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Week of October 21, 2024

In this Letter:

📣Announcements 

✒️Congressional Items 

đź“ť Dear Tribal Leader Letters

đź“’Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations

🎟️Events  

đź’µ Notice of Funding Opportunities

Announcements

CMS Approves Traditional Healing 1115 Demonstrations for AZ, NM, CA, and OR

On October 16, 2024, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) issued approvals for section 1115 demonstrations to allow for Tribal traditional healing reimbursement in Arizona, New Mexico, California, and Oregon. Medicaid 1115 demonstration waivers grant state Medicaid programs the flexibility to waive specific federal requirements to perform a “demonstration project” to show how a particular approach can provide better services that improve a Medicaid program. Tribes have spent a significant length of time advocating for these 1115 demonstrations to be approved, and CMS’s approval of these 1115 demonstration waivers is historic. This is the first time that reimbursement for traditional healing services has been permitted through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

CMS will host an All Tribes Consultation Webinar on Medicaid Coverage of Traditional Health Care Practices Received Through Indian Health Service Facilities, Tribal Facilities, and Urban Indian Organization Facilities on Thursday, October 31, 2024, 2:00-3:00 PM ET to provide an overview of CMS’ approval of the four demonstration amendments that allow for Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program coverage of traditional health care practices. Learn more here.

 

Rural Health Community Capacity Academy Application Deadline Extended

The National Rural Health Association is currently accepting applications for the Rural Health Community Capacity Academy. This program is designed to help underserved communities and organizations in rural areas. Through this program, selected organizations will receive personalized guidance from a health development coach to empower participants to tackle community health issues by enhancing their capacity for community engagement and development. Eligible organizations may include, but are not limited to, nonprofit organizations, rural health clinics (RHC), federally qualified health centers (FQHC), medical centers, local governments, and tribal governments. Applications are due by Friday, November 1st. Learn more and apply here.

Congressional Corner

Congress is out for October recess and will return November 12th to begin to wrap up the 118th Congress in a lame duck legislation. The Congressional Diabetes Caucus leadership announced new Dear Colleague Letters to demonstrate continued bipartisan support for the Special Diabetes Program and Special Diabetes Program for Indians. Reps. Diana DeGette and Gus Bilirakis on the House side and Sens. Susan Collins and Jeanne Shaheen plan to release their respective letters this week. NIHB will be coordinating to obtain signatures and encourage Tribal advocates to do the same.


While legislators are home in their district engaging with constituents before the election, use the opportunity to raise important legislative priorities for Indian Country! NIHB has compiled advocacy resources to help:


  • Mandatory Funding for CSC and 105(l) Leases: NIHB will continue advancing our advocacy efforts regarding moving Tribal Contract Support Costs (CSC) and 105(l) Lease Payments to mandatory appropriations this month. This includes getting Members of Congress to sign onto letters to leadership supporting this change. Visit our advocacy resource page for more information and to see how you can get involved! 
  • SDPI Renewal: The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) expires on December 31, 2024. Click here for additional resources supporting renewal of this critical program.  


Please contact NIHB’s Congressional Relations team for more information at wdavis@nihb.org and tbarrett@nihb.org. 

Dear Tribal Leader Letters


View NIHB’s full Dear Tribal Leader Letter Tracker here 

SSA October 10 Letter: The Director writes to share upcoming agency events and a rescheduling for SSA’s Virtual Tribal Consultation to November 14.


IHS October 10 Letter: The Director writes to seek comments and recommendations on the proposed reorganization of the IHS Headquarters Office of the Director.


IHS October 9 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to invite them to provide updated Facility Master Plans and other identified health care facility needs to be considered for inclusion in the 2026 IHS and Tribal Health Care Facilities’ Needs Assessment Report to Congress.


IHS October 8 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to announce the new solicitation for the FY25 IHS Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP).


IHS October 4 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share the Director's Year 2 Accomplishments Report--2024.

Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations


View NIHB’s full Regulations Tracker here


Consultations

HHS Tribal Data Access Policy and HHS Tribal Epidemiology Access Policy

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Comments Due: Please send comments to consultation@hhs.gov with subject line HHS Tribal Data Access Policy or HHS TEC Data Access Policy by October 31, 2024

Email Christina Diego (cdiego@nihb.org) if you are interested in a template comment.

 

SAMHSA Consultation on Tribal Consultation Policy

Date: November 6, 2024, 3:00 – 4:30 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Date: December 5, 2024, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: Please send comments to otap@samhsa.hhs.gov by 5:00 PM ET on January 6, 2025

 

Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Health IT Modernization Program: Site Readiness and Training

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: November 7, 2024, 1:30 – 3:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

 

HRSA Consultation on the Uniform Data System Modernization Initiative

Date: November 13, 3034, 3:00 – 5:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: Please send written comments or testimony to tribalconsultation@hrsa.gov by December 13, 2024

 

Social Security Administration Tribal Consultation

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: November 14, 2024, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM ET

 

Treasury and Internal Revenue Service Consultations on Tribal General Benefits (REG-106851- 21) Proposed Rule

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: November 18, 19, 20, 2024, 1:00 PM ET (each day)

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: December 17, 2024, 11:59 Alaska Time 

Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings

Medicaid, Medicare, and Health Policy Reform Committee (MMPC) Meeting

Date: November 5, 2024

Location: (Hybrid) Washington, DC

Contact federalrelations@nihb.org with questions


TTAG Face-to-Face Meeting

Dates: November 6-7, 2024

Location: (Hybrid) Washington DC


Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC)

Date: November 20, 2024


Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) 1st Quarter Meeting

Date: November 20, 2024

Meeting Website


Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Meeting

Dates: December 3-4, 2024

Location: Tucson, AZ


HRSA TAC Meeting

Date: December 4, 2024, 1:00 - 5:00 PM ET



IHS Self-Governance Advisory Committee Meeting

Dates: December 16-17, 2024

Location: Washington, DC

Events

IHS Webinar on 2026 IHS and Tribal Health Care Facilities’ Needs Assessment Report to Congress

Date: October 24, 2024 at 2:30 PM ET

Zoom Link


National Congress of American Indians 81st Annual Convention & Marketplace

Date: October 27-November 1, 2024

Location: Las Vegas, NV

Event Website Link


HRSA Workshop on Reducing the Stigma Related to Substance Use Disorder (SUD)

Program Information

Contact Ken_Sayres@urmc.rochester.edu to learn more


FDA All Tribes Call to Discuss Sodium Reduction in the Food Supply

Date: November 7, 2024, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET

Zoom Link

 

NIHB Webinar: Tribal Prenatal to Three Policy Agenda

Date: November 12, 2024, 2:30-3:30 PM ET

Zoom Link

Notice of Funding Opportunities

IHS FY 2024 Small Ambulatory Program (SAP) | Click Here to Learn More

Award Amount: Up to $3.5 million

Application Deadline: November 8, 2024

Description: This long-standing program supports eligible projects with awards of up to $3.5 million to construct, expand, or modernize a small ambulatory healthcare facility. The FY 2024 application submission deadline is November 8. Additional background on the program is available in this Dear Tribal Leader Letter. Questions may be directed to CDR Omobogie Amadasu at omobogie.amadasu@ihs.gov

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