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Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
Legislative and Policy Update
March 7, 2023
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January Health News & Notes
Take a look at the Behavioral Health edition of the Health News & Notes quarterly journal. This issue features comments from Chairman Nickolaus D. Lewis and information on the upcoming inaugural National Tribal Opioid Summit.
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Mar. 8, 2023 (10:30 AM PST)
Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer: IHS Health Information Technology Modernization Preparing for Change
Registration Link
Mar. 8-9, 2023
Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee Meeting — Washington, DC
Mar. 8-9, 2023
HRSA Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting — Hybrid; Tahlequah, OK
Mar. 13, 2023 (2:00 PM PST)
NPAIHB Tribal Caucus on HIT Modernization, Access to Federal Medical Supplies and Updating OMBs Race & Ethnicity Statistical Standards
— Virtual
Zoom Link
Mar. 14-15, 2023
Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Meeting — Washington, DC
Mar. 15, 2023 (10:00 AM PST)
Indian Health Service (IHS) National Tribal Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Behavioral Health Quarterly Meeting — Virtual
Mar. 15, 2023 (12:00 PM PST)
HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation Bi-weekly Planning Call — Virtual
Registration Link
Mar. 15-16, 2023
CMS TTAG Virtual Face to Face Meeting — Virtual
Mar. 16, 2023 (12:00 PM PST)
Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) Monthly Meeting
— Virtual
Mar. 16, 2023 (11:00 AM PST)
Tribal Consultation on OMB Initial Proposals for Revising Statistical Policy Directive for Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (SPD 15)
— Virtual
Registration Link
Mar. 20, 2023 (11:00 AM PST)
HHS Tribal Consultation on New Strategy for Tribes to Access the Strategic National Stockpile — Virtual
Registration Link
Mar. 22, 2023 (11:00 AM PST)
National Institutes of Health (NIH) Tribal Advisory Committee — Virtual
Mar. 23, 2023 (11:00 AM PST)
Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Tribal Advisory Committee — Virtual
Mar. 29, 2023 (12:00 PM PST)
HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation Bi-weekly Planning Call — Virtual
Registration Link
Apr. 4-6, 2023
Veterans Administration Advisory Committee on Tribal and Indian Affairs (ACTIA) — Cow Creek, OR
Apr. 5, 2023 (11:00 AM PST)
Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Intergovernmental & External Affairs (IEA) National Tribal Learning Session: Understanding Historical Trauma and its Impacts on the American Indian/ Alaska Native Workforce
Registration Link
Apr. 6, 2023 (6:00 AM PST)
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Tribal Consultation on Child Support Issues — Hybrid; Atlantic City, NJ
Registration Link
Apr. 12, 2023 (11:30 AM PST)
CMS TTAG Conference Call — Virtual
Apr. 18-19, 2023
HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation — Washington, DC
Apr. 25-27, 2023
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) Quarterly Board Meeting — Lummi Nation, WA
May 1-5, 2023
2023 National Indian Health Board (NIHB) National Tribal Health Conference — Anchorage, AK
May 10, 2023 (11:30 AM PST)
CMS TTAG Conference Call — Virtual
May 7-11, 2023
Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians Midyear Convention
— Coeur d’Alene Casino, ID
Registration Link
June 26-29, 2023
2023 Tribal Self-Governance Conference — Tulsa, OK
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NPAIHB Chairman Nickolaus Lewis will be testifying before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee on Thursday, Mar. 9, at 2 PM EST. Chairman Lewis will present our Northwest priorities for IHS funding.
Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) Re-introduces IHS Contract Support Costs Amendment Act. Representatives Cole and Davids (D-KS) introduced H.R. 409 to House on Jan. 20, 2023, which seeks to amend Section 106(a) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 5325(a)) to secure existing Tribal contract support cost reimbursements, and for other purposes. The bill was referred to the Committee on Natural Resources.
U.S. Senate Committee on Finance releases Mental Health Care Integration draft. Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-OR), Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID), Senator Cortez Masto (D-Nev.), and Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) released a discussion draft of legislation aimed at creating better care integration of mental and physical health care services, and expanding access to crisis care and follow up services to get Americans the longer-term care they need. This discussion draft on mental health integration is the fourth legislative draft the Finance Committee has released since kicking off its bipartisan mental health initiative.
- A summary of the provisions is available here, and the full text of the discussion draft here.
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Other discussion drafts may be released later in 2023. The committee is committed to fully paying for any mental health package with bipartisan, consensus-driven efforts.
