LUTHERAN QUILTERS – Members of the Quilts for Comfort Group stand between pews draped with some of the 205 quilts they made, in the Sitka Lutheran Church Tuesday. The group made the quilts for five local non-profits and one in Anchorage. The remaining quilts are sent to Lutheran World Relief which  distributes them to places around the world in need, such as Ukraine, as part of Personal Care Kits. Pictured are, from left, Helen Cunningham, Kathleen Brandt,Vicki Swanson, Paulla Hardy, Kim Hunter, Linda Swanson and Sue Fleming.  (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)

State's Transportation Plan Gets Federal OK
28 Mar 2024 15:06

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Federal officials on Wednesday approved most of Alaska’s four-y [ ... ]

New Funding Plan Ahead for Visit Sitka?
28 Mar 2024 15:02

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    At an hour-long work session with the Assembly Tuesda [ ... ]

Sitka 'Frankenstein' Puts Classic Tale in New Ligh...
28 Mar 2024 15:01

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    The story behind a classic, though often misunderstoo [ ... ]

State May Los Millions Over Ed Dept. Missteps
28 Mar 2024 14:59

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    The state government risks losing millions of dollars in feder [ ... ]

Gov Signs Bill On Internet In State Schools
28 Mar 2024 14:57

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy on Wednesday signed a bill that promise [ ... ]

Capitol Christmas Tree to Come from Tongass
28 Mar 2024 14:56

By YERETH ROSEN
Alaska Beacon
    Alaska’s Tongass National Forest, known for its steep mountains [ ... ]

City League Games Thursday
28 Mar 2024 14:52

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing Wednesday in competitive division City League volleyball matches, Ca [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Police Blotter
28 Mar 2024 14:50

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 27
At 2:36 p.m. a dead  [ ... ]

March 28, 2024, Community Happenings
28 Mar 2024 14:48

This Week in Girls on the Run By Sitkans Against Family Violence
and The Pathways Coalition
During th [ ... ]

New RFP Sought For Managing PAC
27 Mar 2024 14:48

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The future of management and operations at the Perform [ ... ]

Seiners Get Second Day with 2 Areas to Fish
27 Mar 2024 14:46

By Sentinel Staff
    The Sitka Sound commercial herring sac roe fishery continued today with open [ ... ]

Braves Take Second in Last Minute Upset
27 Mar 2024 12:41

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]

Tuesday City League Volleyball
27 Mar 2024 12:39

By Sentinel Staff
    The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]

Kodiak Alutiiq Museum Getting New Attention
27 Mar 2024 12:37

By SHIRLEY SNEVE
Indian Country Today
    A major renovation at an Alaska museum to attract tourist [ ... ]

House Hearing on Inmate Deaths Halted
27 Mar 2024 12:35

By CLAIRE STREMPLE
Alaska Beacon
    A presentation about a jump in the number of inmate deaths in  [ ... ]

Nominee to Bering Sea Council: Not a Trawler
27 Mar 2024 12:34

By NATHANIEL HERZ
Northern Journal
    Tribal and environmental advocates calling for a crackdown o [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Police Blotter
27 Mar 2024 12:26

Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]

March 27, 2024, Community Happenings
27 Mar 2024 12:25

Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]

Reassessments Raise Tax Bills for Sitkans
26 Mar 2024 15:22

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The city’s reassessment of taxable real estate, alo [ ... ]

Two Areas Opened in Herring Fishery Today
26 Mar 2024 15:21

By Sentinel Staff
The third opening in this year’s Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery was held Mon [ ... ]

Lady Wolves Rally to Take Fourth at State
26 Mar 2024 15:16

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
    Sitka High’s Lady Wolves bounced back from an openi [ ... ]

Edgecumbe Girls Close Out Season Up North
26 Mar 2024 14:58

By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
    Competing in the state 3A basketball tournament in Anc [ ... ]

City League Monday
26 Mar 2024 14:55

By Sentinel Staff
    Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]

House Votes to Broaden Rules For Review Panel Memb...
26 Mar 2024 14:52

By JAMES BROOKS
Alaska Beacon
    A bill that passed the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday  [ ... ]

