Comment: the clinic is run by the tribe any cmplaints will be handled like the finances at the tribe. secretly and the one complaining will be discriminated against and will not have bills paid. the clinic is very unprofessional you see L's daughers snagging rite at work. the blonde one dont even work always in pharmacy watching her man e.w. holding each other no one can say anything they will be fired. the other one is always on sick leave. and they are the only 2 that got raises. how stuped

Comment: you cant even get an appt even if you have a serious condition. they will make an appt for you 2 months down the road and by then you could be dead. then they get mad at you because you are sick and they have that look on their faces like well dont bother us. we are just doing what we are told to do.unexperenced workers always on break and stella always gone. workers coming in at 10 or 10.30 then leaving for lunch rite at noon. cant ever get the meds rite. no one ever answers the phones.

Comment: whats going on in the minne-tohe health center? ask donna b,lovette v, i guess they run everythng there.. they make the big money!! we cant even get the right meds in ws..our elders are in pain and cant even see the dr. when they finally do they haffta go all the way to nt to get their medicine and where are the workers that are suppose to answer the phones in nt????? HELLO, HELLO, thot so no one answers at all AGAIN

Comment: When my mother was on Dialysis, we would have hard times trying to fill her meds. and that when IHS was in charge. Now my husband and i are diabetics we now have a hard time tryin to get our meds fill or sometimes they dont even put the right meds in our bags. Also when we call for an appt clinic says its a two month away wait and that just for a refill on our meds.. Our Tribe dont give a SHIT about us. All they care about is a paycheck, I see it when I go in the clinic.

Comment: What happened to the millions we were going to make off third party billing. IHS refers people out and then refuses to pay so it damages your credit. The TBC used people to get these 638 contracts but these people no longer work for the tribe. If you look at some of the programs nothing has changed. The employees have increased but the services have not. The doctors misdiagnose illness and no recourse for the patient. The other problem is the Government is getting off the hook and the tribe should not be wasting money on personel.

Comment: IHS aint perfect, but the fleas come with the dog! Lets say u got a five pack of gum and ten people needed gum. Do you take two for yourself and tell em to fight for the rest? Well on a larger scale, Minne Tohe is doing what they can without enough resources. And quit hating just becuz they WORK! They're human too, maybe you caught em on a bad day. Damn. Too much ankle biting from the public. Ever think YOUR attitude needs to be adjusted? Quit smoking, drinking, overeating, and maybe you wouldn't have to reley on IHS

Comment: IHS only has until July 28th, 2010 to turn in their reports to the investigation that they are currently under by Senator Dorgan. All that is said here will be sent to his office to help with the investigation. A lot is going on, this is only one investigation that is on the way. More info? and want to directly comment also? Go to: http://thehill.com/blogs/healthwatch/other/106393-senate-authorizes-subpoena-power-in-indian-health-service-investigation (Their is a comment section on at the end.)

Comment: That's the same attitude I get from the employees at the clinic. Thank you 'nuu-shee' for your support for your native people. People like you don't need to be working at all. I hope I will never actually meet up with you. I pray for you.. shameful human being.

Comment: I think the idea behind this comment section was to point out complaints that could be taken to the people who are investigating IHS. We are creating division again but it is probably the same people who keep posting names and situations that want to keep us divided. Innervoice please do not post any more comments or remarks unless they are relevant to positive change. Also please limit the campaigning by individuals who take up most of the time and space.

Comment: nuu-shee, sure live up live up 2 your name, ass. IHS aint perfect. U got that right. Dog should not have fleas in the first place. Who the hell NEEDS gum? Dumb analogy. “is doing what they can without enough resources?” Gee, wonder WHY. Work and having a job R 2 different things. They sure don’t act human! Talk about attitude adjustment. Don’t have to rely on IHS? That’s like saying who needs air to breath.

Comment: If you're the TBC you take 4 pieces of gum and divide up the last piece. Then you blame it on the people. I hear we are over a hundred million in debt and the TBC says it was given to the people. If we are cooporation like some claim then our CEO's should be fired for not making us a profit. We really need third party billing or will a relative have to get a contract to do this?

Comment: you can tell "nuu-shee" works at the clinic thats how ignorant they are. always visiting and eating. coming and going like they have no supervisor oh thats rite they dont. the meds are always wrong and always changing our dosage without telling you. workers always sitting in the waiting room visiting. when someone is sick and or in pain they have no consideration for them. i hope nuu-shee never gets sick and get treated bad. seriously people the clinic needs a major overhaul and some type of supervision

Comment: its people like you that make matters worse just like one bad apple U KNOW THE REST why would you want to be called an ass i think its becuse you are a lost soul. and talking about mashugaz hope you know what you say because they are holy to and know things you only wish they did dont be hateful one of these days you are going to be on the other side of the table and you will hurt just like every one else think bfore you say something didnt your parents teach you anything

Comment: How long is going to take to do the new hospital. Is it true that the person in charge of this project is getting paid 85 dollars an hour so he really doesn't want it completed? Does anyone know what will be done with the IHS houses and buildings if they finish the hospital? I hope the TBC keep our youth in mind and use it as a rehab compound for our young people instead of sending them away or locking them up.

Comment: What natives don't realize is the concept of personal responsibility. That was taken away by years of forced dependency on the govt. It really screwed with our thinking and made us dependents like we continue to be today. Natives, you ever notice how much we eat? How much pop we drink? Healthy people actually try eat healthy on a DAILY BASIS. Its called being personally responsible for your health. Maybe one day we'll put 2 & 2 together and see the link in our eating/drinking habits & diabetes.

Comment: What NUSHEE is trying to inform, is that the underlying cause of our health problems is our diet & capitalistic influence. I agree with her, however, this does not excuse how the IHS clinic is operated & the personnel attitude there. Facts are facts, & that’s what's required to resolve the issues here.

Comment: I am ND EVOC, with patch and credentials. In Kansas 2005 & 6, I volunteered for ambulance driver. They told me everyone in the unit has 2 B EMT Certified, so I enrolled in their EMS 4 month long rigorous training program. Proper application of medication is essential & serious business when dealing with the life of a patient. All experiencing improper prescription of medication by our clinic are encouraged to list their names. YOU, can help put a stop to this fiasco.

Comment: but remember you stole them wads of cash when you worked soft count?

Comment: Pied Piper, I think that is an awesome idea to turn that housing into a treatment facility. Maybe teach them life skills at the same time and learn to live and make money on thier own too. Richard, I would hate for one of my relatives to get a bad perscription. Especially since there are so many side effects. If the wrong dose is given, that could lead to a disaster. People please make misdosing known.

Comment: Committee on Indian Affairs United States Senate 838 Hart Office Building Washington, DC 20510 comments@indian.senate.gov Phone: (202)-224-2251 Majority Fax: (202)-228-2589 Minority Fax: (202)-224-5429 There is only 12 more days to go for the IHS Investigation people...Here is a direct way to report what you know that could help the "Senate of Indian Affairs Committee" with this investigation. I hope it all gets straightened out, we need to preserve our well being in everyway. R future..

Comment: ok hidatsa language lesson #1: Nu shee means YOUR ASS. So what nu shee was saying was YOUR ass. because just oushe means ass. and NU shee means YOUR ass! got it? Good.

Comment: Get rid of the reservations! they dont work, it's just a tool for our people to fail, tribal government has not worked and will never work unless there is a change to the current constitution there are too many tribal members related to each other that only care about their families, our people have learned to be greedy,jealous and hateful of each other and unfortunatly some of our childern pick this right up. Our tribal members need to be taught how to make it for themselves from day 1 and not feel that because they are on the reservation they will have things handed to them. I may be wrong but last i heard IHS was not running Minne Tohe for a few years now, I guess the tribe with all their education on health care was going to turn things around, we need leaders and supervisors that are well qualified to these positions then and only then will things change for the better.

Comment: Ok people are you happy now? Chairman Levings annouced he will not be running for a second term. So who is brave enough to run out there? Better start campaigning.

Comment: Truth be told people sniff pills up their nose after they make the pills into powder and do that. They should investigate the doctors who prescribe painkillers and valiums and methadones because even kids 10 years old are buying them from people who always have these dangerous narcotics. Why are so many people "in pain" and why are the doctors so quick to prescribe them and not fix the health issue? Granted there are legitimate patients with real pain but really, why is this happening so much?