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Tribal Consultation & Listening Session Updates | |
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Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Consultation Series on Health Information Technology (HIT) Modernization. IHS is initiating a four-part series of Tribal consultations related to its HIT Modernization Program. The sessions will be staggered each quarter, beginning with "Preparing for Change" on Mar. 8, 2023, at 10:30 AM PST. This first session will provide background on the Program and focus on Tribal feedback on change readiness for electronic health record modernization. The remaining sessions will cover resources, governance, and future planning. The IHS Dear Tribal Leader Letter contains the dates and registration information for all consultations.
Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes for Medicare Advantage Organizations, Medicaid Managed Care Plans, State Medicaid Agencies, etc. This proposed rule would place new requirements on Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, state Medicaid fee-for-service (FFS) programs, state Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) FFS programs, Medicaid managed care plans, CHIP managed care entities, and Qualified Health Plan (QHP) issuers on the Federally-facilitated Exchanges (FFEs) to improve the electronic exchange of healthcare data and streamline processes related to prior authorization, while continuing CMS' drive toward interoperability in the healthcare market.
- Written comments may be submitted on this regulation to https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the “Submit a comment” instructions until Mar. 13, 2023.
HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation April 18-19, 2023 with Bi-weekly Planning Calls in March. The Annual Tribal Budget Consultation provides a forum for Tribes to collectively share their views and priorities with HHS officials on national health and human services funding priorities and make recommendations on HHS's FY 2025 budget request. This year's consultation will take place in-person at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building in Washington, D.C. HHS will work with Tribal leaders to improve the consultation process through biweekly planning calls. Tribal leaders are asked to register for one of three calls: Mar. 15, and 29, all taking place at 12:00 PM PST (register here). Tribal leaders can meet one-on-one with HHS agencies during the consultation (available in-person only).
- Refer to Dear Tribal Leader Letter for more information. Note: Registration for the 1:1 sessions are separate from the main consultation.
- Also, save the date for Region 10 Tribal Consultation Aug. 9-11, 2023 in Anchorage, AK.
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Consultation on Initial Proposals for Revising Statistical Policy Directive 15 – Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity (SPD 15). OMB is reviewing SPD 15 to determine how to improve the quality and usefulness of federal race and ethnicity data. The current standards were developed in 1997. A Federal Interagency Technical Working Group on Race and Ethnicity Standards comprised of federal career officials was convened to facilitate this process. Their initial recommendations on how to improve SPD 15 for racial and ethnicity data collection and use have been submitted to OMB, including on American Indian and Alaska Native categories of identification, and are now open for public comment through the Federal Register. Registration information is provided in this Dear Tribal Leader Letter.
HHS Announces Tribal Consultation on New Strategy for Tribes to Access the Strategic National Stockpile. On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 14001 on a Sustainable Public Health Supply Chain, which directs actions to secure supplies necessary for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as future public health emergencies. In response, a working group led by the HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) reviewed recommendations received during Tribal Consultation in the fall of 2021 to develop the draft plan (Link EO 14001 pdf). As part of this new round of Tribal consultation (link DTLL), Tribal leaders are invited to a virtual consultation on Mar. 20, 2023, at 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM PST.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Tribal Consultation on Child Support Issues. The ACF Office of Child Support Enforcement will consult with Tribes on Apr. 6, 2023, from 9:00am to 4:00pm ET on programmatic, regulatory, and legislative priorities. To facilitate the discussion, ACF invites input on discussion questions posed in the Dear Tribal Leader Letter. Tribes have the option of attending in-person in Atlantic City, NJ, or virtually.
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Administrative and Regulatory Updates | |
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HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Issues 90 Day Notice of the End of the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). On Feb. 9th, Secretary Becerra provided notice via a Dear Governors Letter that the COVID-19 PHE declaration will end on May 11, 2023. The decision, he explains, was reached based on current trends regarding COVID-19 in the United States, which include a 92% decrease in daily reported cases, an 80% decline in deaths, and a nearly 80% decrease in new hospitalizations compared to data from January 2022. HHS will continue to prioritize addressing COVID-19 as it transitions from current flexibilities enabled by the PHE. Please see copies of the Dear Governors Letter and factsheet.
HHS Releases Consultation Summary on Tribal Input Received for Developing an HHS Tribal Data Sharing Policy. On October 13 and 19, 2022, HHS consulted with Tribal leaders on their recommendations for developing an HHS Tribal Data Sharing Policy in response to the Government Accountability Office's report entitled, "Tribal Epidemiology Centers, HHS Actions Needed to Enhance Data Access." In that report, GAO found that access to Indian Health Service (IHS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and state and local epidemiological data varied across the twelve Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs) serving Tribal communities. Tribal leaders participated in the two virtual consultation sessions and had an opportunity to submit written comments. HHS now releases its consultation summary report, here.
