The Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) has received notice its status to receive Medicare reimbursement is in jeopardy over governance and emergency services. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services told ANMC that as of July 12th the medical center no longer meets federal conditions of participation. Unless deficiencies are resolved, Medicare reimbursement would end in October. The loss of Medicare reimbursement for services would be a serious blow to the finances of the hospital. In the past, ANMC administrators have said Indian Health Service funding makes up 40 percent of their cost of health care. The center makes up the balance through Medicare, Medicaid, and private insurance reimbursements.
Communities in South Dakota will receive money from the US Department of Transportation to improve access to transit. The Coordinated Community Transportation Systems is receiving 527 thousand dollars. The organization will develop a transit plan to serve Native American reservations in South Dakota. The goal is to help people who need help getting to jobs, public services, education, and healthcare facilities.
Those are your headlines at this hour. I’m Colette Keith in the KIPI News center.
