Health Services

ᏅᏩᏙᎯᏯᏛ ᎢᏗᏓᏛᏁᏗ

ᎢᏳᏓᎵᎭ ᎠᏛᏛᏅ ᏗᏛᏛᎲᏍᎩ

Due to a recent decision by the Indian Health Service (IHS) to grant $5.6M in duplicative funding the UKB is assuming responsibility for their exclusive members purchased and referred care (PRC) program (formerly known as contract health services).
This will change the process through which exclusive UKB members access funds to pay for outside specialists, which will come only from UKB’s new pool of contract health funds. Cherokee Nation Health Services will continue to serve through Direct Care Services all members of federally recognized tribes.

This policy change impacts only exclusive UKB members who currently receive PRC services through the Cherokee Nation.
Cherokee Nation citizens and dual Cherokee Nation-UKB citizens are not affected, and Cherokee Nation remains committed to providing the highest quality healthcare to their citizens.

This change is necessary to ensure the continuity of healthcare services for tribal citizens.
This fall, the Indian Health Service granted UKB $5.6 million in federal funding through the Purchased and Referred Care program.
These federal dollars will now cover a PRC program for exclusive UKB members, in lieu of the care they previously received from Cherokee Nation.
The new agreement between IHS and UKB is duplicative and, unless Cherokee Nation takes this action, could result in double dipping.

This change is necessary to ensure the continuity of healthcare services for tribal citizens.
This fall, the Indian Health Service granted UKB $5.6 million in federal funding through the Purchased and Referred Care program.
These federal dollars will now cover a PRC program for exclusive UKB members, in lieu of the care they previously received from Cherokee Nation.
The new agreement between IHS and UKB is duplicative and, unless Cherokee Nation takes this action, could result in double dipping.

Cherokee Nation’s goal is to make this as seamless as possible for exclusive UKB patients.
Cherokee Nation Health Services will be notifying all impacted patients with additional details and program developments as PRC services are transferred to the UKB.

Cherokee Nation Health Services will continue to uphold their IHS operational obligations to serve all members of federally recognized tribes, including exclusive UKB members, through their Direct Care Services.
Cherokee Nation, which oversees the largest tribal health system in Indian Country, has for decades administered a federally funded PRC program for members of all federally recognized tribes, including exclusive UKB members. Cherokee Nation will continue to operate its PRC program for all eligible beneficiaries. PRC services for exclusive UKB members will be administered by the UKB.

IHS’ decision to grant this new allocated funding to the UKB creates confusion for UKB and Cherokee Nation patients. It is a risk to their health and well-being, and to the current world-class system that Cherokee Nation has already established to ensure tribal families’ happiness, health, strength, and safety.
PRC funding is based on a service population and a service area. UKB has no service area so this funding falsely creates such a service area, which was not delineated by IHS.