WINDOW ROCK, Ariz., December 11, 2019 – Naat’áanii Development Corporation (NDC), a federally-chartered business development arm of the Navajo Nation, plans to contract with a national managed healthcare organization, Molina Healthcare, Inc., to work toward a managed healthcare offering under New Mexico’s Centennial Care Medicaid program.
Daniel Tso, Chairman of the Health, Education and Human Services Committee of the Navajo Nation Council representing the communities of Littlewater, Pueblo Pintado, Torreon, Whitehorse Lake, Baca/Prewitt, Casamero Lake, Ojo Encino, Counselor, says, “It’s time for the Navajo people to self-determine their own managed healthcare.” Chairman Tso further states that, “The Naat’áanii Indian Managed Care Entity (IMCE) will be a one-of-a-kind medicaid program specifically designed to improve access and quality of healthcare on the Navajo Nation.”
“We have been asked repeatedly by the Navajo leadership and the public regarding how exactly NDC and Molina will manage the IMCE. As such, we will launch a public education initiative to inform the Navajo people about this effort,” said NDC Chairman Manley Begay. Over the past few months NDC and Molina Healthcare have conducted education sessions with 638 hospitals, tribal leaders, and others. In the next few weeks the plan will be to roll out advertisements and brochures, acquire informative radio spots, develop a social media campaign, create a webpage which will obtain comments and provide feedback.
Currently, there are about 75,000 medicaid eligible Navajos living in New Mexico who often experience a heavier disease burden, including a 31 percent higher mortality rate than the rest of the U.S. population. “Navajos access care at lower rates and experience worse outcomes when compared to the average medicaid populations, and we must change those dire outcomes,” said Chairman Tso said.
Under provisions established by the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare, each state is allowed to structure and tailor their medicaid programs. In 2017, the State of New Mexico’s Medicaid program received approval by CMS to collaborate with Indian Managed Care Entities, including a pilot project with the Navajo Nation.
“That action by the state opened the door for Naat’aanii Development Corporation to begin planning for a managed healthcare entity with our partners Molina Healthcare who has 35 years of managed healthcare experience,” said NDC Interim CEO Robert Joe. “As a part of the New Mexico Medicaid program, the Naat’áanii IMCE will include the same benefits currently provided, plus culturally-appropriate benefits developed in consultation with healthcare advocates and professionals, tribal health providers, traditional healing practitioners, and other stakeholders,” said Joe.
Navajo Nation Council Delegate Carl Roessel Slater, who represents the communities of Lukachukai, Rock Point, Round Rock, Tsaile/Wheatfields and Tsé Ch’izhí, emphasized that, “A key component to this effort is to leverage the opportunity to diversify the Nation’s economy with a potentially strong, new revenue stream.” Further, Slater stated that, “Right now, managed healthcare revenues go to outside corporations and jobs are directed to non-Navajo communities. The establishment of the Naat’áanii IMCE is a move to direct revenues and jobs back to the Navajo Nation and its people. Most importantly, it will move the Navajo Nation forward in self-determining the delivery of healthcare for our citizens.”
The effort also will create economic opportunities through job creation, dividend payments to the Nation, and improved health conditions. New Mexico state health officials estimated that the proposed IMCE could generate up to $468 million in annual payments to the Navajo Nation if 50,000 people enrolled.
Manley A. Begay, Jr., EdD Chairman of the Board
Robert Joe, MEB BS Interim Chief Executive Officer
P.O. Box 4560 ⦁ Window Rock, Arizona 86515 ⦁ Tel: 520-301-8111
CONTACT: Mellor C. Willie
PHONE: 505.870.2006
EMAIL: mwillie@cheeconsulting.com
