CHEROKEE NATION TRIBAL COUNCIL
HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING
January 24, 1996
STANDING COMMITTEE: Health and Human Services
COMMITTEE PRESIDED BY: Barbara Conness
COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS: Barbara Conness - Mary Cooksey
COMMITTEE DATE/PLACE: January 24, 1996
Administrative Services Conference Room
COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT:
Barbara Conness Bill Baker Mary Cooksey
Sam Ed Bush Don Crittenden Jiggs Phillips
Paula Holder Dora Mae Watie Nick Lay
Barbara Starr-Scott Charles Hoskin
0 COMMITTEE MEMBERS LATE: Troy Poteet, fkAA4-0P A *1445
COMMITTEE MEMBERS ABSENT: Mige Glory, Harold DeMoss QUORUM ESTABLISHED: YES X NO STAFF PRESENT:
Marilyn Kelley Tammy Marshall Mike Pruitt Gordon Watkins
Ella Goedecke Luke Elliott Brenda Carter Jana Maggard
Dixie Stuart Donna Gourd Kim Teehee Bob Baker
Mike Mounce Sid Daniel, Jr.
VISITORS:
Vickie Snell Will Chavez Debra Proctor Mattie Stierwalt
NUMBER OF RESOLUTIONS/ACT: Two
TITLE OF RESOLUTIONS: Resolution #1 - 1996 Tribal Management Grant
Resolution #2 - Nowata Deed
0 MINUTES: See Attachment
CHEROKEE NATION TRIBAL COUNCIL
HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETING
TRIBAL SERVICE CONFERENCE ROOM
January 24, 1996
MINUTES
CALL TO ORDER:
Barbara Conness called the meeting to order at 6:45 p.m. Invocation was given by Sam Ed Bush.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES:
Bill Baker made a motion to approve the minutes. Barbara Starr-Scott seconded the motion. Motion carried.
INTRODUCTION/ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:
Gordon Watkins introduced Mike Mounce, Pharmacist from Wilma P. Manldller Health Center and Sid Daniel, Jr., Pharmacy Tech from Wilma P. Manldller Health Center.
PROGRAM REPORTS:
W. W. Hastings Hospital - Hickory Starr stated that he has received a report from headquarters discussing the impact of the 25% budget cut in the IHS budget and what will happen if they cut the budget. This 25% budget cut will represent approximtely 4.5 million dollars for each service unit. They are in the process of discussing and determining what will need to be done for these service units to survive with a 25% cut. Mr. Starr also stated that Sooner Care will be implemented this summer, and he discussed the impact it will have on IHS facilities.
Mr. Starr stated that when Sooner Care goes into effect, patients cannot designate IHS facilities as primary care providers. Medicaid and Medicare patients will receive a notice and a list of providers. They will be required to choose a provider or one will be assigned to them. IHS facilities will not be on that list. These patients can still be seen at IHS facilities, but these facilities will receive no reimbursement for services rendered.
Claremore Indian Hospital - John Daugherty stated that the Claremore service unit is also in the process of deciding what will need to be done to survive a 25% budget cut. When 80% of budget goes to employees and 25% of the budget is cut, employees would have to be cut also. Claremore has incurred a 10% increase in in-patients and an 11% increase in out-patient visits since the first of the year. There are major decisions to be made and recommendations will be made on how to meet the needs if the budget is cut.
Dr. Kingfisher - Interim Executive Director
Dr. Kingfisher was not available for this meeting. No program report was given.
Gordon Watkins - Chief Pharmacist, Cherokee Nation
Mr. Watkins discussed a report dealing with the first quarter of fiscal year 1996.
The cost of drugs this month was primarily for the month of December for all five (5) clinics. The total cost was $136,241.00. This is a 71% increase over the same period last year. The cost for the total year is $346,946.00. This is a 31% increase. The number of prescriptions filled for the month of December was 15,840. This is 23% above what was filled last year. The total for year- to-date prescriptions filled is up 28% from last year.
