Chief Hoskin, Deputy Chief Warner propose Public Health and Wellness Fund boost

TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner proposed increasing the annual earmark of the tribe's health revenue funding under the Cherokee Nation Public Health and Wellness Fund Act.

Chief Hoskin first announced the proposal at his State of the Nation address on August 30 in Tahlequah.

"The Public Health and Wellness Fund Act, which I signed in 2021, is perhaps the single most important law on the books for building healthy Cherokee communities," Chief Hoskin said during the address at Cherokee National Holiday. "Deputy Chief Warner and I will propose to the Council that we increase this fund to 10% so that we can keep making progress."

The law has generated millions of dollars for public health and behavioral health initiatives since Chief Hoskin signed it into law in 2021. PHWFA sets aside 7% of the tribe's third-party health insurance revenue in a special fund for such investments.

Under Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner's proposal, the set aside would immediately increase the fund to 10%.

Other proposed amendments clarify eligible spending categories, require the Principal Chief to create a yearly spending framework and authorizes an annual fund of $1.7 million for Council member directed capital partnership projects in their districts.

PHWFA programs and investments range from small grants to communities and Cherokee citizen focused non-profits, programs to expand access to healthy foods and physical fitness, to drug and alcohol addiction treatment programs to large capital investments such as the new Mary L. Holland Carson Wellness Centerin Stilwell and improvements to rural water systems.

"For the last year, leaders and staff in our administration have been drafting new programs, visiting communities and planning new projects, particularly focusing on communities that have been historically under resourced," said Deputy Chief Warner. "What we have found is an abundance of opportunities to make a positive generational impact in the quality of life of our citizens, as well as that of their families, friends and neighbors."

Chief Hoskin says the newly named "Public Health and Wellness Fund" will generate over $40 million annually to fund operating expenses, capital projects and grants all while continuing to build a surplus for long term projects and planning.

"The Public Health and Wellness Fund Act has been delivering for the Cherokee people," said Council Speaker-designate Johnny Jack Kidwell. "The Council is eager to examine the proposed amendments and work with Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner to make the PHWFA even stronger."

"We have an opportunity here to go even further on issues that require even more of Cherokee Nation's attention and resources," said Councilor Dora Smith Patzkowski. "Those issues include improving housing conditions, expanding access to safe places for families to gather and improving public safety in communities that have few other resources."

Last year the Hoskin/Warner administration enacted a three year, renewable, $40 million package for housing and community building infrastructure under the tribe's Housing Jobs and Sustainable Communities Act. Chief Hoskin expects the amendments to the PHWFA to similarly boost investments in public housing, indoor and outdoor recreation and public safety by an additional $30 million during that same time period.

"If the Council approves the proposed increase we will decidedly be in an era where we refuse to wait around on the federal government to come to the rescue of our communities," said Chief Hoskin. "HJSCA and now the newly proposed PHWFA reflect major investments without using a single penny of federal funding and will return a generational wellness dividend to the Cherokee people."

Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner's amendments to the Public Health and Wellness Fund Act will be heard by the Council's Health committee on September 15 and if approved could be signed into law by Chief Hoskin later this month.