Lt. Gov. Antone serves as Panelist for State of Reform Health Policy Conference

Emma Hughes
Gila River Indian News

The State of Reform Health Policy Conference held at the Renaissance Phoenix Downtown on Oct. 24, featured Gila River Indian Community’s Lt. Gov. Monica Antone as a panelist.

State of Reform works to bridge the gap between the worlds of healthcare and health policy while the conference offers a chance for healthcare professionals to hear from and interact with the most influential healthcare executives, policy makers, and thought leaders who are the informed opinion leaders and the go-to people in their field of expertise from across the region.

Lt. Gov. Monica Antone and Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) Deputy Director of Community Engagement & Regulatory Affairs, Marcus Johnson served on the panel: “Issues & Initiatives in Tribal Healthcare”, which covered Arizona’s significant Native population that faces its own unique set of challenges in accessing and receiving healthcare, meriting distinct approaches and solutions for tribal healthcare in the state.

Moderated by Health Management Associates, Associate Principal Kathleen Cahill, Lt. Gov. Antone provided insight to the current issues tribal communities face in healthcare such as substance abuse, mental and behavioral health, and the fraudulent sober-living home crisis which has severely affected tribal members and healthcare facilities in numerous ways. The panel also shared key initiatives and work underway to improve services for tribal members throughout the state.

Lt. Gov. Antone shared the Community’s on-going work and initiatives to provide members with better access to healthcare through telehealth, which debuted during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then, the Community continues to work towards ensuring its members have the service and access they need for quality healthcare.