LITTLE BOSTON — The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe is the first non-state agency with the power to determine eligibility for Medicaid and Food Stamps.

On May 11, the Tribe and the State Department of Health and Human Services signed an Intergovernmental Agreement allowing tribal staff to determine eligibility.

Until then, the tribe could process the initial stages of the application, but only state agencies could determine qualifying eligibility, leaving tribal members to drive 70 miles round trip to Bremerton to complete the application.

Also, the tribe already takes care of many other services — Temporary Assistance to Needy Families, child support, foster care licensing, servicing families at the medical clinic as well as providing dental care — so now members can receive all the help they need in one location.

“We anticipate that this benefit to our medical and dental services will enable eligible patients to enroll in a timely manner for Medicaid,” Marilyn Olson, director of Children and Families, stated in a press release.

Debbie Collier, Family Assistance Program manager, said it only makes sense to be able to address all the families’ needs at one time in one location.

“We have our own tribal clinic and a lot come in for services that could be medically covered, but may not have had an application,” Collier said. “They’ll be able to apply when they get to the clinic. That way they’ll get services and it will be covered. We’ll be able to help tribal families get coverage much quicker.”

The Tribe can issue Electronic Benefit Cards for immediate assistance.

The Tribe also may determine the initial eligibility for non-natives who apply for the programs, allowing tribal offices to provide qualified applicants with food stamps and medical assistance right away, alleviating the 70-mile trip for North End residents.

Conversation about bringing food stamp/Medicaid programs to tribal offices began nine years ago, and in a few months the new processing system should be in place.

The Tribe provides services to more than 1,490 American Indians/Alaskan Natives who use the health facilities on the reservation.

The Tribe’s ability to determine eligibility is a five-year pilot program.