WASHINGTON – The Native American Health Service (IHS) has been allocated $500 million in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The funds are intended to support the construction and modernization of IHS health facilities and strengthen the use of health information technology at those facilities.

“The Recovery Act will help meet many critical health needs in Native American communities, create jobs and boost our economy,” said IHS Director Robert G. McSwain. “These funds will support construction of new healthcare facilities, expansion of our health information technology activities and our work to ensure Native American communities have safe and clean water.”

The Recovery Act calls for the IHS to spend $227 million for health facilities construction, $100 million in maintenance and improvements, $85 million for health information technology, $68 million for sanitation facilities construction and $20 million for health equipment and will help improve healthcare in Native American Country.

Native Americans and Alaska Natives have a life expectancy 4.6 years lower than that of average non-native Americans.

The Recovery Act includes funds to complete the construction of the Norton Sound Regional Hospital in Nome, Alaska. The new Norton Sound facility replaces an outdated 61-year-old hospital that is too small to serve an estimated 10,000 users. The project will create a substantial number of new jobs in construction, transportation, and other professions and help fight unemployment in Nome.

Other Recovery Act projects, intended to help create new jobs and ease unemployment in Native American communities across the country will be announced in the coming months.