MEDICAID EXPANSION: What would it mean for Tribal health care services?

MEDICAID EXPANSION:  What would it mean for Tribal health care services?

 

                The All Indian Pueblo Council, the Leadership Institute and the New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty have joined together to present information about the Medicaid expansion which is authorized in the Affordable Care Act (ACA. Obamacare).  Although the ACA contains a mandate requiring the states to expand the Medicaid program to cover low-income uninsured persons, the Supreme Court recently ruled that states cannot be penalized if they do not expand the Medicaid program.  The decision to expand the program to cover the multitudes of low-income uninsured citizens is left to the discretion of states’ governors and legislatures.  In New Mexico the decision will be made by Governor Susana Martinez.

Medicaid revenues are extremely important to the operation of not only tribal and off-reservation health care facilities but to Indian Health Service as well. The Service recovers about 60% of payments that are billed under the Medicaid program.  Medicaid payments are a significant portion of the revenues tribal and off-reservation facilities need to maintain services.  The likelihood that Congressional appropriations for Indian Health Service will be increased to respond to the actual health care needs of Native Americans is not bright and it is incumbent upon existing facilities to take advantage of all resources available.  Currently in our state, there are 23,000 adult Native Americans eligible for Medicaid but not enrolled and there are 13,000 Native American children who are eligible but not enrolled.  Working together, what can we do to assure that our people receive the health care they need?  Please join these discussions and bring your knowledge and expertise to address this vital concern.

 

 

 

 

The All Indian Pueblo Council, the Leadership Institute and the

New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty invite you to

a Convening to discuss

MEDICAID EXPANSION:  What would it mean for Tribal healthcare services?

October 18, 2012 – Silver Room at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center

9:00am to 1:00pm

AGENDA

MEDICAID EXPANSION:  What would it mean for Tribal healthcare services?

October 18, 2012 – 9:00am to 1:00pm at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Silver Room

2401 Twelfth Street NW – 505-843-7270

Opening Prayer

Moderator:        Evelyn Blanchard, CLP Community Organizer

 9:00am                Welcome

Randall Vicente, Chairman, All Indian Pueblo Council                                                            Regis Pecos, Founder/Director, The Leadership Institute                                                      Kim Posich, Executive Director, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty                                                                                       

9:30am                 Overview of Medicaid opportunity

                                Sireesha Manne, J.D. and Kelsey Heilman, J.D.  CLP Healthcare Team Attorneys

New Mexico has reached a critical moment—the state must decide whether or not to provide Medicaid healthcare coverage to over 150,000 adults whose incomes fall under 138% of the poverty level, starting in 2014.  Of the 150,000 uncovered persons are approximately 24,000 adult Indian people and 13,000 Indian children.  Currently, most adults do not qualify for Medicaid unless they are pregnant, disabled or seniors.  Although federal law requires states to provide this new Medicaid coverage, the Supreme Court recently ruled that states cannot be penalized if they do not comply with the law.  As a result, some states are now refusing this opportunity.  Governor Martinez remains undecided.  In this presentation, CLP attorneys will discuss the Medicaid opportunity, how it could benefit uninsured residents and Native American communities, and its financial impact on the state and healthcare sectors.

10:15am               Question and answer

10:30am               The Benefits and Challenges of Tribal Contracting with an MCO

                                April L. Wilkinson, Program Specialist, Jemez Pueblo and Staff

Jemez Pueblo personnel will describe the process through which the Pueblo contracted with Indian Health Services to provide healthcare services to its people and what the Pueblo has done to piece together the funding necessary to its operation.  Panelists will discuss the interface that has been established to be able to assure payments are received from MCOs.  The information provided will introduce tribes to the various considerations involved in contracting for services and the retrieval of monies from MCOs and other sources of revenue.

11:15am               Question and answer

11:30am               Break

11:45am               Medicaid expansion and its implications for Indian healthcare systems:  Building our Expertise                                                              

Anthony Yepa, Management Analyst, Kewa Pueblo Health Corporation                                  Erik Lujan, Volunteer, New Mexico Indian Council on Aging, Health Committee          Quela Robinson, J.D., CLP Healthcare Team Attorney

Medicaid expansion will have a significant impact on Indian healthcare systems.  From the perspective of their positions, the panelists will discuss considerations and opportunities that can be realized from the expansion and propose resources that need to be developed within tribal/off-rez healthcare communities themselves to further the positive development of Indian healthcare systems.

12:15pm               Question and answer

12:30pm               Medicaid expansion:  What can tribal officials and native people, on and off-reservation, do to help 23,000 adult Indians and 13,000 eligible Indian children to secure healthcare coverage?

                                Randall Vicente, Chairman, All Indian Pueblo Council                                                               Regis Pecos, Founder/Director, The Leadership Institute                                                            Kim Posich, Executive Director, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty

                                Audience response.

 1:00pm                Closing prayer