Native News
Diabetes, Food is Medicine, Best and Worst Healthcare | Health Equity Round-Up, May 4
In the past few weeks, a diabetes pilot program on a reservation in Idaho has shown promise in healing a tribal nation from one of Indian Country’s most deadly chronic diseases; a study examining food as medicine is recognized with an award; and the Commonwealth Fund tells us which states are the best and worst for Native healthcare.
Diabetes Pilot
On the Nez Perce reservation, a 16-week pilot aimed at helping tribal members manage diabetes has shown promising results. Northwest Public Broadcasting reported that 17 of 19 participants lost weight, and half saw a drop in overall blood sugar.
Diabetes is one of the deadliest chronic illnesses in Indian Country, affecting one in six Native people. It’s one of the leading causes of death among Native Americans, and unmanaged diabetes can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, and sepsis.
The program provides cooking and fitness classes, behavioral and mental health support, and offers incentives to buffer participation dropout, including gas cards and groceries.
Tribal member McCoy Oatman told NWPB that he lost 80 pounds during the course of the pilot.
“I went from being prediabetic to where I’m just not even in the realm of that now,” McCoy said. “I didn’t really think that was ever gonna be possible for me.”
Grants
The Inter-Tribal Council of Michigan received a $25k grant for culturally relevant tools to support behavioral health services. The funds came from the Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation and were used to purchase 1,000 items, including smudge kits, the Seven Grandfather Teachings workbooks, Wellbriety books, beaded key rings and earring kits, and dream catcher kits. According to an announcement from the ITC, the materials will support individuals in cognitive therapy, counseling, case management, inpatient and outpatient treatment, psychiatric care, and recovery or transitional housing programs.
The grant is in step with growing trends in Indian Country tocenter culture in behavioral and mental health treatment, which has been proven to increase the efficacy of care in Native communities.
Award
A study led by Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma State University, and Washington State University has been recognized by the American Heart Association’s inaugural Food is Medicine Award. Called CHEERS, the study provided 200 participants with food boxes to determine if access to healthy foods could mitigate heart disease. Participants were reported to have improved systolic blood pressure, diet quality, and BMI.
Opening
Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC)celebrated the opening of a new hospital in Sitka, Alaska. According to SEARHC, the hospital is one of the largest healthcare investments in Southeast Alaska history, with costs nearing $300 million across two phases, including the hospital campus, caregiver housing, and related infrastructure.
Funding
Urban Indian Health Programs (UIHPs) could see 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) funding in the future.
While the Indian Health Services and tribally operated facilitiles recieve 100% FMAP funding, meaning they are fully reimbursed for Medicaid costs, UIHPs only receive 50-70% reimbursement.
At a finance committee meeting last month, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA) announced that her office is pursuing the FMAP funding for UIHPs, and Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Junior expressed his support.
Wort Healthcare
Healthcare systems across the US deliver the worst quality of care to Native communities than to any other demographic, according to the Commonwealth Fund 2026 State Health Disparities Report. The report examines state-by-state health outcomes and healthcare delivery among racial groups in the U.S. States with the best healthcare quality for Native people include New York, California, and Wisconsin, with the worst being North Dakota, Arizona, and South Dakota — states with high populations of Native people.