The
Indian Health Manual (IHM) is the reference for IHS employees regarding
IHS-specific policy and procedural instructions. The IHM consists
of the following:
- Parts
and Chapters - permanent policies, procedures, and operating standards
specific and unique to IHS administrative and program operations
are maintained in the nine Parts of the IHM.
- IHS
Circulars - the IHS Circular format is used to issue temporary
IHS operating policy and establish workgroup charters.
- Special
General Memorandums (SGM) - SGM are used to interpret or reiterate
existing IHS policy that requires special attention by IHS employees.
The SGM format may also be used to announce new IHS policy that
must be implemented immediately.
- IHS
General Administration Manual (GAM) - the IHS GAM Chapters cover
administrative subject-matter areas not covered by the IHS Parts
and Chapters, IHS Circulars, and SGMs. Plans are underway to eliminate
the IHS GAM Chapters by incorporating its subject matter into
an appropriate IHM Part or rescission of the GAM Chapter if the
subject matter is outdated and no longer required.
- IHS
Delegations of Authority (DOA) - the IHS DOAs are vital to the
operation of the IHS and allow the Director, IHS, to delegate
to IHS officials the authority necessary to carry out the activities
of the Agency. The DOAs are indexed as:
- Administrative/Financial/Contracting
- Commissioned
Corps
- Personnel
- Program
Only the Director, IHS,
or his/her designee, may approve and authorize the release of IHM
Chapters, IHS Circulars, SGMs, IHS GAM Chapters, and DOAs. Within
the Office of Management Services, the Director, Management Policy
and Internal Control Staff is designated as the Agency Directives
and Delegations Control Officer, responsible for providing advisory
services and assistance to IHS managers for the development, clearance,
and distribution of IHS policy directives.
IHS policy directives
are generally developed under the direction of an IHS Headquarters
functional area manager, with input from managers and functional
area counterparts from the Area Offices and Service Units.
Also, the IHM Web site
contains a listing of Transmittal Notices. The Transmittal Notice
is a one or two page document that covers each approved IHM Chapter
and subsequent revisions to IHM Chapters. It is also used to cover
approved IHS Delegations of Authority.
Part
1 Chapter 1 of the IHM covers the administration and maintenance
of the IHS Manual system in more detail.
Additionally, for reference
and information purposes, the IHS Headquarters Organizational
Charts are posted to this Web site.
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