How the Eastern Cherokee in North Carolina use casino profits to revamp health care


Opting out of US Indian Health Services affords indigenous communities the opportunity to improve their healthcare options. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, North Carolina, has used profits from the tribe’s casino to help fund a new health care system for their community. In addition to the revenue from the casino resort, the Cherokee Indian Hospital benefits from reimbursements from Medicaid and Medicare. This self-governance in healthcare has improved medical outcomes in the community.

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