Comment: Can't get rid of the reservations cuz natives don't know how to live without being coddled by the govt. we don't understand self sufficiency through our own labors. rather we rely on more federal dollars coming in to sustain our "businesses". we dont have to show up for work or even work that hard cuz the business aint goin under cuz because really its just a vehicle for spending federal dollars. another form of federal welfare. the money will come in and then they can restock/reopen again.

Comment: imagine no reservation. thats like throwin a child off a boat and saying sink or swim. no federal govt life jacket. no IHS. no housing. no tribal "jobs". or worse yet no GA!

Comment: You all depend on others to sustain your existance. Make your own way in this world. Contribute to society in a positive way other than expelling carbon dioxide...............

Comment: They shouldn't even have an IHS they should make the people who have made up jobs on the that work for TAT pay their own insurance out of their check at least we'll know that part of the made up job money is going to a real cause. Then we can focus on the real people who need health care like the elders and younger children. And stop wasting money on people who just abuse it. Now there wasting millions of dollars on a hosptial so they can make up more jobs that no one will do right the people with education won't even get hired unless your related to someone on the council.. you got my vote! CLOSE THE REZ!

Comment: I hope most of you have did your part on helping the "Senate of Indian Affairs" by directly commenting to them or calling or even writing you letters to assist in the areas of need of investigating. If you have not done so already...please do you part and help describe what is going on here. This is our one chance and we only have 8 days left...we are all leaders here and need to look out for each other.

Comment: Ok. Health Care 101. You get sick or injured you need help. right? Then, you go to your local IHS. Then, you wait for six hours to get seen by a doctor who gives you ibuprofen and a pep talk! Now, is that really helping anybody or is it justifying a paycheck for a lot of people? I heard, when i was living in montana, "you go to IHS to die" meaning: they dont help! I say try it yourself. Everybody go to IHS for some type of health problem report on this site as to what happened. Now, keep it mind, the U.S. Gov't is obligated to provide health care to MHA Nation people in exchange for the LANDS they took in the Ft. Laramie Treaty! Now, if your NOT enrolled in MHA Nation, stay out of it!

Comment: This Tribal election 2010, it‘s obvious the People are tired of the same old thing. Time after time it changes, but it stays the same. Recently the change has been to the worst. It’s time for authentic change to occur this time around. Aug. 10th is the deadline, the “One” you’ve been waiting for will be there for all of US. THEN, ONLY YOU CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Comment: Can anyone tell me why TBC members are always giving away star quilts to employees (like IHS) for doing their job?

Comment: I just find it really hard to believe that this is the best we can do in providing health care. Our Ceo spends half her time at the KDU and not in the role of administer. Our doctors are on break half the day no quota case load. The front desk is a joke bring Alfreda back at least she answered the phone. Hurry up and wait for Donald Duck and Mickey Mouse? They need to be reminded that they are there for the people not admin leave or clocking in and hanging out at home on the housing compound.

Comment: I guess the sick, sad thing about our health care is that we used to be able to blame the IHS and the feds for inadequate funding and inept administrative complacency in not meeting our needs. Now its our own tribe doing this to us? There should not be one political appointee allowed in the day to day operations of the delivery of these services. I mean I get the last cough drop and my bill paid because my dad or uncle is on the council? Really is this they way we want things prioritized?

Comment: I guess the sick, sad thing about our health care is that we used to be able to blame the IHS and the feds for inadequate funding and inept administrative complacency in not meeting our needs. Now its our own tribe doing this to us? There should not be one political appointee allowed in the day to day operations of the delivery of these services. I mean I get the last cough drop and my bill paid because my dad or uncle is on the council? Really is this they way we want things prioritized?

Comment: Does anyone know how to get a copy of the last credentialing or inspection of our facility? We are billing so I take it we must be providing a standard of care on paper anyways. I am just curious as to what the reports say we need to work on and what has been done to get things the way they need to be. Also, what are the current guidelines for contract health to pay outside referrals? Who is in charge of that?

Comment: Wow, I have now heard, they are charging tribal members for services. From previous experience working for IHS, not Tribal, in billing, a competent, excellent co-worker and myself billed out and received back 3 million dollars just in medicaid in a week. Now they're "outsourcing" this job to another company. Without my permission, they charged bc/bs and I got a bill. I recently worked in CHS and they had their hands tied.

Comment: CHS has their hands full with a $200,000 budget from TBC/Marcus, just one person can use that much $ in one episode of care. It's scary to think of how "admin" takes care of business. It was too shady for me so I left, no way am I going to go down for embezzlement, but it's the norm for Fort Berthold. It's true, some staff needs to do their "JOB" and be professioanl, For one, who's gonna take account for those who feel the true impact? Not the current staff.

Comment: Why is our health care system getting worse rather than better with IHS out of the loop? Why are there so many closed sessions for the clinic durng Health & Human or council meetings? Everything, is decided behind closed doors. There should not be a motion or vote during closed sessions. hmm no published audits, budgets, six months late minutes? Print those in MHA Times on a timely basis!!!

Comment: On a scale of 1-10 its a 5 Monday- Friday and a Big Fat 0 on the weekends, holidays and admin leave days!The people deserve better. Its pretty simple to figure out why. LACK OF LEADERSHIP. Who is in charge? Who makes the decisions there? Who calls the shots? Stella? McRill? Ardel? Amy? Lovetta? Lets give them all a raise and a star quilt! Instead embracing the opprtunity of the 638 contract and proving we could do better than IHS these fine people really have delivered!! Blew it!!

Comment: what the hell is going on at the ihs clinic they cant even pay bills. too many fat people getting their stomachs stapled. people r getting collections letters. too many employees wasting time and money . emplyees coming to work at 10 and and always at the casino. the secretarys are making 28 to 39 bucks and hour mite as well be a doc. somebody check these bozos out, always visiting in the lobby and saying they are overworked. what a joke.

Comment: I think we took Doctor Wilson for granted! Now the tribe kicks in 8 million bucks a year (above and beyond the 638 contract)and with all that money and technology we have today we still can't make it work right? Too many layers of beaucracy and not enough advocacy,ambulances or primary providers for our rural communities. 9-5 Mon-Fri services are just not working. What can we do to make the best of what we do have? What a run away train.. where is the stimulus package for healthcare reform?

Comment: Maybe it would be better to just provide health inssurance for every enrolled member? What would that cost? Hmm 8 million plus 5 million+ = 13 million bucks whats the monthly cost for health insurance multiplied times the number of enrolled members? We already have how many tribal employees with coverage? Too radical? Crazy to think we can't even manage or finance the clinic we already have and investing more into something that is NOT WORKING! If we are committed to this lets do it right!

Comment: Its a real shame that there so many healthcare disparities. We have serial killers and child molesters incarcerated that get better health care than Grandma and Grandpa do back on the rez? Maybe we need a tribal insurance commisioner? Maybe we need to raise the bar on our expectations of the state insurance commissioner? Ever seen that guy running around here making sure our rural health care needs are met? Maybe because most of us don't have insurance> LOL We get what we pay for and vote for!

Comment: HELLO DONNA B IS GETTING PAID BIG BIG BUCKS TO BILL EACH AND EVERY ENROLLED MEMBER so if you do have any insurance you might as well go to an outside Dr. because you are being billed for your meds to ask donna and lovette v. they are are the ones who set that up so donna can make big bucks there is no ihs the clinic is all TRIBAL they are billing enrolled members for everything visits and meds but what we would like to know is where is the money going for all these charges? can you answer that donna and lovette not hating anyone but just telling the TRUTH

Comment: Maybe its time to put together a real MHA Nation Health Board!We might not all get what we want but may find what we need. In the Art of War some leaders choose to rule out of a constant state of chaos. It perpetuates the "YOU NEED ME TO FIX IT" climate. Some egos are fed with insecurities.Tired of excuses an deciet. Who made things this way? Who will accept responsibility and have the courage to say we really screwed that up? WE CAN DO BETTER! Lets start with getting people who really care.

Comment: In response LISTEN UP. Just wondering when that was authorized for the billing? The clinic has always billed insurance companies... Now what you are saying is they are billing individuals, is that correct? So, this place is already a sink hole of 8 million plus in tribal funds. in addition to the 638 contract funds and we still can't make ends meet? Maybe we need a financial audit for this place? What are we paying for? GOLD STAR SERVICE? Supersize those meds? Fair and speedy appoinments?

