Need for Funding for Two Additional NIHB Patient Navigators for the Mushkegowuk

Resolution No. 2017-09-16

Need for Funding for Two Additional NIHB Patient Navigators for the Mushkegowuk Region

WHEREAS, Non-Insured Health benefits (NHIB) present immense challenges to Mushkegowuk Community members in relation to eligibility, procedures to address denials and appeals, linkages, programs, and other administrative issues which surround the NHIB Program for First Nations;and

WHEREAS, AFN Resolution 52-2005 "First Nation Contribution to the blueprint on Aboriginal Health" assigned responsibility to each region to negotiate with First Nation and Inuit Health (FNIH) the components of the Blueprint and Aboriginal Health; and

WHEREAS, In October 2010, the Ontario Chiefs Committee on Health Coordination Unit (HCU) were successful in engaging tow NHIB Navigators under an eighteen-month contract; and

WHEREAS, The NIHB Navigators' mandate is to: (1) provide support and advocacy for First Nations community workers, Political Territorial Organizations (PTOs}, Independent First Nations (IFNs), Tribal Councils

(TCs) and other organizations, when requested; (2) create awareness of NHIB benefits and how to access them; and (3) strengthen relationships with health care providers, and provincial and federal partners; and

WHEREAS, Mushkegowuk people face many challenges to their health care, examples including: lack of transportation, lack of access to prescription medicines/Drug Benefit List (DBL), preauthorization criteria for some services, many health services are not located on First Nation reserves, individuals may have to commute great distances, and clients are often left to coordinate medical transportation to attend appointments outside of their community within specified timeframes, and in many cases, have to pay "out of pocket" for expenses incurred; and

WHEREAS, all these challenges and burdens can make it almost impossible for Mushkegowuk citizens to access health care services, and NIHB Navigators can assist patients with these obstacles and connect them to the service they require; and

WHEREAS, the Mushkegowuk Chiefs acknowledge the great importance and potential of the NIHB Navigator Program in assisting Mushkegowuk community members; and

WHEREAS, the Mushkegowuk Chiefs further acknowledge that significant

challenges with respect to access to the current Navigator program exists as is evidenced by the high number of NIHB related complaints received by the Mushkegowuk Health Policy Department (as Health Canada is aware);

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Mushkegowuk Chiefs in Assembly hereby affirm the urgent need to expand the current NHIB patient Navigator program to include a minimum if two additional patient Navigators in Mushkegowuk Territory to service the Mushkegowuk communities.

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