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.
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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