The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has authorized a $400 million settlement with the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (ANTHC) to resolve a lawsuit over unpaid contract support costs under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA). The agreement ends litigation filed in 2021, in which ANTHC argued the federal government failed to reimburse administrative expenses tied to operating federally authorized healthcare programs. The settlement follows a landmark 2024 Supreme Court ruling that clarified tribes are entitled to certain contract support costs associated with third-party healthcare revenue, such as Medicare and private insurance payments. DOJ officials said the agreement is intended to provide greater certainty for tribal healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
