A hospital in South Dakota is suing the Indian Health Service for $1.6 million in unpaid bills.

The Bennett County Hospital & Nursing Home regularly provides service to members of the Oglala Sioux Tribe who would otherwise receive care from the IHS, according to the complaint. The lawsuit accuses the IHS of "intentionally" failing to provide adequate service.

"This inaction by Defendant IHS has left the IHS obligation in the hands of Plaintiff," the complaint states.

According to the lawsuit, the hospital has provided nearly $2.3 million in services to Indian patients from October 2007 through March of this year. Yet IHS has only paid about $635,000 the complaint states.

Get the Story:
Hospital sues IHS for $1.65M for treating tribal members (The Sioux Falls Argus Leader 9/20)

Relevant Documents:
Complaint: Bennett County Hospital & Nursing Home v. HHS (September 17, 2012)