Meeting Details/Agenda for Tribal Programs prep for CMS Teleconference

Tribal Health Department Preparation for

Video/Teleconference with the

Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services

January 17, 2013 – 10:30am – 1:00pm

Indian health Service Regional Office

5200 Homestead Rd. NE

Albuquerque, New Mexico

505-248-4500

 

Purpose:  At the Medicaid Expansion Convening held on October 18, 2012 tribal leadership acknowledged the need for an informed and knowledgeable health department staff who would be able to advise them on health care issues.  On January 23, 2013 the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will hold a video/teleconference with tribal leadership and their representatives to render its decision regarding the state’s request for an 1115 Waiver.  This meeting is being held to inform tribal health department staff of the positions taken by tribal leadership related to the state’s Centennial Care Plan and its request for an 1115 Waiver which would allow the state to implement the plan.  The information provided at the meeting and the discussions which will be held will equip tribal health department personnel with the information needed to be informed and knowledgeable advisors to their leadership on these issues.  The discussions are especially crucial to those tribes with new leadership and whose leaders may not have had the opportunity to learn about and understand the issues involved. 

Opening prayer
Welcome:  Evelyn Blanchard, Organizer, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty
Preparation for tribal advisement:

 Presenters:     April Wilkinson, Special Assistant to the Governor, Jemez Pueblo
                        Erik Lujan, Volunteer Advocate/Policy Analyst, New Mexico Indian Council on Aging (NMICoA) Health Committee
                       Anthony Yepa, Acting Director, Kewa Health Corp.
                       Quela Robinson, Staff Attorney, New Mexico Center on Law and Poverty Health Care Team

  

 Discussion of the tribes’ opposition to granting of 1115 Waiver to the state by the Center on Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) which would give approval to the state to implement its Centennial Care plan.  What are the specific problems that tribes have identified with the Centennial Care plan?  What recourse, if any, do tribes have in the event that CMS grants the state’s request for an 1115 Waiver? If tribes are required to contract with Managed Care Organizations to cover the services of their people on Medicaid what are the actions tribes can take to overcome previous problems encountered with managed care organizations? What positions should tribes take regarding the composition of the Native American Advisory Board and the Native American Technical Advisory Subcommittee?  Identification of significant items for advisement and consultation with tribal leadership in preparation for Jan. 23 video/teleconference.

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Please email me to let me know if you will attend the meeting.  If you are unable to attend, the materials and position statement developed will be sent to you for consultation with your leadership.  Look forward to working with you.