Health
Mich. tribe facing opposition over health clinic


Officials in Michigan say they will fight the Hannahville Indian Community's plans to open an magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) clinic in metro Detroit.

The tribe sees a need to offer MRI tests in the area because the local hospital does not have an MRI machine. An MRI machine typically costs about $2.5 million.

But officials say the tribe will need to comply with state laws that regulate medical equipment. They say they will oppose any request to put the clinic into trust.

"This project on the surface appears to be nothing more than an effort to create an artificial economic advantage by placing land in trust hundreds of miles from the tribe's existing reservation,� a spokesperson for the state Department of Community Health told The Detroit News.

A First Nation in Saskatchewan, Canada, is also trying to open an MRI clinic but faces questions over provincial laws that do not allow private-run health facilities.

Get the Story:
Tribe's MRI plan stirs dispute (The Detroit News 2/26)

Related Stories:
Sask. First Nation considers starting up MRI clinic (01/28)