U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE FY 2008 BUDGETThe enacted budget authority for the Indian Health Service (IHS), for fiscal year (FY) 2008 is $3.35 billion. This is a $166 million, or approximately 5.2 percent, increase over the FY 2007 enacted budget level. Adding in funds from health insurance collections estimated at $780 million, designated diabetes appropriations of $150 million, and $6 million for staff quarters rental collections, increases the enacted budget for the IHS to $4.3 billion in program level spending. SERVING A GROWING POPULATIONThe challenge for the IHS is to continue providing access to quality health care for an increasing population. An estimated 1.9 million American Indians and Alaska Natives will be eligible for IHS services in 2008, an increase of 1.6 percent over 2007 and 12.8 percent since 2001. The FY 2008 enacted budget includes new funds to help provide for the additional 30,000 people who are expected to seek services in FY 2008, cover increased pay costs for the federal and tribal employees who provide these services, and meet the rising cost of providing these services. Funds will go primarily to Clinical Services (operation of hospitals and clinics and purchase of medical care), and also to other IHS programs that are providing additional services and support functions. PAY COSTSThe enacted budget includes an additional $41.5 million toward covering increased federal employee pay costs and to allow tribally run health programs to provide comparable pay raises to their staffs. HEALTH FACILITIES CONSTRUCTION/STAFFINGFunding for Health Care Facilities Construction was increased by approximately $11 million to a total of $37 million, or 43 percent, over the FY 07 enacted budget level. This appropriation addresses funding for design and construction of replacement health care facilities, joint venture projects, the small ambulatory program, and dental units. The construction projects to be continued in FY 08 are a hospital in Barrow, Alaska, and a health center in Eagle Butte, South Dakota. Staffing of newly constructed health care facilities was funded at $19 million. This includes funding to staff and operate one joint venture project located in Muskogee, Oklahoma, and a satellite Youth Regional Treatment Center located in Wadsworth, Nevada. BEHAVIORAL HEALTHThe FY 2008 budget includes $237 million for the Mental Health and Alcohol/Substance Abuse budgets – an increase of $27.6 million, or 13 percent, over the FY 2007 enacted budget level. These funds will assist in addressing behavioral health issues in Indian communities. The suicide death rate for the American Indian and Alaska Native population is currently 60 percent greater than the national average, and data on methamphetamine use reveals a 30 percent increase between FY 2004 and FY 2005 alone in IHS patients seen for this growing problem. CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTSTribes continue to increase the number of IHS programs they operate under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Public Law 93-638, as amended). In FY 2008, Tribes will control an estimated $1.8 billion, or approximately 54 percent, of the total IHS budget. To enable Tribes to develop the administrative infrastructure necessary to successfully manage these programs, the FY 2008 budget includes a total of $267 million for contract support costs. CONTRACT HEALTH SERVICESThe FY 08 budget includes an additional $36 million, or about 7 percent, for contract health service (CHS) costs. The IHS uses CHS funds to supplement the care provided in its own facilities by purchasing medical care from hospitals and health providers. These CHS funds pay for specialty care, including most types of surgery, and are used to purchase medical care for Tribes that do not have an IHS facility nearby. DENTAL HEALTH PROGRAMThe FY 2008 budget includes an additional $8 million, or approximately 7 percent, increase to provide much needed dental health care services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Compared to the general U.S. population, American Indian and Alaska Native dental patients experience more oral disease, including both tooth decay and periodontal disease. Studies have shown that almost 32 percent of adults have advanced periodontal disease, compared to only 12 percent of adults in the general U.S. population, and that over two-thirds of Indian adolescents have untreated tooth decay, compared to 24 percent of similar aged children in the general U.S. population. SPECIAL DIABETES PROGRAM FOR INDIANSIncluded in the budget is $150 million for diabetes prevention and treatment grants.Through the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, the IHShas awarded $850 million in grants over the past 6 years to over 300 Tribes and Indian organizations to support diabetes prevention and disease management at the local level. This program has substantially increased the availability of services such as basic clinical exams, newer treatment medications and therapies, laboratory tests to assess diabetes control and complications, screening for diabetes and pre-diabetes, nutrition education, and physical fitness activities. URBAN INDIAN HEALTH PROGRAMThe FY 2008 budget includes $34.5 million in funding for the Urban Indian Health Program. The 2000 census indicated that more than 4 million Americans were of American Indian and Alaska Native heritage. Of those, over 60 percent lived in urban areas, with 25 percent (approximately 605,000) of them residing in counties served by urban Indian health programs authorized and funded through Public Law 94-437, Title V. The IHS supports 34 urban programs, which provide services ranging from community health to comprehensive primary health care services. ADDITIONAL INFORMATIONFor referral to the appropriate spokesperson, contact the IHS Public Affairs Staff at 301-443-3593. June 2008 |
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