The Cherokee Nation is increasing its funding for health care centers in its jurisdictional area.  When the tribal council decided Monday to hike its 2015 operating budget, the decision allowed the Cherokees to pump an additional 2.1 million dollars into staff jobs and operate the new Ochelata Health Center.  The Bartlesville health center currently operated by the Cherokee nation occupies a 5-thousand square-foot storefront space but the new stand-alone Ochelata center will encompass 28-thousand square-feet.

The tribal council also allocated 4.8 million dollars to buy medical equipment for health centers that are under construction.  The money comes from fiscal-year 2014 carry-over funds.