Other Articles

Daily Sitka Sentinel

SEARHC to Receive $53 Million from IHS

By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
    The SouthEast Alaska Regional Health Consortium is to collect $53 million in outstanding claims plus interest owed to the organization from the U.S. Indian Health Service, SEARHC announced today.
    “It’s a huge deal for SEARHC,” said Charles Clement, president and CEO, in announcing the settlement with IHS.
    “This is a great victory for our organization,” SEARHC spokesman Michael Jenkins said.
    Clement said he was more than pleased when he received final word a few days ago of the settlement of several claims pending against the Indian Health Service to fully compensate SEARHC for providing health care to Alaska Native and American Indian patients in Southeast Alaska.
    “It’s settling in,” Clement said. “It’s been a long path toward resolution. ... It’s been an outstanding issue for us for 15 years.”
    The claims extend from 1999 to 2013. Under terms of the settlement, IHS has agreed to pay $39.5 million plus another $13.5 million in interest. Clement said he doesn’t know when the funds will arrive, but it’s his understanding that “the check’s in the mail.”
    He noted the interest will continue accumulating until SEARHC is paid in full.
    The funds will make a big difference in SEARHC’s bottom line, which was already scheduled to finish its second year in the black after years of losing money.
    SEARHC “compacts” with the IHS to provide health care services to about 15,000 Alaska Natives and American Indians in Southeast Alaska from about 18 tribes, and receives compensation for the health care and related administrative costs from the Indian Health Service.
    “Contract support costs consist of those reasonable program expenses as well as other administrative and overhead costs associated with carrying out the health care services SEARHC provides on behalf of the IHS,” said Jenkins, who is corporate communications director.
    The costs are required to be paid in full under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, SEARHC’s compact with IHS and recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions, he said.
    Jenkins said SEARHC’s claims stemmed from the Indian Health Service’s failure to pay costs in full, which required SEARHC to use program funds meant to provide health care to beneficiaries, in order to meet the shortfall.
    Clement and Jenkins said the failure of IHS to compensate SEARHC fully resulted in recent years in program cuts and changes in the organization. Among programs that were affected locally in the last two years were the closure of the air ambulance service and inpatient care at the Bill Brady Healing House, with SEARHC finding other ways to provide the services.
    Jenkins said, “These were tough decisions that had to be made, but they were and we’ve been seeing growth since those decisions. It puts us into a bit more reasonable financial position.”
    The influx of a one-time $53 million infusion into SEARHC’s annual $115 million annual budget will not mean bringing back programs that were cut, but it will make a big difference, Clement said.
    “For us, this is one-time money,” he said. “It doesn’t enable us to fundamentally change our operations. Where we are with our operation is we’ve gotten to a sustainable place.”
    Clement said the money will add stability and allow the organization to weather unexpected challenges at a time when health care is constantly changing. He said SEARHC may be able to build up its corporate resources and implement improvements that have been put off due to a shortage of cash, and avoid the drastic cuts to programs that have occurred in the past.
    “Number one, we won’t have to do those things in the future,” he said. “Number two, there will continue to be surprises at the national and state level. We’ll be able to accommodate those bumps in the road. ... It’s been a huge piece of the puzzle that will help us take the next step toward operating and maintaining a health organization.”
    Jenkins noted the organization has made a number of belt-tightening moves for years to make ends meet and improve operations.
    “We’ve been working to become more profitable and service oriented with our patients,” Jenkins said. “This is going to help.”
    SEARHC is one of hundreds of tribal organizations and tribes which filed suit against the Indian Health Service. Clement said SEARHC’s settlement with IHS was among the larger ones, but certainly not the largest. IHS in June agreed to pay the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium in Anchorage – a much larger organization – more than $150 million to settle back claims.
    Both Jenkins and Clement said they’re appreciative to the work of Sens. Mark Begich and Lisa Murkowski, and Rep. Don Young for their continued advocacy to resolve the issue.
    “SEARHC is also appreciative of the commitment made by President Obama’s administration to honor tribal contracts in the future,” Jenkins said.
    Jenkins said there was no celebration when the word came through, but he’s noticed employees in the corporate offices walking around this week with a few more smiles on their faces.

You have no rights to post comments

Login Form

 

20 YEARS AGO

March 2004

Advertisement: Tea-Licious Tea House & Bakery 315 Lincoln Street Grand Opening! Freshly Baked Scones, Cakes & Pastries Innovative Salads, Soups & Sandwiches Harney & Sons Tea. Lunch * Afternoon Tea * Supper.

50 YEARS AGO

March 1974

Photo caption: National Republican Chairman George Bush takes a drink of water offered by Jan Craddick, Sitka delegate, during the Republican convention held here. Mrs. Craddick explained to Bush that the water was from Indian River, which means, according to local legend, that he will return.

Calendar

Local Events

Instagram

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Instagram!

Facebook

Daily Sitka Sentinel on Facebook!