1983-08-01 Char-Koosta News

              PABLO, MONTANA 59855
Salish-Xootenai Community College ISSN:0528-8592
Box 1020 Roñan, MT 59364
OF THE FLATHEAD INDIAN RESERVATION, WESTERN MONTANA
VOLUME 12 NUMBER 6 THE MONTH OF THE HUCKLEBERRY AUGUST 1, 1983
Changes proposed in health care policy
The Reservation community was unpleasantly surprised last January when it received four hours' notice that certain Tribal member relatives were no longer eligible for free health care with the Indian Health
Service.
More changes are in the wind. The following article from the NIHB Health Reporter tells about some. Please note that the article tells about a proposed change. It isn't law yet; it may never even get that far.
We hope, with the help of the Tribal Health Department, to keep you posted on public comment periods prior to any new regulations being adopted.
WASHINGTON, D.C. -r' In a major shift proposed by President Reagan's Office of Management and Budget, individual Indians could be required to pay for the health care services they receive from the Indian Health Service beginning October 1. The recommendation is part of the
Road closure guidelines
The Tribal Council voted July 12 to approve a policy statement to guide its road closure program. The statement appears on page 26.
Please note that closure/open request forms are available at the BIA forestry offices in Pablo. Call 676-4700 if you have any questions.
Administration's austere 1984 budget request for IHS that counts upon an unprecedented $70 million in reimbursements and also calls for the elimination of funds for the Community Health Representative program, urban Indian health projects, and construction of Indian health facilities.
As proposed by OMB Director David Stockman, fees charged to Indian patients for their health services would be one of several resources used to augment the IHS budget in 1984. In a February 23 letter accompanying the 1984 budget recommendations for the Department of Health and Human Services, Stockman stated: "As has been agreed to during the development of the 1984 Budget Indian Health Service funding is to be supplemented with charges to individuals and third-party reimbursements (e.g. Medicaid/Medicare,
(Continues on page 5)
Portland to shut down GA
From F.A.D.
Because of lack of funding, the General Assistance7 Department will be shut down as of August 31,1983. We expect to be refunded for the new fiscal year in October, 1983. The General Assistance Program will not be accepting applications from August 31 to October 1, 1983.
If supplementary funding is received we will notify the public as soon as possible.