HEALTH
Indian Health Facilities
Department & Agency:
Department of Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service
Administering Agency:
Department of Health & Human Services, Indian Health Service
Agency Contact:
Thomas Sweeney
Indian Health Service
The Reyes Building
801 Thompson Avenue, Ste. 400
Rockville, MD 20852-1627
(301) 443-1083
Stimulus Funding:
$415 million (see detailed breakdown in general provisions)
Eligibility and Type:
Eligibility: Indian Health Facilities
Type: Tribal Program
Program Description:
“The objectives of the Indian Health Service (IHS) health facilities management, health care facilities construction, sanitation facilities construction, and environmental health services programs are:
- to provide optimum availability of functional, well-maintained IHS and tribally-operated health care facilities and adequate staff housing at health care delivery locations where no suitable housing alternative is available; and
- to reduce the incidence of environmentally-related illness and injury by: (a) determining and addressing factors contributing to injuries; (b) working with the tribes to improve environmental conditions; and (c) constructing sanitation facilities and ensuring the availability of safe water supply and adequate waste disposal facilities in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) homes and communities.” – from IHS website.
Funding Guidance and Timelines:
Funding will be used for facilities construction projects, deferred maintenance and improvement projects, the backlog of sanitation projects, and the purchase of equipment.
General Provisions:
$227 million is provided for health facilities construction, for the completion of up to two facilities from the current Indian Health Service priority list for which work has already been initiated.
$100 million is provided for maintenance and improvement of existing Indian Health Facilities.
$68 million is provided for sanitation facilities construction.
$20 million is provided for equipment. Bill language provides that spending caps included within the annual appropriation for ‘Indian Health Facilities’ for the purchase of medical equipment will not apply to these funds. In addition, bill language provides that wage rate requirements established under section 1606 of the Act under ‘General Provisions’ shall not apply to tribal contracts entered into by Indian Health Service with this appropriation.
To review legislative language concerning time periods for funds to available, allocation of overall Indian Health Facilities funds, and additional requirements see: Title VII, Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, Department of Health & Human Services, Indian Health Facilities.
Analysis:
Information is not yet available.
Funding Notices:
$227 million for Facilities Construction: IHS has announced that one of the two health care facilities being constructed will be in Nome, Alaska the other location has not been released. IHS anticipates that 75% of the funds will be obligated by FY 2009.
$68 million for Sanitation Construction: The existing Sanitation Deficiency System will be used with modifications to prioritize and select projects – no specific projects were announced. IHS anticipates that 75% of the funds will be obligated by FY 2009.
$20 million for Equipment: Funds will be distributed to each IHS area using the equipment replacement formula – excluding locations that will be receiving a new facility. IHS also anticipates spending a portion of the funds to support the ambulance needs for 84 tribal and IHS emergency medical services programs. IHS anticipates that 75% of the funds will be obligated by FY 2009.
$100 million for Maintenance & Improvement: Funds will be distributed using a modification of existing methodologies. IHS Areas will select infrastructure projects based upon need and the requirements of ARRA in partnership with tribes and tribal organizations. IHS anticipates that 75% of the funds will be obligated by FY 2009.
Technical Assistance:
The Department of Health & Human Services
http://www.hhs.gov/
The Indian Health Service
http://www.ihs.gov/
