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Cherokee Nation Home Health reports multi-year revenue growth, expands care for unfunded patients
Summary
Board members and nominees told the Rules Committee the Cherokee Nation Home Health and Hospice operation has grown revenue and patient census in recent fiscal years and is serving unfunded Cherokee patients at no cost; reappointments to its board were confirmed.
Diana Stites Elrod and Freddy Farrell, both appearing for reappointment votes, told the Rules Committee on March 27 that Cherokee Nation Home Health and Hospice has experienced multi-year revenue growth and expanded services to unfunded citizens.
Diana Stites Elrod said the programs fiscal growth included a 16% increase in fiscal year 2023 to more than $7,000,000; a 28% increase in fiscal year 2024 to more than $9,000,000; and that fiscal year 2025 was "on track to grow by 21% to 11,000,000 plus." She said that increased revenue has enabled the program to serve Cherokee citizens who lack Medicare or other insurance.
Freddy Farrell, also reappointed during the meeting, said the agency had reached a point of financial stability that allowed it to take on nonfunded patients. "For us to be able to take on 100 cases of non funded patients and be able to take care of Cherokees that need help means a lot," Farrell said, describing the organization as Cherokee-owned and increasingly solvent without an operational appropriation from the Council.
Both speakers credited recent collaboration with the Nations leadership and staff for the programs growth. Elrod described the board and administration as newly formed and said staff training and care quality had improved; she also referenced a personal experience with a family member to underscore the programs clinical care.
The Rules Committee confirmed Elrod and Farrell for reappointment by voice vote; no roll-call tallies were recorded in the meeting transcript. Committee members thanked the nominees and briefed the council on the programs expanded service to unfunded Cherokee patients.
No changes to funding authority, appropriations, or specific operational budgets were adopted during the meeting; the statements reflected program-level reporting and board confirmations.
