OKMULGEE, Oklahoma – The Muscogee (Creek) Nation National Council held the monthly Health, Education, and Welfare Committee session at the Mound Building on March 8.
Passed legislation is subject to Full Council approval during the Regular Session held the last Saturday of each month.
The committee addressed the following legislation, the interpretation of which is attributed to language in the bills:
TR 23-025 Authorizing the Principal Chief to execute a Service Agreement with Bio-Medical Applications of Oklahoma, Inc. for the benefit of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Department of Health. Representative Mary Crawford sponsored the Resolution, which was passed 4-0.
The contract will help improve patient treatment and access to health services for in-patient dialysis treatment.
Other Business
Secretary of Health Shawn Terry was not able to attend the committee hearing due to the fact that he had to give the monthly update of the MCN Health System.
Chief Administrative Officer Rhonda Beaver substituted for Terry and delivered the update.
The COVID-19 Public Health Emergency’s end will be announced on May 11 and declared as a non-emergency.
“Regulations and waivers that the government enacted during the Public Health Emergency will come to an end on May 11, 2023,” Beaver said.
Officials are calling this time “unwinding” as the country slowly unwinds back to a normal state after being in a state of emergency for nearly three years.
This will also affect Soonercare income eligibility guidelines that were increased during the pandemic. Beaver said, in the next nine to 12 months, many patients will lose their insurance coverage if over the threshold. The Department of Health has a list of Muscogee citizens they will be working with concerning the matter.
The MCN Health System recorded only three and half positive COVID tests, with other infectious diseases in similarly low numbers as well.
Expansions are in the works for the Council Oak Facility, Holdenville Clinic, and Sapulpa area.
The Department of Health has developed a new Public Health Department with a new director starting at the end of the month.
In conjunction with the Inter-Tribal Health Committee and Southern Plains Tribes, a Tribal Public Health Consortium will include the five tribes’ sovereignty and partnership to develop public health infrastructure.
Each tribe will have their own public health department and area.
“By federal law we have public health authority to be responsible for the public health and wellness of our citizens,” Beaver said
Forced to depend on the state during the pandemic, the tribes learned a lot.
“We want to exercise our sovereignty so we can work directly with CDC,” Beaver said
Visit www.mcnnc.com for the full video and agenda.
