IHS Director Signs New Health Services Charter

By George Joe
Special to Tribal Connections

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Indian Health Service Director Dr. Charles Grim has signed a new charter that creates an advisory committee for tribes who have opted to continue receiving their primary health care directly from the IHS – known as Direct Service Tribes.

Grim signed the charter in April when he met with hundreds of tribal health care leaders from across the country for three days during the second annual Direct Service Tribes Conference. Some 400 attendees received updates about health issues, health care funding, legislation, the reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act effort, and a recent ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that impacts funding for tribes regarding contract support cost. All agree however, that the signing of the new health services charter was the high point of the conference.

Dr. Charles Grim prepares to sign the charter.
(Photo courtesy George Joe)

"The signing of this charter was a long time coming," Carole Ann Heart, co-chairwoman of the conference planning committee, told Grim, while tribal leaders looked on. "Now, the voice of the direct service tribes will be heard at the table."

Upon becoming director three years ago, Grim said that he was approached by a number of tribes to which IHS still provides services.

"They didn't feel they had an adequate communication methodology with me and my senior leadership to raise issues of concern for programs that serve tribes still managed by the federal government," Dr. Grim said. "That is how this all started. We had meetings and after that they wanted to be more formally recognized."