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The Indian Health Service
Budget, Spending, and Staffing

The Indian Health Service (IHS), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of health services to federally recognized Indians grew out of a special relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. This government-to-government relationship has been given form and substance by numerous treaties, laws, Supreme Court decisions, and Executive Orders. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides health services to approximately 1.4 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to more than 550 federally recognized tribes in 35 states.

IHS Budget

IHS Budget Table (in thousands)	FY 94 Approved Budget	FY 95 Approved Budget	FY 96 Approved Budget	FY 97 Approved Budget
Total for Health Care Services	$l,646,088	$1,709,780	$1,747,842	$1, 806,269
Total for Facilities	$298,982	$253,282	$238,958	$247,731
Total Budget Authority	$1,943,570	$1,963,062	$1,986,800	$ 2,054,000

IHS Health Spending Per Person

Indian people served by the Indian Health Service only receive 40 percent of the health care funding of the general population."

Michael H. Trujillo, M.D., M.P.H.
Opening Statement before U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
April 19, 1996

	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996
U.S. Average	$2150	$2317	$2505	$2660	$2771	$2912	$3046
IHS Average	$ 899	$1058	$1040	$1087	$1120	$1153	$1200

Source: U.S. Estimates, Health Care Financing Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1995
IHS Office of Planning, Evaluation and Legislation, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1995 (est. excludes Alaska).

IHS Staffing Trend 1993-1996

"Progress on our redesign includes the reduction of more than 900 administrative positions. Local service units have gained staff in the process."