Navajo Nation Referendum Election Fails – See Opinion Page For Navajo Leader’s Reactions

The referendum prohibiting the Navajo Nation from contracting IHS services failed to attract enough voters to pass. The Referendum Election, CAP-41-01, allowed the Navajo people to vote on whether the Navajo Health Care System Corporation should contract health care services which are currently provided by the Navajo Area Indian Health Services (NAIHS).

A majority (50% plus one vote) of the 87,158 registered Navajo voters, or 43,580, would have had to vote “yes” on the proposed measure in order for it to pass, prohibiting the Nation to contract for health care services.

However, only 20,181 voters turned out at the polls on June 19. Of these, 16,431 were in favor of the referendum.

Only 3,750 voted against the referendum, which could indicate that the majority of Navajo are against contracting for IHS services, which was authorized under Public Law 93-638, the Indian Self-Determination and Educational Assistance Acts. (The NHCSC met June 25, to discuss the outcome of the election. A statement had not been received from them at press time.)

638 Contracting would allow tribes to establish health standards to meet service levels acceptable to the community, redesign services and re-budget funds from one category to another and to receive their fair share of the IHS budget, to list just a few benefits. Further, traditional healing and holistic care will receive equal respect and consideration under NHCSC, allowing native healing a prominent role in health care decisions, based upon the beliefs and desires of each patient.

Earlier this year, Dr. Susie John, CEO of Tuba City Indian Hospital, enthusiastically supported 638 Contracting. She was especially attracted to the local control and input afforded each community, which was unavailable under rules and regulations governing Indian Health Services.

President Kelsey A. Begaye reported in his Executive Summary of July, 1999, that the Navajo Area IHS was not keeping pace with rising medical and payroll costs, and in fact received funding to address only 67% of the health needs of Navajo patients.

Statistics have shown that the Navajo people receive approximately $1,400 per year for health care while the average is about $3,200 per year for U.S. citizens.

According to a statement by Vice President Taylor McKenzie (see page 4) there exists a prevailing misconception that the Navajo Nation will operate and manage the health care system. He said the Navajo Health Care System Corporation (NHCSC) was established to run the system and that the NHCSC is not part of the Navajo tribal government.

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