Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium v. Settlement Funds Ex Rel. E.R.

OPINION

FABE, Justice.

I. INTRODUCTION

In this consolidated appeal 1 we address whether the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium (the Consortium) can enforce a health care provider lien on settlement proceeds received by Alaska Native patients from third-party tortfeasors. If we determine that such a lien can be enforced, the principal question that follows is whether the lien must be reduced by a pro rata share of the patients’ attorney’s fees. These questions arise in two cases that share similar factual backgrounds. Each ease involves an Alaska Native who was treated as a patient at the…