Comment: If your mom or dad was on the TBC, you wouldn't need to go to IHS. You bank roll would be soo fat, you could get top notch health care. not to mention, you would be less likely to get sick in the first place cuz all your basic needs are meeting like its cool. CORRUPTION makes ft. berthold go around. Let's put the less fortunate first! This Health care facility belongs to the tribe, keep it that way.

Comment: With all the oil money on the rez and if managed right there's no reason why our tribe would be able to pay full preiums for BC/BS insurance for all the enrolled memeber then we can go to any DR, clinic, or hosptial.

Comment: The insanity of this whole thing is that the Helth and Human Committee don't know whats going on in that place. When stella is at work and reports to them she gives them half truths and even out right lies to their faces. Covers up incompetence there. The biggest problem there is that it has turned into a politacal playground of appoinments. It has turned into a place for all the politically connected tribal workers that were fired from other departments just recycle and reassigned there...

Comment: In Response to Half Breed. I agree in the power of choice as well. We should be able to choose our own providier for our health care. Problem with that is the economic impact of all of our health dollars would be sent to Williston, Minot, Bismark, Dickinson. Those are jobs for our our people. Local services for our people. This is a treaty responsibility that our own tribal leaders are relinquishing. Why? Get it right! Do it Right! We can do it but need the right leadership!

Comment: I agree. Treaty responsibility. The U.S. Gov't is supposed to get Ft. Berthold a Hospital. Because they flooded out the old hospital in elbowoods. And, it would be nice if they had a 25 HR. Emergency Room there. Not all health care problems happen Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 11:30 am and 1:15 pm to 4:30 pm. Get Real. We need a REAL Health Care facility.

Comment: This place is BAD MEDICINE!! Who the hell is passing out all those pills? This should be investigated. Way too many narcotics on the streets. If we need that many pain killers maybe we should be in the hospital with nursing care or in detox somewhere! Who is counting the pain meds and prescribing them? Who is getting high? There needs to be an audit in that pharmacy. Why cant we get common over the counter meds or antibiotics but it glory daze for all the pill heads?

Comment: We have no tolerance for pain? Too many people sell those pills, crush them snort them or even shoot them up. With all the diabetics it all to easy for druggies to get syringes. When is the last time the workers at this clinic have had a drug test done? Some of them look like they are on the job high. Pinching pills? Is there a fox in the hen house there? Compare our inventory and prescriptions with other similarly situated clinic pharmacies. I would dare say that there is misuse and abuse here.

Comment: Whats up with Dr. Mgrill? Did he flip out or what? Rumor on the street is he is cuttn outta here before big inspection there at clinic? Kinda scary to think we trust people with the lives of our people ( especialliy our chidren and elders) then they end end up pulling that crap! Pretty weak Phil... I once thought you had a good heart. I hope you get your just deserves for the legacy you have left us to clean up!! Musta got too close to the money and politics?

Comment: The main reason we dont have a 24/7 clinic emergency room is that we got 30 people that cant show up to work even mon--fri !!! The doctors are too lazy to take call and weekend shifts. They never had it better than to work there see 5 paitents a day and take 2 days to sign off on everyone elses paper work. Our tribe has been contracting those docs for quite a few years they have big fat contracts with lots of perks. They pretty much tell our TBC what they will or wont do pick and choose patients

Comment: I cant get my meds without seeing a doctor first! I cant get an appointment to see the doctor!! Its worse now than it ever was before. Walk in wait all day and still not get help. I guess the only thing that keeps me going is when I see others worse off than me and thank God for what I do have. I have to miss work to sit out there for nothing. Half the time they mess up my dose even lose my medicine. Hear them complaining about sick people rolling their eyes huffing around JUST MISERABLE MEAN!

Comment: Gee what about that mean Fox lady working at the clinic. Just acts like we want to go there for fun or just to harrass her. Bad attitude for a nurse. Her supervisor should visit with her about how she treats people. When she acts like that it makes it so all the other workers there can be some kind of way or treat people bad too! I know its not easy working with sick people but if she dont like what she is doing then maybe she should be reassigned somewhere else. Just uncalled for spitefulness!

Comment: my Concern with Minne Tohe is that the people who worked there in the past were professsional. they had badges to show they were employees of the clinic, but to date since the tribe took over. None of the employees that work there look professional or dress professional, they look like patients themselves, scraggly sweats, actually they look dirty and dont look like they should be working there. they need to have a dress code, my gosh. and some of the people they hired gosh i would even trust them with my medical chart, prolly just goin thru certain individuals telling there business. and some of the workers that work there snort pill,meth heads/potheads my gosh.. these people take care of us, under the influence?????yea the tribe dont care bout its people or sick patients!

Comment: i just wanted to comment on the people they hire to work at the Clinic should be drug tested. some of the woman in the nursing program that graduated/instructed are meth/pill popper/potheads. i think the clinic should drug test each new employee..comon these are people who are triaging patients, filing our records, they might mess up someones record be putn wrong info in charts/file being under the influence! another thing is the people that answer the phones sound like rezzers! my gosh have proper phone ettiquette!

Comment: so if Dorgan says there is 'gross mismanagement with IHS' what do we call what the 638 plan is doing 'grosser mismanagement'? who cares about us? Then there is the hospital...another trinity????

Comment: Exactly! Well said wondern. However; I believe it is not going to be a hosipital but rather a 9-5 Mon-Fri clinic. Change of scenery but not a change of style? I thought originally the 638 contract had language that kept politics out of healthcare. Thought we were going to have "HEALTH BOARD". My bad.. I thought wrong. We doubled employee expense... same crappy service. More political appointees there than a porcupine has quills!!Sad but I think its gonna get worse before it gets better there.

Comment: Ok, first of all, if Ms Reed can really bill and collect $1 Million in a week- what are we worried about?!? She should get back to work so that she can save everyone! With that kind of money, I mean really! We could all get gastrics and plastic surgery or whatever we want! But in reality- there isnt even enough patients on this reservation much less patients on Medicaid to generate that kind of revenue. Can you spell fraud? And what do you expect as far as employees go? Since the 638 contract the clinic is filled with uneducated, inexperienced relatives of Tribal officials. Education and experience are a thing of the past. The 638 contract could have worked if the council had been true to their word and kept politics out of it!!!

Comment: Oh! Excuse me- I stand corrected- $3 Million!! in a week. Wow...maybe Aberdeen Area Office should get ahold of her so that she can get all IHS facilities in the black!

Comment: Shhh maybe this rez would be a better place if everyone took this energy and did something positive with it!!!

Comment: The most frustating part of all this is our clinic is operating on gossip, rumor, heresay and innuendo. Poor leadership, no "functional" leadership! Half of them don't know their supervisor or have a supervisor with no backbone. I want a copy of that 638 contract!! Think we should sue IHS like Belcourt! Bet if things were done like they were said they would be done in the original contract it wouldnt be so screwed up. Our tribal council don't know jack about health care! unethical/ wasteful!

Comment: Wow, thank you for your snide remark. I'm going to school and getting work experience off the reservation. Bringing in that $$ was a feat for us and we're proud of it even though it was 10 years ago. It was an example of what could be. Give my family housing and I will do the work. My pursuit of education is going to help me help others. So belittle me, talk bad about me, it only makes me stronger. Gowitz

Comment: My biggest thanks to the Minne Tohe staff who work extra hard, who are professional and perform their work with no complaints. My thanks to you for helping those on Fort Berthold. With your support and energy, we may be able to work positively together. Lots of work needs to be done. One day, things will change for the better. Many blessings on you and your families. Not everyone is the same and their eyes will open one day to your situation. Until that day, stay strong!

Comment: You know what? You are right, and I apologize. I handled that wrong but I think I took offense to your comment also. As a former IHS employee I do know that collections in Fort Berthold have always been behind as far as billing goes so that would probably account for the $3 Million in MCD claims. As far as I can remember I think AAO mandated all backbilling be billed by 2007. What I can tell you is that IHS has the right to recover third party insurance monies and that is how they are able to refer patients and have specialists come in. That is why/how they bill Native Americans private insurances. I like the comment from Bored (as well as your last post)because really, maybe if we could all be more positive as patients, employees, supervisors, etc, then maybe we could change the overall attitude here. Start with ourselves....

Comment: walk a mile in someone else's shoes and you wont be so apt to complain. how are you all on the computer so much? dont you have jobs? too much time on your hands.

