Patchworker members welcomed 3 guests April 14, 2015, and enjoyed a program by Patti Schneider, explaining how to vinyl-clad fabric for various projects. A monetary collection was gathered, which will be donated to www.CaringBridge.com in honor of dear friend and fellow quilter Rosie Vaught.

Calendars were marked for upcoming retreats in 2015 and 2016, and a summer 'road trip" to Missouri Star Quilt Co. in Missouri is being organized by Vickie Ewing. More than twenty blocks in red, white and blue were collected for member Sandra Phillippee to sew into Quilts of Valor for veterans of the Armed Forces.

Patchworkers' next meeting is scheduled for May 12; 6:30 PM at the Collinsville Library, with the monthly Sew-In on Saturday, May 16; 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM - also at the Library, and guests are always welcome!

Week of April 19, 2015

The Indian Health Service (IHS) Contract Health Service (CHS) program funds referrals for care in the private sector when those services cannot be provided in the IHS facility. Examples of such care include cancer treatment, knee replacements, cardiologists and other specialized care.

Congress requested IHS propose a new name for the program since it was often confused for other budget items. In the FY 2014 President's Budget proposal, the name was changed to Purchased/Referred Care (PRC). The name change was official with passage of the FY 2014 appropriation, so you may need to use both terms to make sure your need is communicated.

The new name better describes the purpose of the program funding for both purchased care and referral care outside of IHS. The name change will not otherwise change the program, and all current policies, practices, and improvements continue.

Rogers County, Tulsa County and Craig County Cherokees are now partially served by Cherokee Nation Health Services (CNHS) CHS/PRC. To contact CNHS CHS/PRC, email health@cherokee.org. If you do not receive a response, forward the email to your Tribal Councilmember.

Effective June 1, 2014, Cherokee Nation compacted a portion of Claremore IHS CHS/PRC. Now, all Federally-recognized Tribal citizens in Craig County will be outpatient CHS/PRC Cherokee Nation and inpatient Claremore IHS. Cherokee Nation citizens, only, in Rogers County and Tulsa County will be outpatient CHS/PRC Cherokee Nation and inpatient Claremore IHS.

One example of inpatient versus outpatient CHS/PRC is knee surgery. If a patient needs knee surgery, Claremore IHS is unable to perform knee surgery. The medical care for knee surgery must be done in an outside facility. Outpatient CHS/PRC is the doctor visit where the doctor does a diagnosis and determines knee surgery is needed. Inpatient is when the doctor performs the surgery and you have to stay overnight in a hospital.

All of this means, you will quickly be approved and know you need knee surgery. However, you will have to be denied by IHS before Cherokee Nation monies are used for the actual surgery.

I was promised the Cherokee Nation would staff Claremore IHS with Cherokee Nation CHS/PRC staff, so the June 2014 IHS CHS/PRC Compact and the five percent dividend promised Cherokee Nation citizens would be more effective and readily accessible. You should see Tribal staff on site at Claremore Indian Hospital to help you get the surgeries and cancer treatment you need in a timely manner.

In the meantime, please write us if your health care is being stalled. If a family member including a spouse needs to advocate on your behalf, please have them sign Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act ( HIPAA) forms for patient approval to release your confidential health care information. Otherwise, none of us may work with you to resolve your loved ones health service issues.

Referrals must come from doctors within CNHS or IHS. Patients must be Cherokee Nation citizens living inside the boundaries of the Cherokee Nation. Emergency room visits require IHS or CNHS be notified within 72 hours to be eligible for CHS/PRC funds. CHS/PRC does not guarantee coverage and is the payer of last resort by Federal law. CHS/PRC is subject to availability of funds, so even approvals may take a year or more to pay. CHS/PRC requires each and every doctor visit and test to be pre-approved.

If you have questions, issues or concerns about the Cherokee Nation government, please email me at cara@caracowan.com or write me at P.O. Box 2922, Claremore, OK 74018.

For daily news and event notices, ask to be added to my Cherokee Nation News and Events email listserv. You may, also, find me on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, LinkedIn, Google+ and Twitter. Lee Keener is at lee-keener@cherokee.org.

To contact the Tribe, call (918) 453-5000 or visit www.cherokee.org.

Cara Cowan Watts is an elected Tribal legislator within the Cherokee Nation for portions of Rogers and Tulsa Counties.

Cara Cowan Watts
caracowan.com

Beau Jennings has a history in Rogers County, but spread his wings to New York, where he was all set to make a new album about his Brooklyn experiences.

His plans took a new turn, back to his Oklahoma roots and to a childhood hero — Will Rogers — and the Verdigris River, between his hometown in Inola and Will Rogers birthplace near Oologah.

On Saturday, May 16, Beau Jennings and the Tigers will headline “Will on the Hill - 2015”, set on the rolling hills of the Will Rogers Memorial Museum.

Other bands and performers are being lined up for the Festival from 2-10 p.m., said Bart Taylor, Will Rogers Memorial Museum assistant curator for education.

Jennings, who appeared in concert at the Museum two years ago, will play his new album/project, “The Verdigris: in Search of Will Rogers.”

To prepare for the project, Jennings retraced the steps in Will’s life, traveling from his Indian Territory birthplace to Alaska, where he and Wiley Post perished in a plane crash.

As he traveled to major locations in Will’s life, he recorded new songs written on the way, inspired by nature and places.

Activities will begin with a live podcast from noon to 1 p.m. with Taylor and Jacob Krumwiede, Museum assistant director, in an interview with Jennings about the process of writing his Will Rogers’ influenced album.

“He will play a song or two on his acoustic guitar to show and talk about his songs,” Taylor said.

Cody Brewer, associated with the Woody Guthrie Center in Tulsa, will be putting on a Will Rogers’ themed songwriting class for kids from 1-2 p.m. in the Theatre.

He will involve youngsters in songwriting and more specifically, writing about Will Rogers.

He does this program at the Woody Guthrie Center with kid’s excitement building as their creativity is aroused using Oklahoma history to tell a story.

Bands:

Annie Oakley, an all-girl band founded by singer-songwriters Sophia and Grace Babb, is added to the list of musicians. Their music is described as Americana with a combination of folk, bluegrass, country, indie and soul.

The sisters are descendants of both Comanche and pioneer Land Run stock and share the Ulster Scots heritage of Woody Guthrie and Merle Haggard.

About Grazzhopper has a foundation of bluegrass and country. Frontman Cody Brewer draws from influences of his family and surroundings.

Grazzhopper’s songs discuss everything from trials and tribulations of life to the power of joy.

Other bands and singers expected are Travis Linville, Dana Louise and Joe Mack.

Linville has appeared on the David Letterman show and played multi-instrumentals with Hayes Carll on stages across North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark and Norway.

Joe Mack is a singer, songwriter, producer, and teacher with a 30-year history of performing in a variety of situations.

At the same time the grounds will be teeming with the Tulsa Windriders, a kite experience, artists and food trucks.

Sponsors are Cherokee Nation, Cherokee Nation Business, Arts & Humanities Council and Will Rogers Memorial Foundation.

Pat Reeder

Public Relations -- Will Rogers Memorial Museums

pr@willrogers.com

918-343-8129 Direct Line

918-906-7258 Cell