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Indian Health Service (IHS) Announces Stacey Ecoffey as New Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs. Ms. Ecoffey, an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe will be responsible for providing leadership on tribal and urban Indian health activities and will oversee Office of Tribal Self-Governance, Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes, and Office of Urban Indian Health Programs. She previously served as the principal advisor for Tribal Affairs at the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs within the Immediate office of the Secretary of HHS. We look forward to working with Ms. Ecoffey in her new role as Deputy Director for IHS Intergovernmental Affairs and appreciate her leadership within the Secretary’s Office at HHS. | |
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IHS Calendar Year 2023 Reimbursement Rates Published. The 2023 IHS MOU Encounter Rate for Medicaid outpatient services is $654. See Federal Register :: Public Inspection: Reimbursement Rates for Calendar Year 2023.
IHS Shares Guidance on the Period of Availability for COVID-19 Supplemental Funding Provided in Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. In response to questions regarding COVID-19 funding availability, IHS released a Dear Tribal Leader Letter dated November 25, 2022. IHS Deputy Director Ben Smith shared guidance on the availability period and corresponding expenditure timelines for COVID-19 supplemental funding provided to the IHS, tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations in FY 2020 and FY 2021.
- View the Dear Tribal Leader Letter here.
CDC Launches a New Tribal Public Health Data Site. The CDC has launched an online Tribal Public Health Data site to assist tribal partners and others with information and tools related to tribal data. The site guides accessing CDC tribal data; information on tribal data issues, tools, technical assistance, and training; and tribal data-related resources from public health partners. This site will continue growing as CDC further engages with tribes and tribal organizations to provide the most needed data-related information.
CMS Issues State Health Official Letter Discussing 'Unwinding'. CMS released a State Health Official (SHO) letter outlining new requirements in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2023, that impact state activities for the Medicaid and CHIP programs to unwind from the COVID-19 public health emergency.
CMS Announces First Health Equity Conference. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is pleased to announce its inaugural CMS Health Equity Conference, to be held on Jun. 7-8, 2023, at Howard University. The two-day, free conference will convene leaders in health equity from federal agencies, health provider organizations, academia, community-based organizations, and others, both in person and virtually. Conference attendees will have the opportunity to hear from CMS's leadership on recent developments and updates on CMS programs, up-to-date research on health equity, discuss promising practices
and innovative solutions, and collaborate on community engagement efforts.
HRSA Provider Relief Funds Reporting Portal Open for Period 4.
Just a reminder that the PRF Reporting Portal is open, and Reporting Period 4 is due Mar. 31, 2023.
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| Payments Received Period | Deadline to Use Funds | Reporting Time Period | | Period 1 | 4/10/2020 - 6/30/220
| 6/30/2021
| 7/1/2021 - 9/30/2021
| | Period 2 | 7/1/2020 - 12/31/2020
| 12/31/2021
| 1/1/2022 - 3/31/2022
| | Period 3 | 1/1/2021 - 6/30/2021
| 6/30/2022
| 7/1/2022 - 9/0/2022
| | Period 4 | 7/1/2021 - 12/31/2021 | 12/31/2022 | 1/1/2023 - 3/1223 | | |
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SAMHSA Announces Removal of DATA Waiver Requirement to Prescribe Buprenorphine. Clinicians can now prescribe medications for the treatment of opioid use disorder without submitting a Notice of Intent (Waiver) to SAMHSA.
VA Publishes Brochure on Resources for Native American Veterans Experiencing Homelessness. The new brochure was developed as part of the multi-agency Native American Veteran Homelessness Initiative with the IHS that seeks to increase access to care and services for Native veterans experiencing or at risk of homelessness. The brochure includes 24/7 confidential counselor telephone lines and an overview of the services available through the VA. These include housing, healthcare, case management, employment, and legal support programs.
Free Emergency Care at Any VA or Non-VA Facility for Veterans in Suicidal Crisis. Beginning on Jan. 17, 2023, Native veterans and other veterans may go to any VA or non-VA facility for no-cost emergency acute suicidal crisis care. The VA will provide, pay for, or reimburse eligible emergency suicide care, transportation costs, and follow-up care for up to 30 days of residential care and 90 days of outpatient care, regardless of the facility where such care is received. Veterans need not be enrolled with the VA to be covered under this new benefit.
