Posted October 28, 1996 -- For additional information, contact the IHS Communications Office in Rockville, MD,
at (301) 443-3593, FAX (301) 443-0507
Indian Health Provisions
of the Omnibus Appropriations Bill
On September 30, President Clinton signed the Omnibus Appropriations Bill, H.R. 3610, for fiscal year 1997.
Cited below is a brief summary of Conference Agreements that affect the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Indian health programs.
Indian Health Service: The Conference Agreement provides $1,806,269,000 for the IHS, instead of $1,779,561,000 as proposed by the House and $1,800,836,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Increases above the House version include $2,000,000 for hospitals and clinics; $3,200,000 for contract care for new and expanded tribes; $1,000,000 for public health nursing; $500,000 for community health aide training in Alaska; $1,000,000 for urban health; $2,000,000 for Indian health professions; $7,500,000 for the Indian Self-Determination fund; and $9,508,000 fixed-cost restoration for both services and facilities.
The Conference Agreement earmarks a total of $368,325,000 for contract health services instead of $365,125,000 as proposed by the House and $365,128,000 as proposed by the Senate.
The Conference Agreement earmarks $11,706,000 for the Indian Health Professions Student Loan Repayment program as proposed by the Senate instead of $11,306,000 as proposed by the House.
The Conference Agreement earmarks $7,500,000 for the Indian Self-Determination fund. The Agreement also deletes Senate language which would have limited the use of the Indian Self-Determination fund to nonrecurring transitional costs of initial or expanded tribal contracts, compacts, grants, or cooperative agreements.
Indian Health Facilities: The Conference Agreement provides $247,731,000 for Indian health facilities instead of $227,701,000 as proposed by the House and $251,957,000 as proposed by the Senate.
Increases above the House include $1,000,000 for modular dental units; $3,000,000 for sanitation facilities; $1,000,000 for maintenance and improvement; $13,500,000 for a replacement facility at Lame Deer, Mont.; and $1,530,000 for equipment at the Alaska Native Medical Center.
The Conference Agreement also assumes that the facilities account will receive an appropriate portion of the increase for fixed cost restoration provided in the services account.
The IHS may use up to $3,000,000 of the funds provided for sanitation facilities for projects to assess open dumps on Indian lands.
IHS-30-IHS
Tony Kendrick, Acting Director of Communications and FOIA Officer
301-443-3593, Fax 301-443-0507
SSW: [IHS.TKENDRIC]
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