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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (April 15, 2012)
Smoke Signals 3 APRIL 15, 2012 Membership briieffed afoouft Contract HeaOttlh) Move, if permitted, would save Tribal dollars being spent to supplement federal health care funding Photo by Michelle Alaimo Mark Johnston, Tribal Health Services executive director, informed the Tribal membership about efforts to expand its Contract Health Service Delivery Area and discussed Skookum Health Plan updates during the General Council meeting held at the Monarch Hotel & Conference Center in Portland on Sunday, April 1 . '1 'v.. By Dean Rhodes Smoke Signals editor PORTLAND The Tribal mem bership was briefed on the Tribe's continuing efforts to expand its Contract Health Service Delivery Area, which has the potential of saving a significant amount of Tribal dollars, on Sunday, April 1, at the General Council meeting held at the Monarch Hotel near Clackamas Town Center. Tribal Health Services Execu tive Director Mark Johnston said that the Tribe's current Contract Health Service Delivery Area en compasses six Oregon counties Marion, Multnomah, Polk, Til lamook, Washington and Yamhill in which about 3,000 Grand Ronde Tribal members reside. Contract Health Service is the federal funding from the Indian Health Service given to the Tribe annually to pay for Tribal member health care. The Tribe receives $2.75 million annually and Con tract Health is the payer of last resort, Johnston said. Since the federal funding is woefully inadequate to fully fund Tribal member health care, the Grand Ronde Tribe supplements Contract Health Service funding through the Skookum Health Plan to the tune of approximately $20 million a year. But, Johnston said, a new law was passed in 2007 that allows Tribal members covered by Con tract Health Service to receive Medicare-like rates, which saves the Tribe between 60 percent to 70 percent on a bill at hospitals within the six-county delivery area. Johnston said that a Tribal mem ber living in the six-county area who goes into the hospital for a 10-day stay and operation that costs $250,000 would eventually cost Contract Health $25,000 when all available discounts and reim bursements were applied. A Tribal member living outside the Contract Health delivery area under the same circumstances would cost the Tribal health plan $225,000 for the same procedure. "So, if we get more Tribal mem bers CHS eligible by expanding our delivery area, we would save a significant amount of money," Johnston said. In 2010, the Grand Ronde Tribe proposed adding 13 more Oregon counties and two counties in south western Washington state to its designated delivery area. Those 15 counties reflect the Tribe's ceded lands. However, other Tribes Coos, Coquille, Cowlitz, Cow Creek, Klamath, Siletz and Warm Springs objected to the Grand Ronde proposal for expansion because it might affect their user populations and, therefore, federal funding. The Grand Ronde Tribe rescinded its original expansion request, Johnston said, and tried to negoti ate with the other affected Tribes. Only Cowlitz and Coquille negoti ated with Grand Ronde, but agree ments were not reached. So, Johnston said, the Tribe re submitted its request to expand its delivery area on Jan. 12, this time only listing Oregon counties north of Lane County. The request was sent to the Portland District Office of Indian Health Service, which will again send it to other Tribes potentially affected by the expan sion for comment. Johnston said the Tribe is expect ing a decision by July 1. Johnston said the pros for the Grand Ronde Tribe include reduc ing the number of Tribal members who feel they are not included, eliminate out-of-pocket expenses for Tribal members living outside the current delivery area and in crease Tribal Contract Health user counts, which may lead to increased federal funding. The only con, he added, might be the need to add another Tribal employee to help process Contract Health claims. "This is a battle worth fighting for," Johnston said. Johnston said he expects the Portland Area director to support the Grand Ronde effort, but if that does not occur the Tribe plans on taking its request directly to the Indian Health Service director in Washington, D.C. "We believe we'll be successful," Johnston said. Johnson then discussed the Trib al member health plan - Skookum. He said the original intent of the health plan was to supplement cov erage that Tribal members might have elsewhere, such as Medicare, Medicaid or an employer's health plan. Skookum was never intended to be the primary payer, he said. A survey started in October 2010 found that out of 2,760 Tribal members who responded, 1,648 (60 percent) said they have no other health insurance coverage. The survey also found that 1,551 (56 percent) of those respondents were Medicaid eligible. Based on those results, Tribal Council instructed Tribal Health Services in January to begin de termining if Tribal members have access to other health care coverage in an effort to control and hope fully reduce Tribal expenditures on health care. "We are trying to save your mon ey," Johnston emphasized since Tribal dollars used to supplement health care are not available for other needs, such as education, housing, pensions and per capita. The General Council meeting was opened with a blessing song performed by the Portland area drum group that included Tribal members Jon George, Greg Ar chuleta, Jordan Mercier, Delores Parmenter and Debi, Eric and Erin Bernando. Tribal member Jan Michael Look ing Wolf Reibach also performed a Choctaw blessing song on flute. The next General Council meet ing will be held 10 a.m. Sunday, May 6, at the Tribal Community Center. It will be followed by a 1 p.m. Tribal Community Input meeting in the Tribal gym. Tribal members Duane Wheeler, Kiona Campbell and Travis Taylor won the $50 door prizes and Tribal spouse Denise Wilson won the $100 door prize. B Committee & Special Event Board meeting days and times Below is the most current information on the meeting days and times for Tribal Committees and Special Event Boards: Ceremonial Hunt Board meets as needed. Chair: Shonn Leno. Cultural Trust Board meets at 4 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month in Modular No. 2. Chair: Perri McDaniel. Culture Committee meets at 1 p.m. the first Wednesday of the month in Modular No. 3. Chair: TBD. Education Committee meets at 5:15 p.m. on the first Monday of the month in the Adult Education Building. Chair: Jon George. Elders' Committee meets at 10 a.m. the third Wednesday of the month in the Elders' Activity Center. Chair: Gladys Hobbs. Enrollment Committee meets quarterly in Room 204 of the Governance Building. Acting Chair: Robert Schmid. Fish & Wildlife Committee meets at 5:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of the month at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Harold Lyon. Health Committee meets at 10 a.m. the second Wednesday of the month in the Tribal Wellness Center. Acting Chair: Patti Tom-Martin. Powwow Special Event Board meets at 5 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dana Ainam. Rodeo Special Event Board meets at 6 p.m. the first Thursday of the month at the Tribal Rodeo Office. Chair: Harold Lyon. Social Services Committee meets at 4 p.m. the second Monday of the month in the Social Services Conference Room. Chair: Jenny Sanchez. Timber Committee meets at 5 p.m. the second Thursday of the month at the Natural Resources Building. Chair: Bob Mercier. Veterans Special Event Board meets at 4 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of the month in the Tribal Community Center. Chair: Dakota Whitecloud. GRAND RONDE GAMING COMMISSION POSITIONS The Grand Ronde Gaming Commission is seeking applications to fill one commission vacancy expiring June of 2015. The Tribal Gaming Ordinance requires this position to be filled by a Tribal member. The Grand Ronde Gaming Commission regulates all gaming-related activities associated with Spirit Mountain Casino. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. Commissioners may not hold elective or managerial Tribal positions, and may not be employed in or own any interest in or gamble in a gaming operation authorized by the Tribal Gaming Ordinance. Commissioners are independent contractors and expend approximately 30-40 hours per month to fulfill their responsibilities. The Gaming Commission generally meets on the second and third Fridays of each month. Appointment is contingent upon successful completion of a background investigation. Applications may be obtained by calling Kathy Doane at 503-879-2393. Closing date is April 30, 2012, 5 p.m. B
