In the first four episodes of the podcast, we spent time talking about Medicare, Medicaid, and Marketplace Health insurance. In this episode, podcast hosts Levi Rickert and Kristen Bitsuie welcome guest Jim Roberts on the topic of health equity. Jim serves as the Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium’s interim Vice President of Intergovernmental Affairs. Health equity is about bridging the gap for people who don’t possess all social determinants such as wealth, power, and prestige. Your health is linked to what experts call “the social determinants of health” and if you don’t possess one or more of those social determinants, it’s harder to access health care, and you likely will end up with worse health outcomes.

Links:

National Indian Health Board - https://www.nihb.org/

Medicare - https://www.medicare.gov/

Medicaid - https://www.medicaid.gov/

Marketplace - https://www.healthcare.gov/

Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium - https://www.anthc.org/

Native News Online Health Desk - https://nativenewsonline.net/health/

Interested in healthcare in Indian Country? You can find all kinds of useful information and Tribal resources at the National Indian Health Board website. Plus, you can keep up to date on Indian health news at the Native News Health Desk. Questions or comments? We’d love to hear from you. Email us at podcast@nativenewsonline.net.

This podcast is produced by the National Indian Health Board and Native News Online, with funding support from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Audio production, sound editing, and post-production is handled by Hey Guys Media Group LLC.