Two pieces of legislation passed in this year's Nevada legislative session are meant to directly benefit the health of Nevada’s 28 tribal nations.
Governor Joe Lombardo broke his own record at the end of this legislative session, vetoing 87 bills. But two Indigenous healthcare bills did get Lombardo's stamp of approval. Senate Bills 97 and 312 are designed to create more healthcare opportunities and increase tribal participation in getting appropriate healthcare for members.
Currently, tribes in rural areas are not getting all their healthcare needs met, compared to those living within a city, according to Angie Wilson, the tribal health director for the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony.
“I think there is a significant amount of disparity,” Wilson said. “The Indian Health Services, although there is a federal trust responsibility… we are the least funded federal healthcare delivery system across the nation.”
At the state level, SB 312, a bill Wilson wrote, will add a Tribal Health Authority Board that will contribute at least two bills to lawmakers for each legislative session. The Nevada legislature meets once every two years.
This bill also allows tribes to add members they believe would be eligible for Medicaid benefits. “In the simplest of terms, it really allows people to get access to Medicaid-covered services faster,” said Ann Jensen, the director of Nevada Medicaid.
SB 97 also aims to require more input from tribes to be included, by requiring the state to add a Tribal voting member to the Board of Directors of the Silver State Health Insurance Exchange.
Over the last 12 years, Wilson has seen the Reno-Sparks Indian Colony grow to the largest tribal health clinic in the state. “As a result of some of our advocacy and work with the state over the years, we have really been able to expand what [growth] looks like in our tribal communities,” Wilson said about adding support staff, additional equipment, and services for the clinic.
She adds that it’s important that services are financially accessible for their patients.
“A lot of times patients will say, ‘Just forget about it, just go ahead and pull my teeth, because I can’t afford the crown’,” she said. “Now they don’t have to worry about that at the tribal clinic, [which is] able to pick up those additional expenses.”
Guest: Angie Wilson, Reno-Sparks Indian Colony Tribal healthcare director; Ann Jensen, director of Nevada Medicaid
