Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board

Legislative and Policy Update

Wednesday, July 13, 2022

Important Dates

Jul. 12-15, 2022

NIHB 3^rd Quarter Meeting/Strategic Planning — Pacific Grove, CA

Jul. 18, 2022 (11:00 AM Pacific)

HHS Tribal Consultation Policy Workgroup Meeting— virtual

Jul. 18-21, 2022

NPAIHB THD & QBM — virtual

Jul. 20-21, 2022

Improving PRC Workgroup Meeting — Oklahoma City, OK

Jul. 21, 2022 (12:00 PM Pacific)

DSTAC Monthly Meeting

Jul. 22, 2022 (12:00 PM Pacific)

IHS Demonstration Authority Consultation

Zoom Link

Jul. 25, 2022 (12:00 PM Pacific)

MMPC Meeting

Jul. 26, 2022 (8:30 AM Pacific)

Portland Area ISDEAA 638 Training

Zoom Link

Jul. 27, 2022 (9:00 AM Pacific)

Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding Partner Series

Registration Link

Jul. 27-28, 2022

TTAG Meeting — virtual

Jul. 28, 2022 (11:00 AM Pacific)

CDC TAC Meeting — virtual

Jul. 31-Aug. 4, 2022

Self-Governance Communication and Education Tribal Consortium Annual Conference — Burlingame, CA

Registration

Aug. 3-4, 2022

24^th Bi-Annual CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting —Tahlequah, OK

Registration

Aug. 9-11, 2022

DSTAC 4^th Quarter and National Meeting — Flagstaff, AZ

Federal Health Agency and Congress Tracker (FHACT) An ongoing list of Dear Tribal Leader Letters, Federal agency actions, and legislation introduced in the 117th Congress related to health.

An ongoing tracker of COVID-19 direct and set-aside funding for Tribes. Updated as of Aug. 2, 2021.

Legislative Updates

House Expected to Vote on Six Appropriations Bills Next Week. The House will take up 6 appropriations bills next week, including Interior and Environment Appropriations. The House Appropriations Committee previously approved Indian Health Service appropriations for FY 2023. The proposed budget includes $8.1 billion for IHS, an additional $1.5 billion above FY 2022 enacted level but $1.2 billion less than the President’s Budget Request. Notable increases over FY 2022 enacted level include: + $112 million for PRC, +$10 million for Tribal Epi Centers, +$47 million for Hep C and HIV, + $8 million for mental health, + $6 million for alcohol and substance abuse, + $20 million for national expansion of CHAP, and + $23 million for sanitation facilities. 

Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Business Meeting to Consider Roselyn Tso for Director of the Indian Health Service is scheduled for Wed., Jul. 13, 2022 at 11:30 AM Pacific. We will provide an announcement on the decision of the Senate Committee on Indian Affair. Ms. Tso’s nomination will need to be considered by the full Senate.

Tribal Consultation Updates

HHS and USDA Joint Consultation on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. HHS and USDA held consultation on Jun. 28, 2022 to seek input on the development and implementation of a national strategy on hunger, nutrition, and health.

• Written comments are due Jul. 15, 2022 to [email protected] 
• Framing paper and Five Pillars for Tribal Consultation: Link

FEMA Tribal Consultation on Preparedness Grant Programs. FEMA hosted tribal consultation last week to discuss the Emergency Management Performance Grant and the Tribal Homeland Security Grant Program.

• Written comments are due Jul. 22, 2022 to [email protected]
• For more details on the consultation, please visit the FEMA webpage HERE.

White House Council on Native American Affairs Consultation on Native Language Initiatives. The White House Council on Native American Affairs Education Committee has announced a consultation on Jun. 29, 2022 to seek input and feedback on Native Language initiatives.

• Written responses are due Jul. 22, 2022 to [email protected].

NIH Consultation on Maternal Health Initiative. The NIH has announced a consultation on Jun. 30, 2022 to seek input on their IMPROVE Initiative Maternal Health Research Centers of Excellence, which works to improve maternal health including reducing preventable causes of maternal death.

• Written comments are due Jul. 16, 2022 to [email protected].

IHS Demonstration Authority Tribal Consultation. IHS have announced a consultation on how to evaluate health care facility construction demonstration project proposals. There is no live consultation scheduled.

