Inter-tribal Council supports quality health care for veterans

This article appeared in the November 2016 edition of the Chickasaw Times

DURANT, Okla. – Leaders of the Inter-tribal Council of the Five Civilized Tribes gave updates on tribal activity, successes, completed projects and projects under construction at the final 2016 quarterly session Oct. 14.

Governor Bill Anoatubby announced the Chickasaw Nation had 14 construction projects underway – some near completion and some in the first phases of construction.

He announced that in January 2017, the Chickasaw Nation would host the Inter-tribal Council (ITC) in the recently completed WinStar Convention Center at Thackerville, Okla.

Gov. Anoatubby ran down the list of projects. Construction projects include senior sites, wellness centers, a child development center, Head Start, a youth center and more.

A senior site and community center are under construction in Oklahoma City to serve the large population of Chickasaws in the metroplex.

In other matters, a total of three resolutions were passed unanimously by the ITC.

A resolution opposed a transition away from Indian Health Service/Tribal Health Program Reimbursement Agreement Program to a standard reimbursement agreement. The ITC concentrated its concern over veterans’ care.

Currently, Indian Health Service (IHS) and the Veteran’s Administration (VA) have a memorandum of understanding to coordinate, collaborate and share resources to improve the health status of Native American veterans. The ITC said the VA recently informed tribes it would move to one standard reimbursement rate, which is opposed by ITC.

“Standard Reimbursement agreements (will) cause unnecessary pre-approvals, obstruct the continuity of care for veterans and infringe on IHS and tribal authority under the Indian Health Care Improvement act,” the ITC said.

A second resolution supporting the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe of North Dakota for courageous leadership that has been the catalyst for changes in the federal consultation policies for all tribes was passed by ITC voting members. The ITC said “tribal nations across Indian Country have an inalienable right to self-determination of their tribal homelands.”

A third resolution supports the planned construction of a casino by the Shawnee near Guymon, Oklahoma, in the Oklahoma panhandle.

The ITC announced its “enthusiastic support and unqualified endorsement of the Shawnee Tribe’s Golden Mesa project,” adding it will bring “substantial economic benefit, robust tourism, quality jobs, increased capital and private investment.

“The Shawnee Tribe’s casino enterprise will elevate the economy by creating 175 new jobs and generating an annual payroll of $3.7 million,” according to the ITC.