- The VA press release with eligibility information and further resources is here.
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Tribal Health-related Funding Opportunities | |
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HRSA Announces Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome. HRSA is funding approximately 40 grant awards to help "reduce the incidence and impact of neonatal abstinence syndrome in rural communities by improving systems of care, family supports, and social determinants of health." Recipients will receive $500,000 per year over a three-year performance period. Tribes and Tribal organizations are eligible to apply. All grant related services must be exclusively provided in HRSA-designated rural areas. The application closes on Mar. 8, 2023.
- Learn more about the Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement, here.
SAMHSA Announces Grants for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals & Homeless Guidebook Release with Webinar. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) FY 2023 Grant for the Benefit of Homeless Individuals Notice of Funding Opportunity has been released with applications due Mar. 21, 2023. The purpose of this program is to provide comprehensive, coordinated, and evidence-based treatment and services for individuals, including youth, and families with substance use disorders (SUDs) or co-occurring mental health conditions and SUDs (CODs) who are experiencing homelessness. Learn more about the NOFO, here.
The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS), announces the availability of approximately $25,000,000 in HVRP grants. On February 28, 2023, The U.S. Department of Labor published a notice of funding, now available for review on Grants.gov. This FOA announces the availability of approximately $25 million in grant funds, with a maximum award limit for an individual award set at $500,000. The purpose of these funds is to conduct programs to provide job training, counseling, placement, and related services to expedite the reintegration of homeless and incarcerated veterans into the labor force. NCHV was instrumental in HVRP's permanent authorization due to the fact that stable employment for veterans is a key component in our fight to end veteran homelessness.
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Closing Date for Applications: Mar. 30, 2023 — no later than 11:59 PM EST
ACF Grants for Family Violence Prevention and Services & Domestic Violence Shelter and Supportive Services. Two grants are currently available for Tribes and Tribal organizations to support public education around family, domestic, and dating violence, as well as to provide shelter and supportive services for the victims of these abuses and their dependents. A single Notice of Funding Opportunity announcement details the application requirements for both grants. Applications are due Mar. 31, 2023.
IHS Zero Suicide Initiative Coordinating Center Cooperative Agreement. IHS is seeking to build the capacity of existing Zero Suicide Initiative projects through a cooperative agreement that will provide technical assistance in the areas of data collection, reporting, training, resources, and implementation over a five-year period. The $850,000 grant must be used for this work, as well as to facilitate the provision of staffing, logistics, and administrative resources. Applications are due by Apr. 17, 2023, with more information included in the Grant Opportunity announcement.
ACF Human Trafficking Youth Prevention Education Demonstration Project. ACF is funding local educational agencies to develop and implement programs to prevent human trafficking through school-based training and education. Grant activities can include educator and staff training, as well as student-oriented prevention programs. Grantees are also expected to develop and implement a Human Trafficking School Safety Protocol. More information is provided in the Notice of Funding Opportunity. Applications are due Apr. 27, 2023.
ACF FY 2023 Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program. Tribes are encouraged to apply for Development and Implementation grants to conduct community assessments and develop the infrastructure to provide evidence-based maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs. This opportunity is intended for Tribal entities that have no prior experience with implementing such programs (a separate opportunity will be available for entities with past or present programs). The Grant Opportunity announcement states that awards of between $250,000 to $1 million are anticipated. Applications are due May 1, 2023.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is now soliciting applications for the Fiscal Year 2023 Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Grant Program: Development and Implementation Grants. Funds will support 63-month cooperative agreements between ACF and federally-recognized Indian tribes (or a consortium of Indian tribes), tribal organizations, or urban Indian organizations to support: conduct community needs and readiness assessments; develop the infrastructure needed for planning and implementation of evidence-based maternal, infant, and early childhood home visiting programs; provide high-quality, evidence-based home visiting services to pregnant women and families with young children aged birth to kindergarten entry; implement performance measurement and CQI activities; and engage in activities to strengthen early childhood systems of support for families with young children.
- This funding is intended for tribal entities that do not have prior experience with implementing evidence-based home visiting programs and are not currently implementing a program. A separate NOFO (Tribal MIECHV Grant Program: Implementation and Expansion Grants, HHS-2023-ACF-ECD-TH-0241) will be available soon for entities with such prior experience.
- Applications are due May 1, 2023. More information is available in the NOFO: https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=345994
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Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board | Website | | | | |