• Consultation will be held Jul. 22, 2022 at 12:00 PM Pacific; Zoom Link
• Written comments are due Aug. 5, 2022 to [email protected] with the subject line “Demonstration Authority Tribal Consultation”

HHS Region 10 Tribal Consultation Dear Tribal Leader Letter. HHS Region 10 will be hosting tribal consultation on Aug. 22-24, 2022. Both in-person and virtual attendance will be available. Consultation will be held in Portland, OR at Embassy Suites by Hilton Portland. More details will be released soon on the logistics of the consultation. One on one meetings will be held August 22.

• To attend virtually, Zoom Registration Link
• Written Testimony is due to [email protected] by Sep. 2, 2022

Administrative and Regulatory Updates

HHS Guidance on HIPAA and Audio-Only Telehealth. HHS has released new guidance on health care providers using audio-only telehealth services. Providers are permitted to use audio-only telehealth as long as they are consistent with HIPAA requirements.

• For more information, please see the HHS Guidance on Audio-Only Telehealth.

Secretary Becerra Invokes Defense Production Act to Address Infant Formula Shortage – Learn more via May 22, 2022 HHS Press Release and access resources below.

• Learn more about the: Abbott Infant Formula Update
• For tools and resources to help families find formula, go to www.hhs.gov/formula
• Watch this video from President Biden describing the steps the Administration is taking to increase baby formula supply
• Resources: General WIC Guidance (Oregon); Resources for Families (WA DOH)

IHS Seeks Input on Health Professions Scholarship Program. IHS is seeking input on identifying professions to include in the IHS Scholarship Program for academic year 2023-24 and loan repayment program FY 2023.

• Email priorities by Aug. 1, 2022 to Ms. Tara Johnston at [email protected]
• NPAIHB tribal template letter coming soon!

IHS ISDEAA 638 Training. IHS is hosting an ISDEAA 638 training for the Portland Area on Jul. 26, 2022, at 8:30 AM Pacific. This training will discuss a variety of 638 contracting and compacting topics.

• Zoom Link for Portland Area 638 Training.

988 Suicide Help Line Goes Live. The 988 number reaching the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline goes live nationally on Jul. 16, 2022. Downloadable and printable tools including posters and wallet cards are available via the 988 Partner Toolkit.

• For more information, visit the SAMHSA website 988 page
• Coming to Indian Country: 988 and National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Information
• NPAIHB/THRIVE will be sending Social Media Materials to all 43 Tribes and are Available to Order HERE.

HRSA Provider Relief Funds Reporting Portal Open for Period 3.

Just a reminder that the PRF Reporting Portal opened on Jul. 1, 2022 and will remain open through Sep. 30, 2022 for Reporting Period 3.  

FDA and CDC Expand COVID-19 Vaccine for Children 6 Months – 5 Years of Age.

On Jun. 17, 2022, the FDA has announced that COVID-19 Vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech are now available to be administered to children as young as 6 Months. The Moderna vaccine will be administered to children 6 months to 5 years as a 2-dose series, issued one month apart.  Some immunocompromised children may also be eligible for a third dose. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine will be administered in a 3-dose series. In children 6 months to 4 years, the vaccine will be given with a gap of at least 3 weeks between the first two administrations, and the third dose administered at least 8 weeks after the second dose.

• For more information, please view the FDA COVID-19 Vaccine Update.

Litigation Updates

Dobbs Supreme Court Decision. The Supreme Court held on June 24, 2022 that states have the authority on whether or not to allow abortions and when, overturning Roe v. Wade (1973). This holding also impacts Tribal Health Programs, as there are a variety of additional factors in play such as state licensure being required for tribal healthcare providers.

• Please see the memorandum from Hobbs, Straus, Dean and Walker.

Castro-Huerta Supreme Court Decision. The Supreme Court held on June 29, 2022 that states have concurrent jurisdiction over non-Indian crimes committed against Indians in Indian Country. This holding effectively rules that the foundational case Worcester v. Georgia (1832) is no longer controlling. The long-term effects of Castro-Huerta are uncertain at this time. 

• Please see the memorandum from Hobbs, Straus, Dean and Walker.

For more information:

Laura Platero, Executive Director 

Liz Coronado, Senior Policy Advisor

Candice Jimenez, Health Policy Specialist

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board | Website