Lt. Governor Chris Anoatubby serves as HHS delegate

HHS Secretary Kennedy shows good faith understanding of tribal concerns

Chickasaw Nation Lt. Governor Chris Anoatubby recently returned from Washington, D.C. where he served as a primary delegate to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC).

This year’s event was punctuated by a visit with HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. who said tribal governance and health on reservations is of utmost importance to him.

Lt. Governor Anoatubby, who is in his third two-year term on the committee, said the meeting was positive and that Secretary Kennedy listened attentively to tribal concerns.

“Secretary Kennedy was very supportive of tribes and left us with hope he will protect our programs and services. He realizes the importance of our health and nutrition programs and was positive in his comments. He stated his intentions are to improve Indian health while he has the opportunity,” Lt. Governor Anoatubby said.

Another demonstration of Kennedy’s good faith understanding of tribal concerns was blocking a plan to eliminate a large number of Indian Health Service (IHS) workers.

“He was successful in stopping the immediate reduction of more than 900 probationary employees within IHS,” Lt. Governor Anoatubby said.

Kennedy said his father, Robert F. Kennedy Sr., was heartily in favor of supporting tribal nations.

“He taught us about the moral authority to the First Nations on the continent,” he said.

“I said the IHS can’t be touched, and we protected those jobs and we will continue to protect those jobs as other cuts come down,” Kennedy said. “We are part of your solution, and we want you and your team to recognize that.”

Lt. Governor Anoatubby has served the Chickasaw Nation in many capacities since beginning his career with the tribe nearly three decades ago.

While serving as under secretary of the department of commerce, Lt. Governor Anoatubby led business diversification efforts in health care, pharmaceutical industries, health information technology and other health-related businesses.

In 2018, he was named deputy secretary of the Chickasaw Nation Department of Health where he was responsible for direct operational oversight of all clinical and nonclinical programs and services within the department. In this role, he served as chief operating officer for the Chickasaw Nation Medical Center in Ada, Oklahoma, as well as the Ardmore, Tishomingo and Purcell, Oklahoma, medical clinics.

He was elected Lt. Governor in 2019 and continues in that role.

In addition to his position with the HHS Tribal Self Governance Advisory Committee, Lt. Governor Anoatubby chairs the Indian Health Service Tribal Self Governance Advisory Committee and is a member of the 1050 Forward Advisory Board and the OU Foundation Board of Trustees.

STAC was created in 2010 by former HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius as a way of promoting better relationships among tribal governments and the U.S. government.
At the time, Secretary Sebelius said her department was committed to continually improving relationships with Indian Country and building healthier communities.

“The establishment of a tribal advisory committee at the Secretarial level will create a coordinated, department-wide strategy to incorporate tribal guidance on HHS priorities, policies and budget, improve the Government-to-Government relationship, and mechanisms for continuous improvement with our partnership with Indian Tribes,” Sebelius said on HHS.gov.

According to the HHS website, “The Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee signals a new level of attention to Government-to-Government relationship between HHS and Indian Tribal Governments.

The STAC’s primary purpose is to seek consensus, exchange views, share information, provide advice and/or recommendations; or facilitate any other interaction related to intergovernmental responsibilities or administration of HHS programs, including those that arise explicitly or implicitly under statute, regulation or Executive Order. This purpose will be accomplished through forums, meetings and conversations between Federal officials and elected Tribal leaders in their official capacity (or their designated employees or national associations with authority to act on their behalf).

The purview of the STAC covers but is not limited to the following core functions:

1. Identify evolving issues and barriers to access, coverage and delivery of services to AI/ANs, related to HHS programs;
2. Propose clarifications and other recommendations and solutions to address issues raised at Tribal, regional and national levels;
3. Serve as a forum for Tribes and HHS to discuss these issues and proposals for changes to HHS regulations, policies and procedures;
4. Identify priorities and provide advice on appropriate strategies for Tribal consultation on issues at the Tribal, regional and/or national levels;
5. Ensure that pertinent issues are brought to the attention of Indian Tribes in a timely manner, so that timely Tribal feedback can be obtained;
6. Coordinate with HHS Regional Offices’ and Operating Divisions on Tribal consultation initiatives.”