Mr. Watkins stated that Cherokee Nation has tried to standardize all pharmacies in order to be more cost effective. There are now regular, full-time pharmacists at all five clinics. He reported that Wilma P. Mankiller Health Center has a telephonic system for prescription refills. This is primarily designed to help the elderly patients. It has worked very well.
RESOLUTION #1: 1996 Tribal Management Grant - Donna Gourd
Authorizing the submission of a grant application to conduct a feasibility study of the necessary plans, approach, training and resources required to contract the program services and operations function of the W.W. Hastings Hospital, for presentation to the governing body of the Cherokee Nation to determine whether tribal assumption of the operation is desirable or warranted.
Ms. Gourd explained that in January Cherokee Nation learned that IHS is offering funds for tribal management grants in this fiscal year. A tribal council resolution is required before an application can be made. The application is due in Rockville on February 23. If approved, this would be the third tribal management grant that the tribe has received. We are half way through the second grant, which is for an evaluation study.
Motion was made to pass to full council by Mary Cooksey Motion was seconded by Chuck Hoskin.
Motion carried.
RESOLUTION #2: Nowata Deed - Kim Teehee
The Nowata Industrial Foundation is donating ten (10) acres of property to the Cherokee Nation. Annette Jenkins, Realty Department, prepared a resolution that would enable the tribal council to approve to accept this donation. The plan is to receive the trust acquisition on this piece of property. The Nowata health facility would be built on this property. At the present time, they are in the process of determining the cost of extending the gas lines to the site, and providing a location for the sewage lines. The Nowata Industrial Foundation is being very helpful, and are preparing proposals for Cherokee Nation to consider for extending gas lines to the site and preparing a lift station for the sewage pumps.
There was discussion concerning a reversionary clause in the first contract. This clause would hinder Cherokee Nation from having this land placed in trust. This reverter clause has been deleted from the present contract.
Clarification was made that it is not the City of Nowata that is donating the property. It is the Nowata Industrial Foundation.
Motion was made to approve resolution by Barbara Starr-Scott. Motion was seconded by Chuck Hoskin.
Motion carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: None
NEW BUSINESS: Nuclear Risk Management for Native Communities - Debra Proctor
Debra Proctor and Mattie Stierwalt, consultants for the Childhood Cancer Research Institute, Clark University, Massachusetts, gave a presentation dealing with Nuclear Risk Management in Native Communities. They reported that for over 40 years native communities have been exposed to low doses of radiation. This has been primarily in the western United States, but now our Cherokee communities are facing the same issues. Compared to the general public, native communities showed an excessive burden of risk from U.S. nuclear activities, but in many ways they are the least equipped to understand what is happening, and to respond appropriately.
They gave a brief history of the Sequoyah Fuels area and some of the problems that have come from this plant.
They are doing studies that would allow them to map and graph incidents of chonic diseases and cancer to a geographic area of our communities.
The purpose of this project is to develop a collabrative effort of health scientists, providers and activists to meet the needs in our Cherokee communities.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Marilyn Kelley stated that she will bring information to next month's meeting regarding the Community Health Representatives.
She also announced the Open House of the Stilwell Dialysis Center to be held February 6, 1996 from 3:00p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Barbara Conness announced that February 17, she and Mary Cooksey will have a community meeting in Fairland or Miami and will need some of health staff to attend this meeting.
ADJOURNMENT:
Motion to adjourn was made by: Bill Baker Motion seconded by: Chuck Hoskin
Motion carried: Meeting Adjourned.
NEXT MEETING TIME AND DATE: February 21 at 6:00 p.m.
APPROVAL/DISTRIBUTION
Corrections:
Date
Minutes submitted' submitt by: Jodi Wolfe
Motion to approve minutmOade by: Motion seconded by: (-(ate
Minutes approved: Yes
-
Date
No
Minutes attested and concurred by: Date
Council Committee Chairman