THE NAVAJO NATION THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE TO LOOK INTO CREATING ITS OWN MANAGED HEALTH CARE SYSTEM. THE TRIBE MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT RECENTLY AND DANIEL TSO, CHAIR OF THE HEALTH, EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, TELLS THE ASSOCIATED PRESS IT’LL BE A ONE-OF-A-KIND MEDICAID PROGRAM.
TSO SAYS THE NEW PROGRAM PROPOSED FOR THE NATION WILL IMPROVE BOTH ACCESS AND THE QUALITY OF HEALTHCARE ON THE NATION’S LARGEST INDIAN RESERVATION.
ROUGHLY 75-THOUSAND NAVAJOS LIVING IN NEW MEXICO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR MEDICAID. STATE HEALTH OFFICIALS SAYS THAT IF THE PROGRAM GETS 50-THOUSAND NAVAJOS, HE ESTIMATES THE PROPOSED HEALTH CARE PROGRAM WILL BRING IN ABOUT 468-MILLION DOLLAR PAYMENTS A YEAR TO THE NAVAJO NATION.
