Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery Unveils New Vision of Lumbee River Health System
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Lumbee Tribal Chairman John L. Lowery Unveils New Vision of Lumbee River Health System
Hello Everyone,
In our first eight months as a fully federally recognized nation, this government has been having important conversations about what the future of health care can and should look like for the Lumbee Tribe. As we prepare to enter the world of Indian Health Service (IHS) and explore the opportunities available to us, our goal is not only to expand access to health care but also to create meaningful services and employment opportunities for our community.
As Chairman, it is my hope that we will position the Lumbee Tribe to become a Title V Self-Governance compacting tribe under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. Self-Governance will provide our Tribe with greater authority over program design, service delivery, and the allocation of federal health care resources. And it will also open the door to other important opportunities, including programs such as the 105(l) lease program, which can provide for facility-related cost reimbursement between IHS and the Tribe, as well as Contract Support Costs.
With this idea in mind, I am proud to introduce my vision that is the foundational concept of the Lumbee River Health System, or LRHS. I envision the Lumbee River Health System as the future health care system for the Lumbee Tribe a coordinated network designed to improve access to care, strengthen partnerships with our existing health care providers, address gaps in services, and create opportunities for our community. Over the next five years, we will work with the Tribal Council, community partners, health care professionals, and subject-matter experts to bring this vision to life. The LRHS will be built around two primary areas of focus.
The first part of the LRHS vision is to develop partnerships with Lumbee health care providers and other private-sector providers who serve our community. Through contractual partnerships, we will be able to bring participating providers under the LRHS umbrella while allowing them to maintain their professional independence and existing practices. LRHS would serve as a consistent resource and referral network, helping
connect Tribal citizens with trusted providers and ensuring that our community has greater access to care.
Under these agreements, LRHS could also utilize a shared-cost model to manage the financial and administrative responsibilities associated with Tribal health care reimbursements. Helping reduce the administrative burden placed on individual
providers while creating a more coordinated system for serving our citizens.
The second part of the LRHS vision is to take a comprehensive look at the health care needs across our Tribal territory and identify where gaps in services currently exist. Once those gaps are identified, we will work to develop solutions through partnerships, new programs, facilities, or the recruitment and training of health care professionals, to ensure that our community has access to the services it needs.
Our goal is bigger than simply providing health care today. We want to build a sustainable health care system that promotes wellness, fitness, prevention, and quality of life for generations of Lumbee citizens. The Lumbee River Health System represents
a long-term vision for how our Tribe can take greater responsibility for the health and well-being of our people. It will take time, partnerships, careful planning, and continued
progress toward self-governance, but I believe this is an important step in building the future our community deserves. This is the beginning of a vision for a healthier Lumbee
Nation, and I am excited about where we can take it together.