Comment: Yes, it will take alot of hard work to make things better at OUR clinic. Some have chosen this place to play little kid games and musical chairs for political made up jobs. Healthcare is SERIOUS BUSINESS. Too many people were given positions of authority and jobs they are not qualified or apparently care to do. We dont nedd bullies , manipulators, intimidators or politicians there. We need people who care! We need the administration to be accountable. Be fair and treat people good. No more games

Comment: If things were the way they should and could be then we would not have to resort to Inner Voice. There are some good ideas here to make things better. Take those and leave the rest. We have been walking miles and miles to other healthcare providers because we are not getting the services our people need and deserve. WE are paying for those moccassins and they dhould be running to provide us with those services. Our people should feel welcome there and greeted in a courteous professional manner.

Comment: I agree with Coup Counter. Some of the workers there think they are touchable because they have family on the tribal council. They think they dont have to show up on time (if at all). They think they can be mean spirited to people that dont feel good. That one nurse is the wicked witch of the west and is as lazy as they come. They get paid more than even most of the nurses that work in Minot, or Bismark!

Comment: I called in to get my refill a while back. They wouldnt let me visit pharmacist. I told them what I needed and even spelled the medicine for them but they still screwed it up!! It was bad before worse now. We should seek legal recourse through the provisions of that 638 contract. If its a govt. contract for services and we are not getting the services then is it a breech of contract? I started going to another Dr. and what a change in how they treat me and my family! I'm Happy despite the drive!

Comment: When and where is the next innervoice meeting? I would like to see the faces that go with these comments.

Comment: I went to Mini-Tohe as a Walk-In last week for an injured shoulder. Spent most of my time there waiting. Dr. was very busy from one patient to another. Two hrs later, Dr. spent lest then one minute with me. Assessed my injury, then asked if it hurt to move my arm outward, like this he showed me. I replied “Yes”. Dr. says, “Then don’t do that” and sent me home with some pain pills.

Comment: Richard and other Innervoice members. I would like to see a link for Law Enforcement on this page as well. You have IHS and Oil and now the Chairman. I would appreciate to see that chat forum on this site too! Keep it UP! GOOD JOB and wonderful to see a site like this for enrolled member who do not live on Ft. B to still see what is all going on with our people.

Comment: So I hear Dr Baker is coming back? Hope he is in it for the long run. Hope he remembers what it felt like to be a poor enrolled member. Welcome home relative!

Comment: Why is it that people post comments like that? Mr. Dr. Baker became a Dr. to help Ft. Berthold. I beleive it was Mr. Ex-Former Chairman Tex Hall that ran him off. Dr. Baker was wanted by the Ft. Yates rez and appreciated him. He did good for himself with his own practice. If he is coming back I hope they let him do his job as a Dr. otherwise Im sure he has nothing to lose and will go back to his practice. At leat he has a connection with the patients that come in to see him.

Comment: The Wells name don't hold up at the clinic no more.... you have to sleep with the director of your program to keep doing what ever you want

Comment: Thought that was a cood comment. Welocome home Dr. Baker. Stay humble. One heeck of a mess to clean up but you can handle it.

Comment: We should seek class action suit against the IHS! They allowed a 638 contract that is ineffective. They also have ditched the people of Fort Berthold and continue to let health desparities grow. They seek to just renig on trust responsibilities. They knew we could not handle this and yet neglected to give us, our dysfuntional management and leadership full discloser to make an informed decision concerning the whole matter. All the blank checks and broken promises, like rent a wreck healthcare

Comment: This is in response to the comment about "The Wells name don't hold up at the clinic no more." Its kinda funny that you would say such funny lies. This person don't have to sleep with ANYONE to get where he is at. It's called hard work, education, and a good personality.

Comment: Our people are dying and need help! Meanwhile back at the ranch everything is still "All About Me"? Can't our leaders see the big picture? There will be budget cuts around the corner I Guarantee that. Unfortunately, some of these will be in critical areas. Too many games when so much is at stake. Now days you get about as much health care as you can afford to buy. I hear very little about our health issues from prospective council members / Chair Persons. Why? I am beginning to wonder if anyone even reads this stuff or really cares about the "TRIBE"?

Comment: I agree with many here, when tribe took over people were hired for personal reasons not for the people's welfare. A HR dept was created and former HR man only hired his women. Still can't believe former fired CHR worker became dialysis driver for his personal pleasure. You had this going on with others, taking off to meet and not working but thank goodness there are some good people that keep it going.

Comment: "double fed up" WHO IN THE HECK AND WHAT IN THE HECK ARE U TALKN ABOUT....DANG....MADE ME DIZZY READING UR COMMENT...NAMES PLEASE? UR ANONYMOUS SO U CAN SAY WHO......

Comment: I agree. way to many games being played there at the clinic. Its become as the " Young and the Restless / As the World Turns" there. Just poor leadership. The janitor lady knows more about whats going on than administration. Also. I agree with the comment about Law Enforcement. I hear we only have one officer covering the whole rez at times? How can this be? Where the hell did that 638 program funding go? We cant keep blaming the IHS or BIA for our own mismanagement.

Comment: WHY CANT WE GIVE IHS BACK TO THE BIA AND TRIBAL HOUSING BACK TO HUD . WHEN FORMER CHAIRMAN TEX HALL AND MARCUS WERE IN OFFICE TOGEHTER THEY WERE HOLDING HANDS SCREWING ALL THE PROGRAMS UP MARCUS WAS HIS YESMAN THEN . WHEN THEY WERE MISSPENDING THEY WERE TAKING MONEY OUT OF IHS AND EDUCATION FUNDING TO COVER THERE LUXURIES . GET RID OF ALL THE TRIBAL OVER PAID SALARIES DOWN TO MINIMUM WAGE THEN THERE WILL BE SOME MONEY TO PAY BACK . THESE SICKOS HAVE ENOUGH NOW WHILE THE REST OF US STRUGGLE .

Comment: WHEN I SEE ALL THESE FAT WOMAN COUNCIL STAFF GIVING THEMSELVES OUTRAGEOUS PAY AND FREE HOMES AND CARS TO IT MAKES ME SICK TO SEE THESE HAGS LIVING ON THE PEOPLES MONEY AND NOT HELPING ANYONE BUT THEMSELVES WHILE MY KIDS GO WITHOUT AND CANT GET MEDICAL HELP , UNLIKE THESE BLOOD SUCKERS GET HEALTH COVERAGE BEING A TRIBAL EMPLOYEE . THEY CAN GIVE THESE BLOBS $20.000 TO GET GASTRIC BY PASS'S THERE OVER EATING WITH OUR MONEY AND THE TRIBE PAYS FOR IT EITHER WAY WERE F***D .

Comment: IM JUST HOPING THE DAY OF RECKINING AND JUST COMES SOON ENOUGH BEFORE THE TRIBES HAS NOTHING LEFT BECAUSE OF THESE BLOOD SUCKERS . DONT PISS ON OUR BACKS AND TELL US ITS RAINING .

Comment: ........holah, who took a turd your Cheerios?

Comment: I am so imberassed at our Regional Director and her lack of testimony at the IHS investigation today before Senator Dorgran. She said she couldn't comprehend the questions because her first language is Lakota - what the hell is that all about, no wonder IHS is in such a mess, she needs to go along with Allen Davis, Rick Sorenson, Curt Brewer and his right hand clown Mark Richter. I worked for the Tribe and transferred to the Region and what an eye opener that was for me. We are -cont.

Comment: placed under a gag order, not to talk about the problems at the Region. Remember the $13 million in unaccounted equipment, guess who was in charge of Property at the time, Allen Davis, the pothead Curt Brewer and the rest of the clowns. Guess who's still there, Allen Davis, the pothead Curt Brewer and the rest of the clowns. No wonder the place is gone to pot, IHS needs to get rid of these incompetent people, I hope this investigation does that, these people are worthless, I know first - cont

Comment: hand what these people are like. The Regional Office spending 100's of thousands of dollars remodeling offices, this money should be spent at the reservation level, not on the big fat behinds of Allen Davis and Rick Sorenson. What a waste and what a bunch of phonies. Charlene Redthunder needs to go along with those I've just mentioned, nothing will improve until this happens. We need to turn IHS over to Sanford Health or some other Hospital and get rid of the IHS all together, we deserve it.

Comment: Inner Voice Candidate sells out for $50,000.00 loan to Marcus Levings!!!!

