Native American Tribes in Wisconsin Improve Health Care Delivery
Wisconsin Inter-Tribal managed care demonstration project
From 1996 to 2000, staff the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council developed and implemented a more coordinated, cost-effective approach to health care among Native American tribes in Wisconsin, based upon assessment and planning activities conducted by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Medical School.
The council, based in Lac du Flambeau, Wis., supports member tribes in expanding sovereignty and self-determination.
Key Results
The project resulted in the following improvements among the tribal health operations:
- Increased access to third-party revenues, with tribal benefits counselors helping to promote a 41 percent increase in Medicaid and Healthy Start applications over 18 months and gaining client eligibility in 82 percent of cases.
- Improved drug pricing.
- Greater leverage with laboratories.
- Closer communications among pharmacists.
- Better data.
- Improved clinical management.
- Stronger university-tribe ties.