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Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
Legislative and Policy Update
May 31, 2023
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Jun 1, 2023 (12:00 PM PST)
IHS June Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations Call
— Virtual
Zoom Link
Jun 1-2, 2023
IHS Director’s Advisory Workgroup on Tribal Consultation
— Seattle, WA
Jun 2, 2023 (11:00 AM PST)
OMB Virtual Tribal Consultation on IHS Mandatory Funding Proposal
Registration Link
Jun 4-9, 2023
NCAI Mid-Year Conference
— Prior Lake, MN
Registration Link
Jun 7-8, 2023
CMS Health Equity Conference
— Washington D.C.; hybrid
Conference Link
Jun 13-14, 2023
IHS Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee Meeting
— Washington D.C.; hybrid
Jun 13-15, 2023
Administration for Children & Families Tribal Advisory Committee
— Klamath Tribes, OR
Jun 14, 2023 (11:30 AM PST)
CMS TTAG Monthly Meeting
Jun 15, 2023 (12:00 PM PST)
DSTAC Monthly Meeting
Jun 20-21, 2023
IHS National Tribal Advisory Committee (NTAC) on Behavioral Health Meeting
— Virtual
Jun 21, 2023 (8:30 AM PST)
SAMHSA Tribal Technical Advisory Committee Meeting
— Virtual
Jun 22, 2023 (9:30 AM PST)
CHAP Tribal Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting
— Virtual
Jun 22, 2023 (11:00 AM PST)
CDC/ATSDR Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting
Jun 23, 2023 (9:00 AM PST)
HRSA IEA Region 10 – Innovative Programs to Develop and Sustain the Health Workforce in Region 10
— Renton, WA; hybrid
Registration Link
Jun 26-29, 2023
2023 Tribal Self-Governance Annual Conference
— Tulsa, OK
Jun 27-29, 2023
Our Nations, Our Journeys Indigenous Public Health Conference: Healing from the Opioid Epidemic through Strengths-based Approaches and Data Sovereignty
— Prior Lake, MN
Registration Link
Jun 28-29, 2023
IHS Facilities Appropriations Advisory Board (FAAB) Meeting
— Virtual
Zoom Link
Jul 19-20, 2023
Region 10 Opioid Summit
— Vancouver, WA
Registration Link
Jul 25-27, 2023
16th Biennial NPAIHB & CRIHB Joint & Quarterly Board Meeting
— Siletz, OR
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Spring Edition
Check out 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 summer youth delegate opportunities.
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Legislation & Appropriation Updates | |
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Fiscal Responsibility Act, H.R. 3746. President Biden and House Republicans have reached a deal to address the debt ceiling limit. H.R. 3746 would suspend the debt ceiling limit through January 1, 2025, limit FY 2024 nondefense discretionary funds to FY 2023 levels, allow for a 1% growth in FY 2025, and consider only a 1% increase for FY 2026-2029. Additionally, this deal would rescind COVID-19 funding that has not been obligated. The House is expected to vote on H.R. 3746 on Wednesday.
Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) Reauthorization Act of 2023, H.R. 2547, introduced by Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK-04) and Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA-36). This bill would reauthorize SDPI at $150 million annually for 5 five fiscal years. SDPI Congressional member sign-on letters are available. Urge your representative to join the letter!
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To view the Congressional sign-on letter for the House, click here.
Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within HHS, H.R. 2535, reintroduced in the 118th Congress by Rep. Stanton (D-AZ) and Rep. Joyce (R-OH). This bill would elevate the current position of the Director of the Indian Health Service to Assistant Secretary for Indian Health within HHS. This bill was referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources and then to the Committee on Energy and Commerce.
President Biden Releases Budget Request for FY 2024. The Biden Administration’s proposed FY 2024 includes $8.1 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and $250 million in mandatory funding for Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). The Administration also proposes a compulsory budget for all IHS accounts starting in 2025 that would grow each year automatically based on inflation, critical operational needs, and existing backlogs in health care services and facilities infrastructure. IHS program increases in the budget request for FY 2024 include +$181 million for PRC, + $37 million for mental health, +$42 million for alcohol and substance abuse, and + $20 million for CHAP.
- The President’s Budget Request also includes the reauthorization of SDPI at $250 million in FY 2024, $260 million in FY 2025, and $270 million in FY 2026.
Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies releases outside witness testimony instructions for FY 2024 appropriations. The Indian Health Service budget is within the jurisdiction of the Interior Subcommittee. The NPAIHB submitted testimony on May 24, 2023.
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Tribal Consultation, Listening Session & Written Comment Updates | |
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Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Tribal Consultation on the President’s Mandatory Funding Proposal for the IHS. OMB will conduct a virtual tribal consultation on the President's mandatory funding proposal for the IHS on Jun. 2, 2023, at 11:00 AM PST.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tribal Consultation on CDC’s Rape Prevention and Education (RPE) Program. CDC and ATSDR are hosting this meeting to consult with federally recognized AI/AN tribes to receive input and guidance to inform sexual violence prevention activities and strategies in developing Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs). Tribal consultation will be held on Jul. 12, 2023, from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM.
Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Civil Rights (OCR) Tribal Consultation. HHS OCR conducted tribal consultation last week to receive input from Tribes on proposed rulemaking prohibiting the disclosure or use of protected health information for limited purposes when obtaining, providing, or facilitating reproductive healthcare.