Comment: this site is a bunch of BS. people put anything on here to get people all worked up. it is just entertaining to read and that is it. everybody appears stupid and jealous because they have no ambition. just think of all the non members and non indian that read this.....they must think we are all idiots.

Comment: Now they got rid of that Parshall nurse! She is 1 of the few good nurses they got. Showz up 2 work and goez to WS to help, and they get mad cuz she does her job! Guess what we can't vote if we are dead, and she was savin' us!

Comment: people should only post facts...talking about a nurse let go becuz she does her job? what a joke...get your facts straight...this site is a joke for gossip and made up liez from people who have nothing better to do. go to church, learn to love yourself, be happy with yourself, then you wont be so negative and hostile and vindictive, then you will truly see how peaceful you can sleep at night...seriously, shame on you.

Comment: The fact the clinic is mismanaged! Can't stick to a budget too many cost overuns. Fact, lack of leadership and mismanagement. Fact, its a political playground. Anyone that begs to differ is either hiding something or just dont know whats really going on. Fact we have twice as many employees there and get half as much work done, Fact this is not gossip it is the truth! Fact, it is not working and our people deserve better!!!

Comment: Tell facts not bs?!? “Go to church???” This damned church business is what got our People all screwed up in the first place. Know YOUR facts!!! Believing in evilness that’s deviously turned it around to make U believe it’s good & right is the bs!!! Weak minds believe what U want all U want, in the end U’ll see the truth!!! Just leave the Ppl out of it!!! Teach & encourage Indigenous 2 b Indigenous, RESPECT!!!

Comment: Date: 30 Sep 2010 02:25:35 GMT Comment: Inner Voice Candidate sells out for $50,000.00 loan to Marcus Levings!!!! Yeah…What the ???? Is this all about??? Explain yourself or stay the ???? of this site!!! Your no good!!!

Comment: Date: 30 Sep 2010 02:25:35 GMT Comment: Inner Voice Candidate sells out for $50,000.00 loan to Marcus Levings!!!! Yeah…What the ???? Is this all about??? Explain yourself or stay the ???? of this site!!! Your no good!!!

Comment: Date: 30 Sep 2010 02:25:35 GMT Comment: Inner Voice Candidate sells out for $50,000.00 loan to Marcus Levings!!!! Yeah…What the ???? Is this all about??? Explain yourself or stay the ???? of this site!!! Your no good!!!

Comment: Date: 30 Sep 2010 02:25:35 GMT Comment: Inner Voice Candidate sells out for $50,000.00 loan to Marcus Levings!!!! Yeah…What the ???? Is this all about??? Explain yourself or stay the ???? of this site!!! Your no good!!!

Comment: Dorgan ready to issue IHS subpoenas

Comment: Facts..Our perception of reality depends upon where we are in relation to the issue. How close and how far we are skews our interpretation of FACTS. If you are making $120,000 per year working at the clinic of course you would not want to lose that income maybe turn a blind eye to incompetence or wrong doing even? When people do not know or understand what their role and goal in delivering services are it leads to chaos and low morale. When leaders do not lead workers will not work to their fullest potential to deliver those vital services. There are alot of good workers there but it seems there is a lack of vision or if there is a vision it is only a "SELECT FEW" are privy to it? Fact is we are not getting the greatest use of our resources. Somehow we have got to get past the politics and personalities and remember who really suffers in the end... All of us! Our children, our elders, our veterans, our people. My question is this.. why?

Comment: they should investigate how much narcotics are being doled out. our own people are crushing up hydrocodone and snorting them. others sell them @ $30 a pill. who's really at fault here?

Comment: What about the ones referred from CHS to have surgeries done and then CHS turns around and says to apply for government services? I went thru that for a yr n half. Proved i was not eligible, did not have priv insurance at the time, the surgery i did have saved $50000 (at a minimum) and further dr visits. My bill went to collections. Many drives to the clinic (I live off the rez) many calls to collections the hospital n CHS finally paid it.

Comment: After you follow all their procedures...they do not pay your medical bill and the only way you find out about it is when the collection agency contacts you about it. Phukn idiots.....ALL OFF THEM in that dept!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Comment: Just gotta ask who really cares about health care? Really not much said in any platforms. Seems like we settle for second best and status quo? Are we all truly happy with how the clinic is run? Never been better? Seems pretty feeble at best. One would think that with all the economic development we have all the bills would be paid and we would have the best Dr. money could buy practicing in each and every segment? Kind of don't make sense. Why ??? Because its not important? LACK OF LEADERSHIP!

Comment: the one wrong doing was having Arcley come in. i liked it when dr. leonard came from garrison to the ws clinic, when they had a traveling dental trailer and students were able to be seen or we were transported into garrison to gibbons or stewart and they did mass immunizations. this was like in the 60's. maybe it was all wrong then but at least it was consistent and some health needs were met. hopefully with dr. baker back he will be able to get us back on track. if tex h doesn't get in.

Comment: IHS saw my wife the reffered her to a specialist then they did not pay so the specialist billed us the full amount. Same thing when she had her last kid because she did not prenatal there. They temporarily fixed her tooth every month for 4 months until she paid on her own to get it fixed elsewhere. Try to guess my opinion of IHS.

Comment: When I went to IHS for repair to a torn ligament in my finger they said they could not do it because of funding. Then the Dr. tells me that if I could get our people to quit getting into wrecks when they were drunk i could have the funding to fix my finger. I will get our people to quit drinking when he gets his people to give back our land and honor our treaties.

Comment: My comments were made in regards to the unethical employees; but it was Val Finley who is a known womanizer. Apparently he can't leave Daunelle M. alone; get her any jobs for her attention but he needs more attention then hers. Appears he had others giving him undivided attention. Now he sits at another tribal job, doing the same thing.

Comment: So, where will be when the dust settles? I hear 70 people don't have jobs? I am wondering if that means we will have 70 more political appointments or start tightening our belt? I just can't get how the position of Tribal Chairperson has so much power? Were all of these terminations just a "hit list"? Wonder what the rest of the TBC thinks about that? It just goes to show the true need we have for constitution revision, checks and balances? In 4 years are we going to replace 100 political appointees? It raises too much hell with the day to day operations of the tribe with so much turn over all at once. But then again I am sure some people that had poor work ethic won't even be missed because they were not at work anyways? REFORM!

Comment: So, I wonder how the inspection/survey is going thus far? Hope we are doing okay. Wonder if the results and reccomendations will be published somewhere? Seems we never get full disclosure of things.They kinda get swept under the rug and forgotten I guess. Anyways, it can't all be bad can it? I mean we have pumped 8 million bucks a year of my per cap money keeping it afloat. We should be able to pass this review and get accredited I hope. We have some things to work on there still. As if things were not crazy enough with oil development. I hope the new chairman is up to the task

Comment: Checked out the construction of the new clinic recently. Wow it sure will be a nice looking place when its done. I hope this change not only includes the scenery but a change in style as well. This is an opportunity for us to gain ground on all the health care dispairities for our people. The Clinic Ceo will make or break the standard of care there. We can build a Level One Trauma Center, roll out ceramic tile and even plant flowers and trees but it won't spell or amount to box elder crap if our management doesn't change. We can spend billions on projects building bridges that go nowhere. The staffing of this facility is the most crucial thing for us all to be concerned with. In order for it to truly serve its purpose we need qualified, certified, caring people there to deliver the service. I hope the "transition team" and Chairman Hall will give this the time and attention it deserves. This is a defining moment for our health care!

Comment: The health care has gone to hell in a hand basket here on the rez some people who need immediate medical needs get turned away at hospitals because of the tribal system over spending tribal monies and council filling there pockets and family members and there luxuries . now moccasin news says tex's administration / cronies are goin after IHS employees . I dont care what anybody says this reservation is home to me its messed up how OUR government can muck everything up because of GREED ....

Comment: There will be a meeting Saturday November 13 , 2010 2:00 pm at the New Town Civic Center for Tribal memebers whom have been Wrongfully Terminated . Legal Reps will be there .

Comment: Its probably going to get worse before it gets better there. Sad but true. Looks like we have another OJT CEO. We need experience, and education in that vital position... Actually maybe we should just ditch it and roll the salary back into the services for our people. What does the clinic CEO do anyways? Obviously nothing that an administrative assistants can't do. Until we get politics and personalities out of our health care it will fail. Where the hell is Dr. Baker ? Our Medical Director needs to be here we don't need a consultant to tell us its not working.. We need someone that has their fingers on the pulse of whats going on to be more responsive to our needs here at home. Come home Dr. Baker we need you fulltime!! We need to recruit more medical providers and for heavens sake ADVERTISE THAT CEO position ASAP!!

