HEALTHCAREBENEFITPROPOSAL

[jimr812]

Dear John,

Below is a proposal for a new program to help osage who are troubled by emergency surgeries. I have some more ideas that I will share with you at the Dallas meeting. Thanks Again, Jim Ryan



OSAGE NATION EMERGENCY SURGICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM


　

A benefit of $2000.00 will be available to Osage citizens who undergo emergency surgery. The benefit will be paid directly to the hospital that performs the surgery.

　

The idea for this program came to me after I was recovering from an emergency appendectomy. It was reinforced after I received my first bill from the hospital for 77,000 plus. They were very careful to state at the end of the form that this was not the final bill. I am very fortunate to be covered by excellent insurance, and do have money in the bank to pay for my care. I am thinking of the members of the Osage Nation who might not be so lucky. For someone with no, or little insurance this kind of expense in an immediate bankruptcy. In fact one of the leading causes of bankruptcy in the United States is an unexpected medical procedure.

Since the money is paid directly to the hospital there is no chance for fraud. The program could be administered by the Clinical/Medical Services Program already in place. It should be funded by gaming proceeds.