§ 1-103. Definitions.
A. “Board of Directors” or “Board” means the governing body of Si-Si A-Pe-Txa.
B. “Compact” means the Osage Nation Compact entered into with the Indian Health Service pursuant to Title V of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, 25 U.S.C. §§ 5301 through 5423.
C. “Designated place” means a set location established by the Board for holding Board meetings.
D. “Emergency meeting” means any meeting in which the business at hand requires immediate action of the public body or there exists an imminent threat to public health and safety or a reasonably unforeseeable situation exists for which the time requirements for public notice of such a special meeting would make the usual notice requirement impractical.
E. “Health employee” means an employee of Si-Si A-Pe-Txa. It does not include Board members, independent contractors, or subcontractors. Such employees are not considered “Osage Nation government employees” as defined in 15 ONC § 14-102(B).
F. “Executive session” means those meetings or portions of meetings of the public bodies which constituents and the general public cannot attend.
G. “Indian Health Service” means the federal agency charged with providing health care services to American Indian and Alaska Native people.
H. “Osage Nation” means the government of the Osage people.
I. “Si-Si A-Pe-Txa” means the Osage Nation unincorporated business, also referred to as “the Enterprise,” responsible for operating Osage Nation health care services in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and governed by a Board of Directors appointed by the Principal Chief of the Osage Nation and confirmed by the Osage Nation Congress. Si-Si A-Pe-Txa shall oversee services provided at the Wah-Zha-Zhe Health Clinic, the primary residential treatment centers, the Osage Nation Counseling Center, prevention, community health representative (CHR), public health nurse and any other health care services assigned by the Principal Chief and approved by the board of Si-Si A-Pe-Txa.
J. “Qualified professional” means a person possessing a minimum of one of the following qualifications:
1. A bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management, Health Care Administration, or an equivalent field;
2. A minimum of two years of experience in public health and wellness, Indian health, medicine, pharmaceuticals, mental health, or any combination of these fields;
3. A demonstrable working knowledge of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act and related statutes and regulations; or
4. A demonstrable working knowledge of health care management, health care operations/ownership, finance, health advocacy, nonprofit governance, or government.
K. “Third-party revenues” means all received and earned revenue from Medicare, Medicaid, private health insurance, or any other alternate resources or responsible parties for services provided by Si-Si A-Pe-Txa or its agents. ONCA 21-31, eff. Apr. 25, 2022.