Comment: Dr Baker has been the Acting CMO and told the TBC we should keep everything in place at the clinic. Gave no answers to our problems, just saying they are going to take care of it. HOW? He's only here for two hours on Wed and takes the money and runs. Why do we think this man will save our healthcare? He is slandering our tribal members. They want a job just like all the White people working there. What happen to Indian preference?

Comment: What a friggn mess. I have to agree about the two hours thing.. How can he be medical director, signing off on all the medications and care plans for our patients and only be here in that capacity of time? There is more to health care than just showing up for health and human committee meeting. We need more doctors. We need to advocate for the health care services we need and deserve. We either need to give it back to IHS so we can complain or put our money where our mouth is and fully fund it! Too many political backstabbers in our healthcare.

Comment: How many of you tribal members and workers take work home with you? I know you can acknowledge statement and that you have if you are truly dedicated to the people. How many of you have witnesses to your loyalty, dedication, and willingness to work after 5:00? Let's give all workers a chance before we back stab them. I am sure Dr. Baker has paperwork that is important to the clinic that he can get done and doesn't have to be in New Town. I am also positive that people can get work done via cell phone and the 2.5 hours it takes to get to New Town and the 2.5 hours it takes to get back. Let's give people a chance.....

Comment: We pay our workers pretty well at the clinic. Whats wrong with getting results? All we have been hearing is excuses! Not seeing the impact of positive change we have been waiting for. Whats wrong with getting the services that were promised to our people over 100 years ago? Its not about being nice or cordial anymore its about being professional and getting the job done! How many FTEs are we wasting on cell phones already? Yes of course communication is important. How many cell phones are we paying for out the budget already? We need our Drs seeing our people not being distracted drivers and having liability issues on hwy 83.

Comment: The TBC Healthcare committee has full control of the health system on the rez. They are an embezzler, half breed drunk, and a methhead. You know who these people are. They made a white woman Director of Nursing at the request of Dr Baker. They have seven nurses for one doctor, and two mid-levels and five of them are white. Is our health care better? Dr Baker thinks white is right. Oh he's a half breed also. Sign the petition to get rid of this Healthcare committee.

Comment: All communities and their elected community boards request your Tribal Representative and Dr. Baker to a consultation meeting with you-the patient( the money makers for) Indian HealthService/Tribal health, let’s hear from the elected and the Dr. and discuss the present LEVEL of health services we are receiving. Who delivers health services in your community and how often? Are they licensed and certified to hold the position they are getting paid for? The IndHS/tribal health services is a treaty..

Comment: (Continued) obligation, however, we are paying for that service through our individual health insurance(we are paying for our health care because we pay for our own health care premiums) or we are being billed through other third parties such as our Medicaid and medicare card which pays for our health care services—so where exactly is the treaty obligation of health care services to the people of Fort Berthold who gave up land to the US govt for this service? There is a great amount of...

Comment: (continued)dissatisfaction with the tribal govrmnt’s management of health care and tribal govrnmt and all its off shoot dysfunctional projects. What are the standards tht Dr.Baker requires under his management and will the newly elected tc govt uphold those standards? Are medical records held by a tribe protected by the confidentiality and privacy standards as federal medical records? Dr. Baker require that federal standards be adopted where tribal standards are non=existent over our medical...

Comment: (continued) information. People will not use a health facility if it is lacking in standards and confidentiality. Will pill pushing remain the first line of defense for our people? ? Why not work in partnership with all the schools and elder sites and develop meal menus that are heart health, and glucose smart and promote fiber, lean meats, greens, low/no starchy foods, and no salt based foods. Partnership with schools- kids need exercise, we need to combat obesity in the youth and all of us.

Comment: No matter what anybody does on the rez, somebody will always say something negative. Get off your lazy butts and get an education so you can go back to the rez fix everything. Get one of them masters degrees from U of Mary. All those have done is paid for the new things on campus. Them degrees are a joke! Nobody on the rez will ever be happy except for the go getters and thats all there is to it. Make your own way in this world. What kind of example are you to your children when all you do is sit around and wait for hand outs and act like something is owed to you. It is said the future of the children is at stake...well show and teach them to be productive, self sufficient and honorable. It is sad to think that one becomes successful, they are said to act like a white man. An education is open for anyone in this world and that is a good foundation for success.

Comment: Well said Native Woman. We need and advocate like you on the "TAT Health & Human Health Board". To often we are the last ones to really know what is going on with our local health care system (until we get the bill). No wonder National Health Care Reform is so jacked up! We can't even get it right in our micro-scopic clinics here on the rez. Hey, I know...how about we should all get the same health insurance coverage Dr. Baker has, our tribal elected official get, and all the delegates we send to Washington DC. I think that would be fair don't you?

Comment: Hey! Why don't you go to medschool and take out student loans and give 11 years to education to get an MD degree. Also, why you are at it, why don't you pass the national boards it takes to qualify as "Board Certified". Quit your crying around and get educated. You have every right to an education, just pay for it out of your ownn pocket or student loans.

Comment: Who originally made the suggestion to "638" the clinic? All the tribe was after is the 28.5 percent indirect costs. What happen to the money? Go the grants management training and point fingers at the original people who suggested it! Now, Dr. Baker is here to clean up a mess that was made. Get real, he is working for the people who go the clinic and because his family resides in this community and deserve QUALITY health care. Do you think MedCenter One would hire him if he weren't qualified and board certified?

Comment: I thought I would provide an update for people who are interested. We are looking at hiring 2 doctors and a nurse practitioner, this will bring us to 3 docs and 3 NP's. This takes a little time but I am optimistic that we can do this in a short period of time. Let's try to be positive with each other. It's easy to post an anonymous comment and complaint, but what about actual solutions? Someone made reference to me being a "half breed". Really? That's bothering you? I will pray for you, my miserable friend.

Comment: First of all thank you Dr.Baker for trying to keep informed and updated as to some of this. About indirect? Please!! The indirect cost doesn't come close to what the tribal budget is kicking in on the "Great Experiment" there. Bottom line is health care is expensive. We need educated, qualified certified PROFESSIONALS! For way too long too much institutional dysfunctionalism and our Health and Human Committe bought into the deception that everything was going good there. We have 6 communities and the primary providers seem to be called to cover the main clinic while Twin Buttes, Mandaree and White Shield always get the run around! Why? Who will get the 3 Drs and who will get the Nurse Practioners? Who will get the same half hearted health services?

Comment: some free time to read and i need to comment, if a nurse with 2 years experience (in what)? i am proud of dr. baker and he is from tat. but to put a nurse with whatever 2 years experience as this very qualified medical doctors boss? now that is scary. please let dr. baker do a doctors job of healing his people and what he sees is needed. who will have a higher salary? the medical doctor or the nurse who is the overall director. hopefully the new director has a masters degree in nursing.

Comment: To Dr. Biron Baker. It is good to hear you are back home. Congratulations and hopefully continued success will follow you and your family.

Comment: Wow, Dr Baker is back, mahtsagudatz our families appreciate it, no more driving all the way to Bismarck. We need to get positive medical personnel in and get them out to the people. We need to start classes on our own time for everyone. Make a health festival an semi annual event. That head start event they had was awesome, all the children were seen. More events and services for families with emphasis on health. More outreach and follow up, no ones going anywhere and need help now.

Comment: Back? In what capacity? To go to meetings? Has he seen a patient yet? Where is Waldo? Where is the beef? He is spending more time driving back and forth from Bismark than here being medical director. Get him one of those new homes so he can be here fulltime. Maybe the honeymoon suite at the casino at least.

Comment: Okay, where are these brain storming meetings taking place? Nothing in the in the newspapers, radio or radio. Why can't we publish our constitution in the MHA Times? Is this not important enough? Why can't we get it on this website? There are many that come here and express frustrations however; lets use our collective resources and energies for something positive. Something that will resonated for generations to come. There have been numerous issues concerning energy, law enforcement, health care, constitution revision on here. Lets get behind these issues and get past the politics, personalities and our individual differences to accomplish something good, something positive, something that adresses everything. Something that will lay the foundation for many blessings and future leaders to come. A revised consttution, AHO!

