding back $12M from Great Plains region (09/12)
HHS secretary promotes Medicare drug benefit (07/27)
Indian Health Service to mark 50 years since transfer (07/19)
House and Senate hearings, briefing on health care (7/14)
Hearing on Indian Health Care Improvement Act (7/13)
Oklahoma senator loses Indian health care vote (06/29)
Senate hearing addresses Native youth suicide (06/16)
Senate hearing on youth suicide prevention (6/15)
Study finds high rates of trauma among two tribes (06/01)
High rate of problem gambling among Indian veterans (05/31)
Heart disease is top killer in Indian Country (5/17)
Senate committee plans hearing on Indian suicides (04/26)
Cancer among Minnesota Indians extremely high (04/20)
Contracts still an issue despite Supreme Court win (04/14)
Deadly tragedy puts focus on Native youth problems (3/24)
Tribes win decision in contract support cost case (03/02)
Bush's IHS budget sees increases all around (02/08)
Heart disease, cancer showing up in Alaska Natives (10/19)
Health summit focuses on cancer among Indians (10/12)
Study looks at reducing heart disease among Indians (10/8)
Report calls on U.S. to honor health care commitment (08/30)
IHS officials say Indians shortchanged billions (08/25)
Bush official pledges support for health care bill (07/22)
Campbell says agencies afraid of helping tribes (04/30)
Study documents urban Indian health disparities (04/21)
Heart, cancer death rates falling for Mich. Natives (02/25)
CDC documents premature deaths from heart disease (02/23)
CDC calls attention to health disparities in U.S. (02/09)
Survey finds heavy health burden on Indian population (12/01)
Survey finds high-risk behaviors among BIA students (11/13)
Democrats lay out plan for minority and Indian health (10/22)
Smoking rates among Natives highest in nation (10/10)
Study links childhood experience to alcohol abuse (09/19)
Cancer rates on the decline in Indian Country (09/03)
Elder care study shows worsening problems (07/11)
CDC: Death rates at record lows, except Indians (10/11)
Indian Country ranks high in deaths (6/27)
Cancer deaths increase in Indian Country (6/6)