Providers and tribal and family leaders should know and practice a core public health principle: work on prevention by addressing root cause in a holistic team approach, as well as include ceremonies and customs. If unfamiliar with tribal public health, please spend some time reading this National Indian Health Board training module.
public HEALTH SYSTEMS on the navajo nation
A home visit on the Navajo Nation provided by Growing in Beauty, a tribal program
Health care on the Navajo Nation is provided by many different public health systems that strive to work together, but which have no common oversight. Few understand what services are available across state lines on the reservation or how to access those services, especially as the state systems keep modernizing and changing. However, a comprehensive understanding of these interlinked systems is necessary in order to really assist tribal members.
The systems are:
The systems are:
- Indian Health Service (IHS). The Navajo Area Indian Health Service operates hospitals and clinics at population centers on the reservation. Treatment is free to tribal members. When IHS is unable to provide treatment directly, IHS may refer patients to off-reservation healthcare facilities at no charge to the patient. Medicaid enrolled tribal members further qualify for direct and substantial public health benefits-based care beyond IHS services from the states covering their portion of the reservation. For example, Medicaid pays for much-needed transportation for their members from rural chapters to doctor visits in healthcare facilities on or off reservation.
- Tribal health corporations. Under "PL 93-638" tribal self-determination contracts and self-governance compacts with IHS, tribal health corporations authorized by the Navajo Nation are able to widen the healthcare service area in directly and independently establishing and operating hospitals and health care centers.
- Navajo Nation wellness programs operated by tribal government include nutrition, aging, substance abuse, behavioral and mental health, education, community health outreach, and other services in coordination with federal, state, and local partners. (IHS has a master healthcare contract with the Navajo Nation).
- Community wellness initiatives provided by numerous community-based non-profits, often collaboratively with tribal programs, community hosts, coalitions, or IHS.
- Arizona Medicaid/healthcare assistance for residents on the Arizona portion of the reservation available on the reservation through state contracted or state grant-funded tribal or non-profit programs, but otherwise no state public health office located within reservation boundaries. More than 1/2 of the Navajo Nation is located in Arizona.
- New Mexico Medicaid/healthcare assistance for residents on the New Mexico portion of the reservation, however with no state public health office presently located within reservation boundaries; Well more than 1/3 of the Navajo Nation is located in New Mexico.
- Utah Medicaid/healthcare assistance for residents on the Utah portion of the reservation, however with no state public health office presently located within reservation boundaries. The northern edge of the reservation is located in Utah.
Often a long wait at a healthcare facility