Tribes expand sovereignty through health care self-governance

A growing number of tribes are taking control of health care systems previously operated by the Indian Health Service, according to The Daily Yonder. Jerilyn Church, chief executive officer of the Great Plains Tribal Leader’s Health Board, said the Oyate Health Center in Rapid City, South Dakota, has expanded access, generated more revenue and incorporated cultural practices since the board assumed management in 2019. “Nobody loves our community and our relatives like we do,” Church said.

The Choctaw Nation also reported benefits from self-governance, saying it has expanded clinics and specialty services while modernizing its health system. “Tribal health program oversight has allowed Choctaw Nation to strategically determine the best usage of funds in order to maximize health outcomes of our tribal members,” said Todd Hallmark, executive director of health for the Choctaw Nation, and Melanie Fourkiller, director of self-governance, in a joint statement to The Daily Yonder.