North Dakota hospitals, Indian Health Service, tribes in dispute over bills

NEW TOWN, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Hospital Association is negotiating with the Indian Health Service and Three Affiliated Tribes over how much North Dakota hospitals are owed in unpaid medical bills.

Hospital Association Vice President Tim Blasl tells The American News (http://bit.ly/raIgBw) that the amount is between $13 million and $14 million. IHS area office spokeswoman Constance James says the agency and tribe together owe only $4.4 million.

Part of the debt stems from the use of private hospitals and emergency rooms when medical services could have been provided at an IHS clinic. Blasl says among the hospitals that are owed money are large facilities in Minot, Bismarck and Fargo.

Blasl says the Hospital Association wants to resolve the dispute without going to court.

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Information from: Aberdeen American News, http://www.aberdeennews.com