Navajo Nation officials say they are on their way toward managing their own federally funded Medicaid program. The nation began looking into creating its own Medicaid program about five years ago because of issues some members had with other health care programs available in New Mexico, Arizona and Utah.
Navajo officials are optimistic that the tribe can sustain its own Medicaid program, even though a feasibility study wasn't as optimistic.
Tribal officials say more than 100,000 members of the tribe are currently eligible for Medicaid, but many of them do not take advantage of the services because of the complications that frequently accompany them
Tribal members often have to travel long distances or go to certain clinics to receive the services.
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Information from: The Daily Times, http://www.daily-times.com
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.