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Administrative and Regulatory Updates | |
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COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Ended on May 11, 2023. Below are resources related to the end of the COVID-19 PHE.
IHS Requesting Priorities on Health Professionals for the Scholarship Program and Loan Repayment Program. IHS invites feedback on a “Priority Categories” list for inclusion in the Scholarship Program and Loan Repayment Program for FY 2024-2025. Health profession priorities are due Aug. 1, 2023, to Jeremy Sheehan at Jeremy.sheehan@ihs.gov.
IHS Website for Sanitation Facilities Construction Projects. IHS Division of Sanitation Facilities Construction Projects launched a new website that includes the status of all sanitation facilities projects funded with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Proposes Eliminating Cost Share for Tribal Child Support Enforcement Programs. ACF has published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would eliminate the non-Federal cost share for Tribal child support enforcement programs, including the 90/10 and 80/20 cost-share rates. Written comments on this proposed rule are due Jun. 20, 2023.
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Submit written comments through the Federal eRulemaking Portal HERE using Regulatory Information Number 0970-AC99.
CDC Director Rochelle Walensky Announces her Departure from the Agency. The White House announced that Director Walensky will leave the Agency on June 30. She has served as agency director for two years and guided the Biden Administration on the COVID-19 response since he took office.
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.
Medicare Prescription Drug Inflation Rebate Program. CMS announces lower coinsurance for individuals with Medicare Part B coverage for 27 certain prescription drugs that will go into effect on Apr. 1, 2023. The list of Part B drugs this rebate applies to is available HERE.
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. As of April 1, 2023, states are no longer required to maintain continuous Medicaid enrollment to receive the temporary FMAP increase.
Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Issues Temporary Extension of COVID-19 Telemedicine Flexibilities for Prescription Controlled Substances. On March 1, the DEA released two proposed rules that would restrict telemedicine prescribing of controlled substances unless there had been a prior in-person medical evaluation. The DEA received over 30,000 comments from the NPAIHB in response to this proposed rule. To allow time to review the comments, the DEA will continue the telemedicine flexibilities for prescribing controlled medications authorized under the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency until Nov. 11, 2023.
Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services issues Consumer Alert: Fraud Schemes Targeting Native American Communities in Behavioral Health Treatment Centers. A summary of the May 16 Alert is below, and the total Alert can be found here. The Alert identifies two types of fraudulent schemes targeting some of the most vulnerable members of Native American communities:
- A scheme involving phony sober living homes for addiction treatment and support, where the scammers pretend to be healthcare providers offering fake services and treatments while stealing the personal and medical identities of vulnerable community members;
- A scheme involving the recruitment of patients by employees of behavioral health outpatient treatment centers, who often work for fraudulent healthcare providers, and seek to induce patients to undergo an intake process with a licensed Behavioral Health Professional specializing in substance abuse counseling, then fraudulently billing Medicaid for services that do not align with the actual time spent.
Office of Inspector General (OIG) Compliance Program Guidance Documents. OIG announces modernization of Compliance Program Guidances (CPG) that includes: publishing general CPG on federal fraud and abuse laws, compliance program basics, operating effective compliance programs, and OIG processes and resources for all individuals and entities; publishing industry-specific CPGs for providers, suppliers, and other participants in the healthcare industry or other sectors related to Federal health care programs. These updated guidances will no longer be available on the Federal Register but on the OIG website.
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 Adds Chiropractic Services to Covered Medical Benefits. The VA has amended its regulations to add chiropractic services to its medical benefits package, effective May 22, 2023.
VA Released Final Rule on Co-Payment Exemption for Indian Veterans. The VA released the final rule to implement co-payment exemptions for Indian and urban Indian veterans for hospital care or medical services received on or after January 5, 2022.
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Tribal Health-related Funding Opportunities | |
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HHS Announces $2.5 Million for Produce Prescription Programs in Indian Country. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Indian Health Service agency, is announcing the availability of $2.5 million in funding to support the development of produce prescription programs in Native communities. Produce prescription programs help individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and/or diet‑related health problems more easily obtain fresh fruits and vegetables by receiving a prescription from a health care provider. Eligible applicants include tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian healthcare organizations.
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Applications are due by Jun. 8, 2023. Approximately 4 to 7 awards will be issued under this program announcement for a performance period of five years.
IHS Releases 2023 Request for Applications on Addressing Dementia in Indian Country: Models of Clinical Care and Support. The Program Award aims to 1) improve recognition, diagnosis, assessment, and care management for persons living with dementia (PLWD) and 2) improve care and access to dementia caregiver services and support for Tribes receiving primary health care services from IHS Direct Services.
- Applications are due Jun. 12, 2023, with an anticipated project start date of Aug 1, 2023.
- Learn more about the opportunities here: https://www.ihs.gov/alzheimers/
ACF Children’s Bureau State-Tribal Partnerships to Implement Best Practices in Indian Child Welfare. This Notice of Funding Opportunity will support nine demonstration sites that promote coordinated efforts among State courts, child welfare agencies, and Tribes to develop and implement best practices related to AI/AN child placements. All three entities must participate in the five-year grant. Partnerships should collaborate on culturally appropriate practices, preventing maltreatment, and improving safety, permanency, and well-being. This can include Indian child welfare codes, legal processes, case management, in-home preservation services, systems changes, and the development of pilot models to test. Applications are due by Jun. 13, 2023.
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Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board | Website | | | | |
