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Week of November 4, 2024

IHS Awards $12.3 Million to Help Fight HIV, Hepatitis C, and Syphilis in Native Communities

Last week, the Indian Health Service (IHS) announced the allocation of $12.3 million to 17 Tribal and urban Indian organizations across 11 states as part of the Ending the HIV/HCV/Syphilis Epidemics in Indian Country (ETHIC) Initiative. This funding will primarily focus on getting services and supplies into the hands of clinicians, public health staff, and ultimately, the individuals receiving the care that they need, and is intended to improve the day-to-day delivery of services and equitable access to care, which are necessary ingredients to make progress towards ending the HIV syndemic in Indian Country. The recipients of these funds will work to improve HIV and syphilis-related health outcomes and reduce the disparities in these areas among Native populations. The initiative will roll out in four interconnected parts, focusing on the implementation of effective, innovative strategies, interventions, and services tailored to the needs of these communities. It aims to significantly reduce the number of new HIV infections and co-occurring diseases, contributing to overall health equity in these populations. Learn more here

Applications Open for Child Medicaid Policy Institute 2025-26: Managed Care in Medicaid and CHIP

The Georgetown University Center for Children and Families (CCF) has opened the application period for acceptance to the Child Medicaid Policy Institute 2025-26: Managed Care in Medicaid and CHIP. Managed care organizations (MCOs) dominate the delivery system for Medicaid and CHIP. The performance of these MCOs largely determines whether the people they enroll receive the services they need, and the quality of these services. Efforts to improve child and maternal health and reduce racial, economic and geographic inequality inevitably require more oversight and transparency of these large and often well-resourced organizations. Georgetown’s 18-month course seeks to educate and train state health policy advocates and child health providers about the complex topics of Medicaid/CHIP managed care including, but not limited to, how new federal regulations can be used to promote accountability and quality of care delivered through managed care systems. Applications are due November 22nd, 2024. Download your copy here.

Congress is out for October recess and will return November 12th to begin conference on FY 2025 spending bills and lame duck legislation. Before adjourning, Congress avoided a government shutdown by passing H.R. 9747, which funds the government through December 20th. Upon their return, Congress will continue conference work on FY 2025 appropriations, but the election results will determine how any final spending decisions will shake out for the lame duck session. The Indian Health Service has advance appropriations for FY 2025 for all but six accounts.

While legislators are home in district engaging for 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. 

NIH October 30 Letter: The Director of the Office of Science Policy at the National Institutes of Health writes to initiate Tribal Consultation on "NIH Disposition of Biospecimens Collects from Tribal Populations."

Framing Letter


IHS October 24 Letter: The Director writes to request comments and recommendations on the combined Fiscal Years (FYs) 2020 and 2021 Report to Congress on the Administration of the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Program.

Draft Report

Exhibit A

Exhibit B


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


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.[CS2] 


SAMHSA October 2 Letter: The Assistant Secretary writes to announce upcoming virtual Tribal consultations on updates to the SAMHSA Tribal Consultation Policy (TCP).

View NIHB's Full Dear Tribal Leader Letter Tracker

Consultations

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

 

SAMHSA consultation on the Tribal Behavioral Health Grant Program

Date: November 21, 2024, 3:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: Written comments accepted on or before November 27, 2024


NIH Consultation on Disposition of Biospecimens Collected from Tribal Populations

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Consultation Framing Letter

Date: December 5, 2024, 11 am-1 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

Comments Due: Written testimony (recognized by the use of official Tribal letterhead) by January 20, 2025 to NIHTribalConsultation@nih.gov


IHS Consultation on Fiscal Years (FYs) 2020 and 2021 Report to Congress on the Administration of the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Self-Governance Program

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Draft Combined FYs 2020 and 2021 Report to Congress

Comments Due: Please send written comments to consultation@ihs.gov, subject line, “Tribal Self-Governance Report to Congress – FYs 2020 and 2021”, by December 23, 2024

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)

Dates: 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

 

Health Resources and Services Administration 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 

View NIHB's Full Regulations Tracker

Administration for Children and Families Native Early Childhood Development Funds – Maximizing Impact through Flexible Funding Strategies

Date: November 7, 2024, 3:00pm ET

Registration 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


NIH Minority Health and Health Disparities Strategic Plan 2026-2030 Virtual Townhall

  • November 14, 2024 at 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET
  • December 4, 2024 at 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

 

CMS Open Enrollment Webinar Series

  • January 8, 2025 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
  • January 29, 2025 at 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET

Meeting Registration Link

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.

 

IHS FY 2025 Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP) | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: December 22, 2024

Description: IHS recently announced the opening of a new solicitation for the JVCP. Section 818 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act authorizes the IHS to establish joint venture projects under which Tribes or Tribal organizations would acquire, construct, or renovate a health care facility and lease it to the IHS, at no cost, for a period of 20 years. The facility may be an inpatient or outpatient facility. Phase I applications are due December 22.

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