Title
A RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A PARTNERSHIP WITH HILLCREST FOR THE PROVISION OF OBSTETRIC SERVICES AT ITS CLAREMORE FACILITY
Body
WHEREAS, the Cherokee Nation (“Nation”) since time immemorial has exercised the sovereign rights of self-government on behalf of the Cherokee people;
WHEREAS, the Nation is a federally recognized Indian Nation with a historic and continual government to government relationship with the United States of America and exclusive tribal governmental authority over the Cherokee Nation Reservation, as defined in federal and Cherokee Nation law;
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation operates the Cherokee Nation Health Services, a growing multifaceted tribally operated health care system, the largest such system in the United States with 11 facilities;
WHEREAS, the Council of the Cherokee Nation previously approved legislation supporting the Cherokee Nation’s assumption of operations and ownership of the Indian Health Services Claremore Services Unit, commonly known as the Claremore Indian Hospital, effective October 1, 2025, as well as authorizing the expenditure of up to $255 million to upgrade the current Claremore Indian Hospital and construct a new Cherokee Nation Claremore Outpatient and Emergency Health Center (see R-057-24 <https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:c9cf297a-84b5-4661-bc77-5df439d6d6ed>, R-065-24 <https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:va6c2:874ad08b-3499-4014-a71f-a1a12a458233>, R-045-25 <https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:f4f7e49b-1877-4857-a19f-afed84c0bb58>, LA-18-25 Cherokee Nation Claremore Outpatient and Emergency Health Center Act of 2025 <https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:a780f331-e069-4d6d-b707-d84980c8d030>);
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation’s continuation of outpatient services and emergency room medical services when it assumes operations of the Claremore Services Unit on October 1, 2025, creates opportunities to absorb the relatively low in patient demand at the Claremore Service Unit through Cherokee Nation’s existing in patient facility and through existing and future agreements with other providers of in-patient care;
WHEREAS, the provision of high quality and easily accessible obstetric (“OB”) care for patients of Cherokee Nation Claremore Outpatient and Emergency Health Center is a vital national interest to the Cherokee Nation, and must be met;
WHEREAS, AHS Claremore Regional Hospital, LLC d/b/a Hillcrest Hospital Claremore provides a variety of high-quality outpatient and in-patient health care services at its acute medical care facility located at 1202 N. Muskogee Place, Claremore OK (hereafter “Hillcrest Claremore”), including OB care, and is part of a regional health system with a longstanding and positive working relationship with Cherokee Nation;
WHEREAS, Hillcrest Claremore is planning a “Hillcrest Claremore OB Department Expansion Project,” and is seeking partners to finance the project;
WHEREAS, Cherokee Nation has an interest in Hillcrest Claremore successfully completing its aforementioned OB expansion project, as it adds to the region’s health care capacity and creates opportunities for OB care for Cherokee Nation citizens;
WHEREAS, a partnership between Cherokee Nation and Hillcrest Claremore to facilitate completion of the Hillcrest Claremore OB Department Expansion Project has the potential to enhance healthcare access for patients throughout the region, generally, and in particular high quality and seamless OB services to Cherokee Nation Health Services patients with continuity of care;
WHEREAS the Council authorizes and supports, subject to all relevant constitutional and statutory appropriation and oversight authority, the donation of funds from Cherokee Nation to Hillcrest Claremore in connection with its Hillcrest Claremore OB Department Expansion Project, provided:
• The donation to Hillcrest Claremore does not exceed $4 million, from general fund revenue sources;
• The donation is subject to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Hillcrest by the Principal Chief, with provisions that:
o Directs that the donation support of the Hillcrest Claremore OB Department Expansion,
o Spreads payments over a period not to exceed four years, tied to tangible project milestones,
o Requires Hillcrest Claremore provide appropriate professional OB services to patients who are beneficiaries of Indian Health Services programs and referred for such services by Cherokee Nation, without limitation to such patients’ right to choose their own health care services;
o Includes mutual rights and obligations between the parties to otherwise ensure the continuity of care for such OB patients, including but not limited to access to pre-natal care in the Cherokee Nation Claremore Outpatient Emergency Health Center or other Cherokee Nation Health Facilities and access to delivery care at Hillcrest Claremore;
o Includes, as a means of honoring Cherokee Nation’s commitment and demonstrating respect to Cherokee Nation’s culture and traditions, appropriate naming rights in connection with the Hillcrest OB Department Expansion Project and opportunities to provide authentic Cherokee Nation art, on a loan or donation basis, for display in said project.
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CHEROKEE NATION that the Council of the Cherokee Nation authorizes and supports the Principal Chief negotiating a memorandum of understanding with Hillcrest Claremore to support the Hillcrest Claremore OB Department Expansion Project that ensures access to and continuity of care in connection with the delivery of OB services to IHS beneficiaries referred to Hillcrest Claremore by Cherokee Nation, with a donation not to exceed $4 million across a four year schedule using general fund revenue, with the Council reserving all rights of appropriation and oversight.