Inter-Tribal Healthcare Work next meeting details and previous meeting notes

Inter-Tribal Workgroup

I’d like to thank Teresa Gomez from Futures for Children for hosting the meeting, and Mike Nunez from the NM HIA for providing the conference call function.

Notes:

Some quick notes from our last meeting. 

We had quick introductions from the group and some welcoming remarks from Teresa Gomez who is also serving on the Executive Board of the Health Insurance Exchange (HIX) and is Chairwoman of the HIX Native American Standing Committee.

We started the meeting with an explanation from Teresa Gomez about an announcement made by the HIX Executive Board regarding developments around the Native American Service Center (NASC). Teresa explained that Discussions regarding the Pueblo Insurance Agency (PIA) contracting as the NASC are still in the discussion phase, in no way is there anything decided or finalized around this development.  The HIX board made the announcement preemptively before Tribes could be notified.

There was a meeting between HIX executive board members, Southwest Women’s Law Center, the Center for Native American Health Policy, NMICoA Health Committee, Native American Independent Living (NAIL) and PIA representatives to discuss the possibility of the PIA acting as the NASC. This was an informal meeting where the concept was discussed as possible solution to developing the Native American provisions of the HIX through a Native American, Tribally owned, already established organization capable of developing Outreach, Education, Eligibility, and Enrollment for Native American Communities and individuals.

Erik Lujan gave an explanation of the concept and a timeline of how it has progressed. 

Senator Shendo Explained his involvement as CEO of PIA in that HIX was first discussed in 2012 and PIA started looking at how HIX would affect PIA and NA communities.  There was some question of a conflict of interest with Senator Shendo being the sponsor of the HIX legislation and CEO of PIA.  So far there is not a conflict of interest as NM Legislators are citizen legislators many use their employment to become experts concerning Legislation that is sponsored at the House and Senate.

There was an individual that voiced concerns from the Navajo Nation, around Tribal Consultation and the HIX announcement making it seem that PIA was taking control of the NASC functions without consulting Navajo Nation.  As the concept is still in the discussion phase and was prematurely announced it was said that there is still plenty of time to discuss how all tribes can be involved and to what degree.

There was some questions regarding the structure of the PIA and its section 17 organizational structure under the Indian Reorganization Act. PIA is a Tribal owned business entity independent of All Indian Pueblo Council (AIPC), subject to its own Executive Board made up of representatives from Northern and Southern Pueblo governors associations one AIPC representative, and three at large members. The 19 Pueblos being the Individual Shareholders of the Corporation.

Teresa Gomez identified three needs of the HIX, Hire a Native American Liaison, so that Tribal consultation could begin, establishing an NA Advisory Committee for the HIX, estimate of a budget for a NASC.

Action Items identified for the group:

1.       Nominating candidates for the Native American Liaison position Mr. Mike Nunez from the HIA will make available a job description. Please forward your suggestions to Mr. Mike Nunez and Teresa Gomez

2.       Nominate candidates for a Native American Advisory Committee, it was suggested that we start with the individual that served on the HIX taskforce’s Native American Work Group and extend an invitation to tribal leaders to nominate individuals to represent their communities

3.       Teresa Gomez and Mr. Mike Nunez would develop a letter for Tribal Leaders outlining the HIX development and where its progress currently stands.

4.       PIA and Erik Lujan would collaborate on a Presentation for Tribal Leaders on the PIA as the NASC Concept.

 The next meeting will be on June 21, 2013 from 2 PM -5 PM, hosted by the South West Women’s Law Center, locate at 1410 Coal Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM

 

 

 

Inter-Tribal Health Care Workgroup

Formerly the “Kewa Workgroup”

Hosted by the Southwest Women’s Law Center

Main Conference Room

2:00 PM- 5:00 PM

June 21, 2013

Agenda

1.     Welcome Introductions

2.     Centennial Care Discussion

3.     Continued HIX discussion

a.     Native American Liaison

b.     Native American Advisory Committee

c.      Native American Services Center

4.     Next steps

5.     Closing

We will have a call in number for this meeting:

Conference Dial-in Number: (605) 475-4000
Participant Access Code: 658369#
Subscriber PIN code: 693195#