The Indian Health Service has agree to pay $153 million to the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium to clear up a 15-year backlog of underpayments for contract support costs, or overhead. IHS has reached similar agreements with several tribal health organizations across Alaska and the lower 48, but many more remain to be resolved. Attorney Lloyd Miller, who's been fighting for the settlements for years, says the payments will help make up for the underpayments, service lines that were not opened for lack of funding, and the loss of Medicare and Medicaid payments due to those reduced services.
Senator Mark Begich doesn't agree with a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that some employers with religious objections can avoid paying for contraceptives required under the Affordable Care Act. Congressman Don Young says the decision is a win for religious freedom. Sen. Lisa Murkowski was unavailable for comment.
A national tea party group has not decided whether to support anyone in the GOP Senate primary, saying the philosophical differences between the candidates are not as dramatic as in the 2010 race.
The CIRI Foundation has received a national award for its philanthropy grounded in traditional values.