IHS pays $275M to settle claims for back contract support costs

Friday, May 2, 2014  

The Indian Health Service has paid $275 million so far to settle contract support costs claims.

The amount represents about 10 percent of outstanding claims, The Washington Post reported. At the current rate, it will take IHS another three years to clear the backlog, attorney Lloyd Miller told the paper.

The Supreme Court has twice ruled that the federal government must fully fund contract support costs in self-determination contracts.

Get the Story:
Tribes and federal government begin settling decades-long contract disputes (The Washington Post 5/1)
IHS announces new awards of Alaska's Tribal Health providers (Morris News Service 5/1)

Federal Register Notices:
Contract Support Costs (April 8, 2014)
Contract Support Costs (February 21, 2014)

Relevant Documents:
FY14 Omnibus Text & Joint Explanatory Statement | Detailed Omnibus Summary | Subcommittee Allocations

Supreme Court Decisions:
Salazar v. Ramah Navajo Chapter (June 18, 2012)
Cherokee Nation v. Leavitt:
Cherokee Nation v. Leavitt (March 1, 2005)

IHS resolves some contract support costs claims for $200M (4/28)
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius resigns (04/11)
BIA and IHS hold another consultation on contract support costs (04/08)
Mark Begich: Pay back tribes for overdue contract support costs (03/03)
BIA and IHS schedule consultation about contract support costs (02/21)
BIA and IHS agree to fully fund contract support costs for 2014 (2/18)
Budget bill urges solution to contract support cost battle (01/15)