Siletz news /, October 01, 2000, Page 3, Image 3

CHAIRMAN’S REPORT
Chairman Delores Pigsley
Still an issue that has yet to be resolved
is the Notice of Violation (NOV) issued by
the National Indian Gaming Commission
(NIGC).
According to an audit conducted by the
Siletz Tribal Gaming Commission (STGC),
all the comps that the NIGC declared were
misused by Tribal Council members during
1999 were found to be legitimate. They were
awarded to customers of Chinook Winds
and comps related to official Gaming Board
activities and meetings.
Comping is a fact of life in the casino
business and the Tribal Council and the
Gaming Board will continue to be an
indispensable vehicle in marketing
Chinook Winds.
The NIGC has received a copy of the
STGC audit. NIGC has not yet been able to
provide proof that comps were taken
for personal use as alleged in its Notice
of Violation.
Other important tribal developments
include the following:
♦ The Siletz Tribe has negotiated a law
enforcement agreement with the city of
Siletz, a community of Indian and
non-lndian citizens. Under the
agreement, the tribe is authorized to
enforce the law in the city, and provide
funding for law enforcement officers who
are cross-deputized to serve the
community under state law.
♦ By the time this issue of Siletz News
goes to press, the Annual Run to the
Rogue will have already taken place.
These runs are of great historical
importance to Siletz Tribal members
because they are held in an area that is
the original reservation territory of the
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
The climax of this year’s run, held at Oak
Flats, included ceremonial dances by the
Siletz Feather Dancers and a salmon
feed. The ceremonial dances, which
have been handed down over
generations, were performed where our
ancestors once lived and thrived.
(Please see photos on page 12.)
NMMMMMNMMNNMNMMUHSBMSaun
CHS Restricts Pharmacy to Generic Drug Dispensing
and Mail-In Distribution
Pharmacy costs reached a high of
$382,752 in 1999. The current level of
spending estimates that CHS will pay
$474,133 for the year 2000. Pharmacy costs
will continue to increase because of the
rising cost of medications. In an attempt to
remain within our budget, CHS must adjust
the pharmacy benefits effective Oct. 1,2000.
The Siletz Tribe contracted with the
tribally
owned
business
Pequot
Pharmaceutical Network in 1996 to provide
pharmacy benefits to tribal members
nationwide. Tribal members living outside the
11 -county service area have a $400 annual
pharmacy benefit.
Distribution of drugs from the Pequot
pharmacy in Mashantucket, Conn., allows
them to dispense to other tribes or tribal
members at the federal supply schedule
price. This reduces the cost to CHS by 40
percent. Restricting pharmacy to mail-out
distribution will reduce costs to the tribe.
We currently allow dispensing from the
retail market - Fred Meyer, Rite Aid - and
other providers in the pharmacy business.
CHS will allow you to continue doing so in
cases of emergencies or acute conditions.
But you should ask your doctor to write two
prescriptions, one for now and the other for
mail-in because using the mail-in for
continued use will stretch your benefit
amount. If you have private insurance that
requires a co-payment, you can pay it and
mail your receipt to CHS for reimbursement.
Continuing to use the Chemawa, Grand
Ronde, or Siletz pharmacies reduces costs
to CHS and you should use these clinics
when possible.
If you feel more comfortable picking up
your prescriptions at the Siletz Clinic and
would like to use it for your pharmacy
needs, please call 72 hours in advance
before pick up, 1-800-648-0449 or
541 -444-1030. This will allow time to fill your
prescriptions.
You can receive the mail-in envelopes
and information by calling Pequot directly at
1-888-779-6638. You also may contact the
CHS Department or your nearest
community health advocate in the area
offices for envelopes or with any other
questions you may have.
Your new Pequot cards have been
adjusted for acute and emergency use and
mandate dispensing of generic drugs; a
dollar limit has been set. A review and
adjustment of the limit will be done on a yearly
basis, so please use your pharmacy benefit
wisely. If you spend your limit before the
yearly review is complete, you may have
no recourse but to use mail-in from Pequot
or go to an IHS or tribal pharmacy. New
pharmacy cards were mailed in early
September.
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