|
NPAIHB Legislative and Policy Update
Tuesday, July 13, 2021
| |
|
Jul 15, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific)
CDC/ATSDR TAC Meeting
July 15, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific)
OMB Tribal Consultation on the President’s FY 2022 Budget
Registration Link
July 15, 2021 (12:00 pm Pacific)
DSTAC Monthly Meeting
Jul 20, 2021
MMPC Meeting
Jul 21, 2021 (11:00 AM Pacific)
CDC/ATSDR TAC Sub-committee Meeting
Jul 21, 2021 (12:00 PM Pacific)
IHS Director’s Advisory Workgroup on Tribal Consultation
Jul 21-22, 2021
CMS TTAG Meeting
Jul 26-29, 2021
NPAIHB THD & Quarterly Board Meeting
Jul 28, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific)
SAMHSA TTAC Meeting
Jul 28, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific)
CHAP TAG Monthly Meeting
| |
|
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Tribal Consultation on FY 2022 Budget. OMB announced tribal consultation on Jul 15, 2021 at 10:00 am Pacific on the President’s FY 2022 Budget to inform and guide the FY 2023 budget.
Indian Health Service (IHS) is requesting priorities for additional health professionals for IHS scholarship program year 2022-2023. For Program Year 22-23, IHS will be funding scholarships and loan repayment for physicians, nurses, dentists, pharmacists, and optometrists. For reference, here is the 2021-2022 scholarship priority areas for preparatory through health professionals and the current loan repayment program eligible health professions.
| |
Legislative & Appropriations Updates | |
|
H.R.4387 - Maternal Health and Obstetric Access in Rural Communities. Rep. Robin Kelly (D-IL). Referred to Energy and Commerce committee and introduced on July 9 — A bill to improve maternal health, to improve obstetric care in rural areas, and for other purposes. Rep. Kelly is chair of the Congress Black Caucus Health Braintrust and supports the set of bills introduced this year as a part of the Black Maternal Health m(Omnibus) bills that uplift Black and Indigenous maternal health for pregnant, birthing and postpartum persons.
On Wednesday, July 14th – The U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs will meet to mark up several bills, including:
-
H.R.1688; this bill amends the Indian Child Protection and Family Violence Prevention Act. Passed House on May 12, 2021.
-
S.1797 - Urban Indian Health Providers Facilities Improvement Act; this bill expands the funding authority for renovating, constructing, and expanding certain facilities.
-
S.1895 - Indian Health Service Sanitation Facilities Construction Enhancement Act; this bill would award additional funding under the Sanitation Facilities Construction Program for the planning, design, construction, modernization, improvement, and renovation of water, sewer, and solid waste sanitation facilities that are funded, in whole or part, by the Indian Health Service.
Additionally, the committee will meet to consider Bryan Newland of Michigan to be Assistant Secretary – Indian Affairs, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Veterans: Further activity on Wednesday, July 14 will include the House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health meeting to mark up several bills, including H.R.3452; the Veterans Preventative Health Coverage and Fairness Act, which would eliminate copay requirements for preventive services such as breast cancer screening
The House Committee on Appropriations recommends $8.1 billion for Indian Health Service (IHS) for FY 2022. On Thursday, July 1, 2021, the House Appropriations Committee approved of the FY 2022 markup and formally introduced H.R. 4372 and filed House Report 117-83 for FY 2022 appropriations. The markup does not include a request for advance appropriations for FY 2023, but does include a request to make Contract Support Costs and 105(l) leases funding mandatory. The House Report 117-83 includes the following program increases over FY 2021 enacted:
- + $482.8 million for Hospitals and Health Clinics
- + $250 million for Electronic Health Records
- + $216 million for Purchased/Referred Care
- + $25.5 million for Indian health professions
- + $25.3 million for direct operations
- + $20 million for Community Health Aide Program
- + $17 million for Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- + $9.5 million for Mental Health
- + $8 million for small ambulatory programs
| |
Administrative and Regulatory Updates | |
|
Contract Support Cost Advisory Group (CSCAG) Nominations. IHS has established the CSCAG through IHS Circular No. 21-02, Contract Support Costs Advisory Group—Charter. The CSCAG is tasked with providing recommendations for a uniform and equitable system to determine, pay, and reconcile CSC funds for new, expanded, and ongoing ISDEAA contracts and compacts. Tribal membership will consist of two (2) elected Tribal Leaders from each IHS Area, 1 representative from both Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee and Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee.
-
Nominations are due Aug 11, 2021 to IHS Area Director Dean Seyler.
-
First virtual meeting of the CSCAG will be Sep 2, 2021.
Provider Relief Fund Portal is now open for providers who need to report on the use of funds in Reporting Period 1. Period 1 reporting deadline is Sep 30, 2021. Reporting periods provided below:
| |
|
FCC Emergency Connectivity Fund for Libraries & Schools. Thanks to the American Rescue Plan, schools and libraries can now apply for money from the Emergency Connectivity Fund to help students, teachers, and library patrons stay connected at home. During the application filing window, eligible schools, libraries (including tribal libraries), and consortia of eligible schools and libraries, can submit requests for funding to purchase eligible equipment and services between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022. Interested schools and libraries can find more information and apply at www.emergencyconnectivityfund.org.
-
Filing window opened Jun 29 and closes on Aug 13.
NPAIHB submitted comments to OMB Director Shalanda Young on her request for information on methods and leading practices for advancing equity in underserved communities. The comments underscored the barriers and burdens American Indian/Alaska Native face accessing Medicare and Medicaid benefits, the need to move towards ISDEAA compacts and contracts and to simplify grant processes, historical IHS policy requests for full funding, and request for agencies to jointly work together to address the housing crisis in Indian Country.
Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series on Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders. SAMHSA released guidance on the effectiveness of telehealth modalities for the treatment of serious mental illness and substance use disorders intended to distill research on these recommended practices and provide examples of how practitioners have adopted these practices in their programs.
| |
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board npaihb.org | | | | |