Comment: If one is good then two must better? Whers the plan man? Same old beauracratic bull! Can't get the Drs to the patient or the patient to the Drs. Can't provide the service ourselves so we refer our people out. Its a 911 emergency everyday here. We need a comprehensive health care initiative. From prevention to hospice! Each month should highlight a specific health issue we have. Get out into the communities! Diabetes, mental health, blood pressure/cardiac, substance abuse, cancer, obesity, diet, exercise, 911 info, injury prevention, frostbite, pick a topic babies to elders.

Comment: I hope the New year brings some more healthcare services to White Shield, Mandaree, Parshall and Twin Buttes and a good shot in the arm to the main clinic. Our families and relative deserve better than call 911 or drive to New Town for help.

Comment: Marcus Levings was the one who made the clinic what it is now today because of the incompetent people he put in charge. And now we are still dealing with incompetent people. Nobody knows anything there. So, complain and do nothing like we always do, just complain, complain, get off your sick asses and do something. You all deserve better healthcare then what they are giving you. Nothing has improved since the TAT took over. Where is the Transition team and what are they doing? Nothing?

Comment: I dare say that this was not just the idea or ambition of just one person. Over the years we have experienced a myriad of health care disparities. Decade after decade, deficit upon deficit! Problem with the 638 is we fell for the oldest trick in the book! We made a decision out of anger and ignorance! There was no comprehensive plan or overarching vision concerning sustainability of those services. Instead it turned into political appointees, and nothing solid or consistant. Now, its not that there are not good workers there or we are not getting any services. Its more so evident that we were not and are not ready to assume or carry the full gamet of responsibility and financial burden to meet the needs we have. "I WANT A DO OVER"

Comment: I find it difficult to believe that the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, Dept. of Interior could not have implemented a timeline that insured/ ensured we were ready to carry the full load. They knew we would have a hell of a time with this. So our own self determination has led us to the brink of self destruction. Big waste of our limited resources. Meanwhile back at the ranch some are still trying to get rich quick. A decision as great as 638 should have been a referendum issue with input from all of us. What was the rush? ONLY FOOLS RUSH IN! Pride goeth before the fall?

Comment: Go to Senate Indian Affairs Comn website. Read Dorgan's 68-page report just on-line this wk that Aberdeen IHS employees have been STEALING massive amts of NARCOTIC drugs in ND & SD IHS pharmacys. 48,000 Hydrocodone tablets stolen in Belcourt THIS YEAR ALONE. Another 20,615 Hydrocodone missing in Sisseton in 2009. And 6,569 Hydrocodone,Darvocets, Xanax missing in Rapd Cty IHS in '08. Since Aberdeen handed over 638 control of the MTHC pharmacy to TBC, is there the same lack of control of drugs?

Comment: Read Sen. Dorgan's investigative rept on Aberdeen IHS "Chronic State of Crisis." Go to Senate Commn on Indian Affairs. Click on 'Chairman's Report' ONLY IHS-managed hosptls & clinics were looked at , but not tribally-run 638 clinics like MTHC. The TBC manages MTHC, including its pharmacy. Pts have been repeatedly saying WRONG drugs are handed out by the tribally-run MTHC Pharmacy. The Oversight hearing on the thefts and criminal mismanagement described in Dorgan's report CANCELLED this month.

Comment: I wonder... was the 638 plan a cover up for prescription pain medications missing on Ft berthold? Kind of extreme measures? maybe we need an audit of those here? I know Dr. Baker has put the stops to some of that despite popular demand. Audit pain medication prescriptions from our pharmacy maybe we can save a life?

Comment: What are we waiting on to get the health care our people need? The TBC? Dr. Baker? Are we paralyzed due to resources? Manpower? Administrative support? Politics and or personalities? Why are services so fragmented? Why does everyone have to commute to the main clinic for services and put at such a disadvantage concerning the appointment process? We would be better off getting rid of it and put that 7million dollars a years in tribal funds into insurance premium and let the enrolled members choose their own providers. Too many excuses!! No accountability!

Comment: For those of you that have not figured this whole clinic/ IHS health care thing out yet. ITS ALL ABOUT THE MONEY! Somewhere along the line we have lost sight about what its all about. SERVICE! What services are exclusively offered there that I can't get elsewhere? I can do without the backstabbing, politics, and frustration. Some seem to forget they work for us! Every single employee there needs to remember that! The Health & Human Committee need to remember that! The TBC needs to remember that! The Federal Government needs to remember that! If anything we have should have twice the service with a smile we are not only enrolled members but we pay taxes as well REMEMBER THAT!

Comment: At what point do we stop being a politician, Dr, Lawyer, Banker, Ceo, Director, Manager or Worker Bee and become GRANDMA, GRANDPA,MOM, DAD, AUNTIE, UNCLE, BROTHER OR SISTER? Why has the capitalistic nature of our healthcare system been based upon corporate profits? Why are there not checks and balances? A common ground based upon actual need not just the bottom dollar. Why do we turn to people of poor character to facilitate our health care? People who exhibit no integrtiy in their personal life will do the same thing when they go to work too!

Comment: If you see someone lie, cheat or treat somebody else bad what makes you think they won't do the same to you when the opportunity arises?

Comment: I was seen by a dr after a car wreck. They billed my insurance (no surprise) but now my insurance company is trying to get me to pay for the visit because i won a settlement over the wreck. I told them to get the money back from IHS because IHS patients don't have to pay out of pocket for services.

Comment: I can't beleive that FB is the Ceo. The TAT Clinic will get a lot worse. Hope he does not stay long in that position

Comment: The cost of insurace for single person is 400.00 a month and with 10,000 emrolled members by my conservative estimates that is 4 million a month

Comment: Why is everyone so quick to condem the workers at the MTHC, yes while some people may abuse a broken system, what about the people who get no thank you for their efforts to bring better service. what about the people that try their best everyday to deliver care to our friends and family? what about the employees that are abused by power hunger individuals and political drama? never judge a book by it's cover and walk a mile in their shoes before your condem everyone there. be good to poeple

Comment: Look if you see all that power hungry political drama BS then report it! Thats what everyone is so frustrated about to begin with! Overpaid, underworked and unexperienced! Everyone walking on egg shells instead of being productive employees. Weed out the political leeches! As for FB at leats he has experience and treats people with some respect. He should be able to see how screwed up some of those things are there. We should all hope he gives an honest report back to the people. That he will bring and keep integrity at the forefront of delivering those services.

Comment: IHS/MTHC, for all it's worth, i've worked with this company for years. I've lived at home, worked away from home, lived a good life. I'm still working on myself. So now we have a new TBC, nothings going to change. More politics, whose family is better, whose lived on the rez the longest, whose clan is better. Everyone deserves equal treatment, equal rights. It's been years they've been talking of this new clinic. Doctors come and go but the real people are still here. Promise the world...

Comment: I heard another rumor that all of our rural satelite clinics will be closing. As per budget cuts? If that don't just win the Nobel Peace Prize I don't know what will? COME ON MAN!!! Get real!!! I thought all those were under 638 contract? The tribe contracted all of those long ago and gets funding to provide services. Well where are the services? Where is all the money in the contract? I think its time to ask some congress members that question?

Comment: So far the only good thing I have read so far was from "promises" yes the people should complain to the congress after all they are the ones to appropriate the $$ to MTHC they should also look into the $$ that came in October where did that go "into the TAT general fund" of course so the counsel can go on trips "NIRF" (LV)while we have to worry about our jobs.

Comment: I just do not understand the manner in which the tribe manages and conducts business at the clinic. Its a big political soap opera there. If that is a 638 program then wouldnt that be under the federal program manager? Instead we have the CEO getting involved with it using his authority to influence things there to benefit his wife? Now I heard we are playing musical chairs with the Dialysis Unit Director. COME ON MAN! What are you thinking? Richard you work for the people! Use your chain of command like the rest of us!

Comment: Where is it written in our constitution that our Chairman, Council,CEO, program managers can be mean or bully people around when they do business on behalf of the tribe? Everything they do should be done in a respectful professional manner. You hold the inherent rights of our enrolled members in TRUST. We expect you to hold this TRUST in a manner that is FAIR, IMPARTIAL and a Good way. Anything less is simply unacceptable. You all represent US! Maybe, next time you cash your check I hope you remember that. Aho!

