Although the Bemidji Area Office Had Adequate Procedures to Disburse Indian Health Service Funds, It Needs to Strengthen Its Procedures for Monitoring the Use of the Funds

In recent years, Congress has expressed concerns about the Indian Health Service’s (IHS’s) administrative and financial management of program funds for health services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. Before we could address Congress’ broader concerns, we needed to assess how the 12 IHS Area Offices receive and disburse funds for services provided to Tribal members. We chose to audit the Bemidji Area Office’s (BAO’s) procedures for disbursing IHS funds because it disburses funds to all program types.