Erik Lujan
Erik Lujan joined the Executive Board of Health Action New Mexico in the fall 2013, and was nominated to serve as President of the Board in fall of 2014. Erik Lujan is an enrolled Tribal member of Taos Pueblo. Erik first became aware of the disparities within the healthcare system when he became disabled with a serious health condition at the age of 30. Since that time , he has helped raise attention to healthcare disparities that specifically affect Native American elders in New Mexico.
Lujan has served as a policy analyst for New Mexico Indian Council on Aging where he extensively studied and presented on the implications of federal health reform and state-led Medicaid reform for Native American elders. He also served as the New Mexico Indian Council on Aging’s representative regarding reforming the Medicaid program in New Mexico, leading to the formation of Centennial Care. As Chair of this committee, he coordinated the efforts of all the New Mexico Pueblos to share information and testify before the State Legislature in opposition to managed care for Native communities. Mr. Lujan is also a trained and certified Enrollment Counselor who is skilled in conducting outreach in Native communities on matters pertaining to health insurance and healthcare services.
Mr. Lujan is a member of the All Pueblo Council of Governors Health Committee. The APCG Health Committee is charged with analyzing healthcare related issues that Pueblos face and then making recommendations to the 19 Pueblo Governors of New Mexico. Mr. Lujan is also a member for the Indian Health Service’s Advisory Committee regarding UNM hospital’s contract mandating that the University provide no cost in-patient and out-patient healthcare services for Tribal members.
Lujan was appointed to the New Mexico Office of Healthcare Reform where he served on its Native American workgroup. His efforts with this workgroup led to the creation of the Native American Health Education and Outreach Program operated by Native American Professional Parent Resources (NAPPR). Mr. Lujan became the Assistant Director of the Health Education and Outreach Program for NAPPR where his role is to coordinate the outreach, education and enrollment services to New Mexico’s Native American communities statewide.