Comment: So is everything there at the clinic as "rosey" as the former CEO reported to Health & Human and the TBC? How much of a mess is there to clean up? How is the billing going? Contract health? Services in the field clinics? How is the budget? How are the finacials? The records? We desrve to know the truth "THE WHOLE TRUTH". Also, is it really true that the tribe is paying Dr. Baker Over $4,000 per day? He comes one day per week don't even see any patients and makes over $200,000 a year? no wonder we are in dire straights there! We could hire a full time Doctor for that!

Comment: I swore to myself I wasn't going to read a bunch of negative anonymous comments, but here I am again, responding to ghosts. Someone commented on my salary. Do you really think I make $4000.00 a day? What's life like on your planet? In truth, I worked for the tribe free for six months. I was asked to come back, and I agreed. The hourly rate is less than half what I make for doing comparable services for other companies. I'm not "cashing in" or anything like that. Anyone who wants to know should just ask, rather than guess or make up whatever they don't know. Two physicians are being recruited. I'm wanting to work myself out of a job. Once these two docs are full time, I will stop working one day a week for the clinic.

Comment: For those who don't know, it is very hard to convince physicians to work on a rez. It's not because of the people, it's the low pay and political atmosphere. For twice to three times the pay and only ten percent of the standard BS, they just work somewhere else. Don't get me wrong, every system has BS in it. We on Fort Berthold just seem to be some of the best producers. Laura thought the clinic should be under a fed programs manager. Why? Do we really need more administrators? We have enough, Ms. Sandoval.

Comment: I believe the overwhelming majority of the clinic staff care about the people they serve. I don't like to see any of them run down for job performance. Our lab has a VERY good director, and we have one of the best contract health directors in the Aberdeen Area. There are no racists amongst the OTI's (other than Indian) in our clinic. A good racist would go to a small town in eastern North Dakota and work with a bunch of snowflakes, so I no longer care to hear people make those kinds of snap judgements.

Comment: The field clinics will never close. For some of our patients, those clinics represent the only access to health care they have. Some people cannot drive to Watford or Dickinson, so we have to keep those field clinics open. Under "welcome back Fred...." someone says we can hire a physician for $200,000.00 per year. Really? Board Certified and experienced? If you have a name, please give it to me. If you know someone who will work for that, please call me. It's not peanuts, but it is below the MGMA median for our region of the country. Please look it up and inform yourself. I would be happy to meet with you and explain this. We get what we pay for, and I think your family and mine deserve the best.

Comment: GET RID OF FRED BAKER! The only medical background he has was being a member of a ski patrol years ago! Can he apply this experience to the position of CEO? He should have a job in the high mountains with many trees!

Comment: #1 Get rid of Fred Baker? Really? Ignorance is bliss?! He is the right man for the job right now. Has prior experience as the ceo there and believe me things were not as screwed up then as they are now! Next... Dr. Baker must be feeling guilty trying to justify his paycheck. Average pay for what? I think that means those fulltime Drs that actually go to work and see patients that services can be billed for1 Quit trying to play 3 card monty with our health care resourcesjust provide the services and stay out of the politics!

Comment: When is the last time we had an audit at the clinic? Just wondering where 8 million dollars more per year of tribal funds is really going? If I really seen the services then I would not complain. Yet half the time we don't have providers out in our communities? How can we be spending more on health care but be getting less services?

Comment: fred BAker has been Schased out of other IHSS for not providing services. Why do these kind of people have the important positions which affect our people in a negative way.. i guess all they have is the gift of gab like TH and cannot be productive but line their own pockets!

Comment: why in the world would a corporation in charge of a healthcare facility put someone like fred baker in charge? must not care about your people but maybr just putting an unqualified relative in control. he was a poor director of the elders program, now he is in the position of denying poverty patients bills being paid on his shoulders. he must make top dollar to dictate to the poor.

Comment: justifying the mismanagement of the clinic, a outragious salary and even spending the couple of hours a week that he does come to play personal political attacks and games on people he does not like, supporting the inadequate staff so he can run the show, free work for six months i dont think so, are you referring to the health board? lets focus on direct patient care

Comment: reading the complaints on here are down right funny.... WHY DONT YOU GO TO MEDICAL SCHOOL AND BECOME A DOCTOR>>> u have the intellect for that ? jus reading the ignorant comments you have posted, its apparent that you dont... so go to the commod line and complain people's faults or in other words their accomplishments that you couldnt not achieve for yourself... come one now Indian Country has very little native doctors and you should be proud that we have a native doctor in our community... Live in the freaking real world... and inform yourselves of what the salary of a doctor is now days... Quit your griping, and go to medical school, instead of sitingt on your stagnant (bleep word) and do something with your life to help change the Native Community

Comment: What the heck is taking them so long to get the hospital built? Taking their sweet as time.....and they are thinking of it as a form of job security. Perhaps they don't really know what they are doing. Somebody needs to crack the whip over there. Taking and posting photos once in a while at different angles to make it appear like stuff is getting done is not cutting it. NeeShub!

Comment: I found this site while looking for information on other IHS facilities and wondering if all of them have problems. I am an experienced health care provider who wanted to make a difference so came to work for the IHS. The pay is low and the housing is REALLY bad but I wanted to help people who needed it. I have been appalled at the care provided to the Native American people. I’m working with providers who are right out of school and they are in charge. The deserve better than this.

Comment: Health care is frustrating. So many needs and not enough services. Sometimes this is due to individual resposibilities and sometimes it is due to the"system". We need a common sense approach to both of those "sometimes". Its not about I.Q., intelect, but rather delivering services that promote a healthy life-style and motivates behavior changes. We all play a part in this. If one of us is left without access, engagement or education then we all suffer.

Comment: Accordg to the Aberdeen newspaper today, Aberdeen IHS said TAT's tribal 638 Contract Health owes $3 million in unpaid medical care - and IHS owes $1.4 million. But, the ND Hospital Assn said hospitals are owed $13 to $14 million instead. Watford City hospital said TAT tribal contract health owes them $198,000 and WC is also absorbing other costs for medical care that should have been provided by the tribal Minnetohe clinics instead. No info on how old the medical bills r. 5 tribal clinics on FB.

Comment: a new clinic but nothings changed, they could have used the money to beef up the existing clinic cause its still the aspirin, bandade therapy it alway had any ways nothings changed.

Comment: what a joke this elbowoods clinic has turned out to be our people are dying and they can'teven get in to see the doctor.some one made alot of money on this project but the people still suffer on .all this hoopla on dr.wilson but i remember he was a horse doctor too back in elbowoods.

Comment: I learned my grandson had an emergeny situation, IHS was called and said they would pay for it, called within 72 hours after emergeny. the head said he needs to prove residency, he grew up here and is enrolled in a tribe. Isn't IHS national? my other grandchild went in and the headnurse said because he wasn't enrolled here he couldn't get service? Is that legal? Other tribal hospitals in ND service tat members!

Comment: Dr Walker's last day at the clinic is March 2. The TBC gave the tribal clinic $6-8 million to pay old CHS patient bills. Drs, nurses, hlth providrs interested in working at the new tribal clinic can't find any housing, so they go elsewhere. Few people know that cancer-screening mammograms are available every day during clinic hrs now & don't need a dr's order for this preventive hlth service. Elbowoods clinic has its own mammogram unit in the clinic. Health info is just by 'word-of-mouth.'

Comment: Be greatful you have any type of clinic to provide service!!!if you had to live off the reservation and get any medical care without insurance they would laugh at you!! Try paying full price for meds at a pharmacy. Diabetic supplies cost 300+ every month. test strips cost 70 dollars for 30 day supply you can get them for free at the diabetes program. Be appreciative!!!!! Stop complaining or pay for it yourself. FYI you will get the same treatment from a white clinic ;)

Comment: For all the millions $$$ cost of the new tribal clinic building, trying to see a hlth provider at the NT tribal clinic is still an obstacle. Tribal health bd: look at the missing clerks at the desks which contributes to delays AND denial of hlth care. Lack of supervisory oversight of clinic support staff ADDS TO delay & denial of needed health care. How many tribal patients end up just leaving in disgust - counted as "no shows" - and written off as "the problem" by the tribal clinic.

Comment: TBC will decide if the new tribal clinic becomes a 'Federally Qualified Health Center.' They are doing an "outreach" to BOTH Indian and non-Indians on Ft Berthold about this. Under the FQHC plan, patients will pay for medical care at the clinic depending on what their income is and size of household. The tribe could also increase billing charges for Medicaid and Medicare patients health care. Last month, the TBC still didn't have its board of directors filled for the clinic.