Bennett County Hospital in South Dakota Sues Indian Health Service for Payments

Bennett County Hospital in Martin, S.D., filed a lawsuit against the Indian Health Service saying the federal agency owes more than $1.65 million in uncompensated care for Oglala Sioux Tribe members, according to an Argus Leader report.

BCH alleged in the lawsuit that IHS has only paid the hospital roughly $635,000 in reimbursement for care provided from October 2007 to March 2012. However, the hospital billed IHS for roughly $2.28 million, resulting in a shortfall of $1.65 million.

The complaint says IHS has "been intentionally absent in providing the Indian patient population from Bennett County with medical services or healthcare pursuant to a federal treaty with the Oglala Sioux Tribe," according to the report.

Roughly 92 percent of BCH's patient population lacks commercial insurance.

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