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NPAIHB Legislative and Policy Update

Wednesday, August 25, 2021

Important Dates

Aug 26, 2021 (8:30 AM Pacific)

DSTAC 4th Quarter Meeting


Aug 26, 2021 (2:00 PM Pacific)

NIHB Tribal Town Hall Meeting on Budget Reconciliation

Registration Link


Aug 27, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific)

IHS/BIA Tribal Consultation on 105(I) Leases

Registration Link


Aug 30-31, 2021

STAC Meeting


Sep 1, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific)

HHS Tribal Consultation on Mandatory Funding for IHS

Zoom Link


Sep 2, 2021 (7:00 AM Pacific)

FAAB Meeting


Sep 2, 2021

IHS Contract Support Cost Advisory Group (CSCAG) Meeting


Sep 8, 2021 (11:30 AM Pacific)

TTAG Monthly Conference Call


Sep 8-9, 2021

ISAC Semi-Annual Meeting


Sep 14, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific)

TLDC Meeting


Sep 14-16, 2021

2021 Virtual Broadcast Tribal Self-Governance Conference

Register Here


Sep 16, 2021 (12:00 PM Pacific)

DSTAC Monthly Call

Visit our FHACT Tracker

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.

COVID-19 Funding Tracker

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

Legislative Updates

House Adopts 2022 Budget Resolution S. Con. Res. 14, A Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for FY 2022!  This resolution provides instructions to 13 House and 12 Senate committees to advance Biden’s Build Back Better Plan—a $3.5 trillion investment in domestic spending. The Senate previously passed the FY 2022 Budget Resolution and have provided instructions to 12 Senate Committees, including the Committee on Indian Affairs. Indian Affairs’ budget recommendations are due September 15 and could address IHS health programs and facilities. The House is expected to vote on the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill on September 27, 2021.

Administrative and Regulatory Updates

HHS Announces Tribal Consultation on Mandatory FundingHHS is seeking input on mandatory funding approaches for the Indian Health Service and will be hosting consultation on Aug. 25, 2021 at 10:00 am Pacific and Sep. 1, 2021 at 11:00 am Pacific.


HHS Region 10 Tribal Consultation was held Jun 15-16, 2021. HHS Region 10 written testimony is due Friday, Sep. 3, 2021 to consultation@hhs.gov.

 

105(l) Leases Tribal Consultation. IHS and BIA will be conducting tribal consultation on 105(l) lease requirements and payments on Friday, Aug. 27, 2021 at 10-1:00 pm Pacific.

 

Health IT Modernization Project Update.  On Jul. 27, 2021, IHS posted the draft Statement of Objectives (SOO) to solicit information and sources for the Health IT Modernization Project. Yesterday IHS released a Dear Tribal Leader Letter on the request for tribal comment on the draft SOO. 

 

Not Invisible Act Joint Commission on Reducing Violent Crime Against Indians The Bureau of Indian Affairs is soliciting nominations from Tribes to serve on the Joint Commission to develop recommendations to the Secretary and Attorney General on actions the federal government can take to increase intergovernmental coordination to identify and combat violent crime in Indian Country.

 

CDC Issues Eviction Moratorium Order in Areas of Substantial and High Transmission of COVID-19 & Rental Assistance via Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The CDC issued a new eviction moratorium on Aug. 3, 2021. This order will expire on Oct. 3, 2021 and applies in counties experiencing substantial and high levels of community transmission levels of SARS-CoV-2. The eviction moratorium allows additional time for rent relief to reach renters and to further increase vaccination rates.

  • State and local organizations, including Tribal communities are distributing federal rental assistance in their communities – assistance can cover rent, utilities, and other housing costs to keep people in their homes.
  • Link to find help with rent and utilities

 

CDC Tribal Consultation on Tribal Consultation Policy CDC conducted tribal consultation on August 5, 2021 to receive input and guidance on improving the current CDC/ATSDR Tribal Consultation Policy. 


Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule.  CMS released a proposed rule on Jul 23, 2021 that expands certain telehealth services currently allowed during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, includes Part B payment issues, solicits comments on tribal FQHC payments and vaccine administration, and proposes other Medicare payment policy changes. 

  • Comments are due Sep. 13, 2021.

 

Medicare Proposed Rule on Home Health Value Based Purchasing. Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) published on Jul 7, 2021 that expands the Home Health Value-Based Purchasing Model to all 50 states (currently a demonstration project in nine states, including Washington). The NPRM also modifies the Home Health Quality Reporting Program, updates home health and home infusion payment rates, and makes permanent specific regulatory blanket waivers implemented during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

  • Comments are due by Aug. 27, 2021.


U.S. Department of Justice Office of Violence Against Women 16th Annual Government-to-Government Tribal Consultation being held Tuesday, Aug. 17 thru Friday, Aug. 20, 2021 from 10am to 2 pm Pacific each day. Written comments due on Sep 20, 2021.


FDA Fully Approves of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine for Individuals 16 and Older. “While this and other vaccines have met the FDA’s rigorous, scientific standards for emergency use authorization, as the first FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccine, the public can be very confident that this vaccine meets the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product,” Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock, M.D. Moderna has applied for full FDA approval for its COVID-19 vaccine for individuals 18 and older. 

For more information Laura Platero, Executive Director

Lisa L. Griggs, Executive and Program Ops Assistant | Candice Jimenez, Health Policy Specialist | Liz Coronado, Health Policy Specialist

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board npaihb.org