TAHLEQUAH, Okla. — Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief Bryan Warner propose a massive investment into a new health care facility replacing the aging federal Claremore Indian Hospital as part of the tribe’s planned assumption of operations.
“The Cherokee people and other Native Americans deserve a state-of-the-art health facility in Claremore, one not only owned and operated by Cherokee Nation, but designed by Cherokee Nation to meet the highest standards,” said Chief Hoskin. “We have the resources and capacity to not only assume operations of the Claremore Service Unit from IHS, we can also replace a federal facility that is far past its useful life and was, frankly, neglected for decades by the federal government.”
The federal government built the first Indian health care facility in Claremore in 1930 and replaced that building with the current facility in 1978.
The Claremore Indian Hospital provides outpatient and inpatient services through the Indian Health Service, a department of the United States Department of Health and Human Services. It is the only federally run health care facility for Native Americans within the 7,000-square-mile Cherokee Nation Reservation.
Last September, Principal Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner proposed that Cherokee Nation assume operations of IHS Claremore with unanimous support of the Council of the Cherokee Nation. Since then, IHS and Cherokee Nation have been in negotiations over the tribe’s assumption of operations.
“Our team has spent the past eight months not only negotiating with IHS but examining operations and the state of the facility at a depth that was previously inaccessible to us,” said Deputy Chief Warner. “The conclusion is inescapable: we must build a new state of the art facility if we are going to deliver health care that meets our high standards of care.”
Cherokee Nation officials have determined that bringing the Claremore Indian Hospital to a level of quality even close to Cherokee Nation’s standards would cost in excess of $100 million.
“We could not recommend to tribal leadership investing $100 million of the Cherokee peoples’ money into a 47-year-old facility that even with a substantial remodel would not meet our standards,” said Cherokee Nation Health System CEO Dr. R. Stephen Jones. “We can construct a state-of-the-art facility to provide outpatient care and emergency room care, as well as a wellness center, in approximately two years during which time we will make the necessary investments in the current facility required to keep it functioning in the short term."
Although the proposed replacement facility would eliminate the inpatient operations that currently exist at the federal facility, Dr. Jones said the future of inpatient care in the area remained bright.
“Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner have made clear that if we eliminate the underused, inefficient and wasteful in-patient part of Claremore’s operations we should develop area partnerships for a seamless in-patient experience for our patients, and that’s what our team aims to do,” Dr. Jones added.
Cherokee Nation’s Health Services team has determined what positions will be filled when the tribe assumes operations on October 1 and has been meeting with Claremore employees to make job offers to applicants from the current workforce of federal employees.
Under federal law and regulations, federal employees at Claremore who decline employment, or whose positions may be eliminated, enjoy a number of federal benefits, including severance packages.
“Claremore has a talented and dedicated workforce and we are excited to hire as many interested applicants as possible to begin their new careers as Cherokee Nation employees,” said Jones.
Hoskin and Warner’s proposed “Cherokee Nation Claremore Outpatient and Emergency Health Center Act of 2025” calls for authorization of $255.5 million to construct the new facility at a location within the Claremore community to be determined by the Principal Chief.
The legislation’s lead sponsor, Deputy Speaker Kevin Easley, Jr. expressed optimism that the legislation would be approved and making a “generational impact.”
“This legislation will not only improve the quality of life for Cherokee Nation citizens and all who use our health services, but I believe it will save lives,” said Deputy Speaker Easley, Jr. “The impact on health, wellness, and the local economy mean we will see a huge return in our investment both financially and in the health and wellness of the Cherokee people. It is quite simply transformational for Rogers County and the surrounding area.”
Council Speaker Mike Shambaugh, a co-sponsor of the measure, said the proposed act “could be the most impactful law enacted during my eight years on the Council, given what a state-of-the-art outpatient facility, emergency room and wellness center means to our shared future.”
The authority granted Chief Hoskin to construct the new facility under the legislation would be conditioned on him concluding negotiations with IHS on the assumption of operations of the “Claremore Service Unit,” as the current facility is formally known.
“We are close to concluding negotiations with IHS on the most favorable terms possible,” said Chief Hoskin. “If the Council approves our proposal, we will move quickly to identify a location for the new facility, design of the facility and making needed improvements to the current facility, which will need to continue in operation for the next two years as we build the new facility.”
As part of the assumption of operations Cherokee Nation will own the current facility located at 101 S. Moore Avenue in Claremore and will continue operating the facility until the new Cherokee Nation Claremore Outpatient and Emergency Health Center is completed in 2027.
Councilor Danny Callison, a co-sponsor of the legislation who represents District 15, said construction of the new facility and ownership of the old facility both create opportunities for the tribe.
“First and foremost, the new health and wellness facility will provide patients and staff the experience that they deserve,” said Callison. “But, we will give careful thought and collect lots of citizen input as to how to best utilize the current property after we transfer operations and I feel it could meet any number of needs.”
Chief Hoskin and Deputy Chief Warner’s proposed legislation goes before the tribe’s Rules committee on June 26 for initial consideration.
Cherokee Nation operates the largest health system in Indian Country. The system handles over 2 million patient visits per year across 11 health facilities. Two of those facilities- the Salina Amo Health Center and W.W. Hastings Hospital in Tahlequah, are being replaced by new, larger state-of-the-art facilities.
The Cherokee Nation Health system includes a wide range of programs and services are available to citizens of all federally recognized tribes within the reservation.