Discussion
topics
UNM
expansion hospital
Letter
from Greg Ortiz urging Tribal Leadership to get involved in advocating for the
construction of the Proposed Adult Hospital
·
Will not impose any new Taxes or mill levy for
Bernalillo County residents and will help honor the UNM 1952 contract agreement
with Pueblos.
·
Construction was halted after opposition in NM
Legislature and Bernalillo County commissioners
Dismantling
of the DOH office of Native American Health
Dr.
Ron Reid Director of ONAH requests assistance in raising awareness of the
unilateral dissolution of the Office of Native American Health, by the DoH
Secretary prior to her resignation, without any Tribal consultation.
·
This is another example of the State of NM
(Executive) unilaterally making decisions about Tribal Programs without
consulting tribes.
Tribal
Consultation follow up:
·
Identified the major points of contention between
the Tribes and the State.
1.
Complete Lack
of Meaningful Tribal Consultation
between the State of NM and Tribes
2.
Mandatory Enrollment of All Native Americans in to Managed Care
Organizations (MCO) Through the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA)
Native Americans are protected being mandatorily enrolled into Managed Care
Programs
3.
Elimination of the “Opt in” ability for Eligible enrolled Native
Americans in the Medicaid Program Native Americans have had this option since
the institution of the Salud Program in NM and many other Tribes in other
states including tribes in AZ and Kansas have similar provisions in their
states Medicaid program
4.
Elimination of the Fee for Service Component from the Medicaid program
for Native American Population. The fee for service program is utilized and
preferred by Tribal Programs and IHS when billing for Medicaid Services,
because of prompt payments. The Fee for
service program is going to remain intact for undocumented immigrants in the
State of NM
5.
Elimination of the Prior Quarter Coverage “presumptive eligibility” for
Medicaid Enrollment. The elimination of this provision will greatly affect
Tribal health program and IHS budgets that rely Medicaid reimbursements.
6.
Any individual Native American enrollee cost sharing or Tribal
program/facility cost Sharing. Native
Americans are protected from cost sharing through provisions in the ARRA, PPACA
and the IHCIA
·
talked about dialogue between the State and CMS
after the Consultation- State is unwilling to alter Waiver after being
presented with the Tribes issues brought up at the session and unwilling to sit
back down with Tribes to discuss tribal concerns with the waivers contents
1.
After the November 27th meeting with
Tribes CMS reps called the State and presented HSD with the Tribes Demands Per
IHS and CLP:
“Admiral Grinnell and Navajo VP Jim met with Cindy Mann last week, apparently the state received our demands from the consultation on the 27th and has indicated that they don’t plan to meet with tribes again and will not back down from their proposal. No timelines yet relative to a decision.
Rumors started swirling about the approval dates for the waiver and RFP after I informed the Con Alma health policy forum December 30th about the consultation on the 27th and CMS’ plans to meet with tribes again during the first week of January. Apparently, MCO’s and state contractors in attendance got nervous about their paydays and asked the state during the LFC hearing last week. Secretary Squier insisted that everything is on track and that they had been mis-informed. I spoke to our CMS Project Officer Robert Nelb today and he confirmed the following;
a.
CMS is working on scheduling a call with the group from the 27th
for the first week of January
b.
No final decision will be made on the waiver before this call/meeting
occurs.
c.
The state could go ahead and grant the contracts on January 7th
anyway, but they will have to be amended if any part of the waiver isn’t
approved.”
·
Next consultation with CMS will be Conference call
in first week of Jan 2013, this is a
major concern with the group because the proposed call is expected to be the 6th or 7th of January 2013, as you all
know new leadership will just be taking office and will be expected to
participate in this CMS Call!? We as a
workgroup need to do two things, contact CMS and ask for a later date and
educated incoming leadership as to the situation with the State and CMS
need to educate new
leaders/councils
Medicaid
Expansion
Small
good news Governor Martinez is leaning more towards accepting Exchange as part
of a “bargin” to get the exchange passed her way. CLP reported after having a
one on one conversation with Governor Martinez
NMHIX
·
There isn’t much to report on the exchange other
than the Blue print was transmitted to CMS on Friday December 16th
·
It was pointed out that NA while will be able to
take advantage on the Exchange we are protected for the Mandate to purchase
Insurance
·
The NA workgroup of the HIX is talking about what
the Native American Service Center is suppose to be its function and role
within the Exchange
Action
Items:
Obtain
resolutions from AIPC on Medicaid Expansion and Centennial Care from Ken Lucero
One
pager on Centennial Care for Leadership
Five
to Six pages on Centennial Care for Tribal Councils Health Departments/workers
Letter
from Governor Magdalena to other Governors urging involvement in educating
incoming leadership on Centennial Care
Need bullet points to
April on focus of letter ie. major points/ concerns for your pueblo
Form
a small Group to go to each Tribe (if need be) to Educate Leadership and Councils
so that we have a unified voice when speaking to State and CMS
(Erik
April volunteer so far)
