DRAFT ONLY – APPROVAL PENDING

Summary of Proceedings

SELECT TRIBAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE

Conference Room, Lander Valley Medical Center

November 15, 2001

Lander, Wyoming

PRESENT:  Representative Harry Tipton, Chairman.

                    Senators Cale Case and Robert Peck.

        Representative Dick Sadler.

        Legislative Service Office:  Karen Byrne, Staff Attorney.

        Others – see Attachment 1.

AGENDA:  See Attachment 2.

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Community Healthcare Status Initiative

Burton Hutchinson, Northern Arapaho Business Council, gave the invocation.  Sandra St. Clair, Lander Valley Medical Center, had the participants introduce themselves.  Wes Martel, Eastern  Shoshone Business Council welcomed the participants and provided an overview of the community healthcare status initiative.  He stated that the funding for Indian health care was woefully inadequate.  Sara Robinson moderated the meeting.  Lunch was provided by the Lander Valley Medical Center.  It was suggested that federal funding might be available for a pilot program for Indian health care.

Bev Morrow, Wyoming Primary Care Association, a non-profit organization, testified generally in accordance with Attachment 3 which has health care data and statistics.  Her organization was requested by the state of Wyoming to conduct a study regarding minority health care.  She cautioned that the statistics might be distorted because of the small number of minorities in Wyoming.  She stated that the committee should look at the disparities discovered in the report and try to determine why they existed.  The first step in getting federal funding is to determine a medically underserved population.  The reservation has already been designated as a medically underserved population.  She stated that the Family Practice Facility in Casper has been turned into a community health care clinic which takes everyone as patients regardless of insurance or finances.  There is an ongoing discussion about putting a satellite of that clinic in Dubois.  Philip Eaton, Lander Valley Medical Center, stated that hospitals support community clinics because people do not use emergency rooms inappropriately when they have access to a community clinic.

Cathy Keene, Wind River Service Unit Director, stated that the Indian Health Service starts every year several millions dollars short of the necessary funding.  She presented a list of necessary procedures which could not be done because the Indian Health Service was only providing care for emergencies for several weeks during the year 2001.  [Attachment 4].

Clarence Thomas, Shoshone Health Director, stated that future projects include having more educational programs about preventive health care.

Mr. Martell stated that the Billings region [which the Wind River reservation is in] has the highest level of need but gets the lowest level of funding.  Partially this is caused because other tribes have relaxed enrollment criteria and, thus, show a higher number of tribal members.  He stated that the committee needed:  long range goals, organizing capabilities, determine available resources, objectives, a work plan, a list of activities, a time frame and a determination of necessary staff time.

The Select Tribal Relations Committee agreed to sponsor a joint resolution to Congress supporting a pilot program for health care if the Community Health Care Committee had the necessary information to them by the beginning of session 2002.

WATER DEVELOPMENT

The committee discussed the general problems they have had getting water development monies.  It was stated that the water level in Ethete was very low.  Senator Case moved that the present Attorney General MacMillan be requested for an opinion on whether the state could join with the tribes in water development through a contract or if legislation was needed and, if so, what type.  The motion was seconded by Senator Peck and passed. 

SELECT TRIBAL RELATIONS COMMITTEE UPDATE

There was general discussion regarding the various issues which the legislative committee and the tribes needed to work together on:  taxation, welfare programs and water development.  It was suggested that an Indian Affairs Office be created and located in Cheyenne, WY. 

ADJOURNMENT

There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 2:15 p.m.

                                                                                    Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    ____________________________

                                                                                    Representative Tipton

                                                                                    Chairman