IGNACIO, Colo.—The Southern Ute Tribe will be able to run its health clinic now that the federal government has signed a contract and funding agreement.
The tribe in southwest Colorado sued in 2005 after the Indian Health Service refused to turn over control of the clinic under the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Act. A Sept. 16 court order issued in federal court in New Mexico ended the legal battle.
The major dispute was how much the federal government would pay the tribe for administrative costs. The government can rely on other federal agencies to handle human services and other work when it runs a clinic.
The Indian Health Service didn’t have the money for a contract with the Southern Utes, but Congress is expected to increase the funding this year.
———
Information from: Durango Herald,
