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Week of December 9, 2024

Nominations for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Advisory Committee

CMS is soliciting nominations for the CMS Health Equity Advisory Committee. The Committee is established to advise and make recommendations to CMS on the identification and resolution of systemic barriers to accessing CMS programs that hinder quality of care for beneficiaries and consumers. Click here for additional information. Nominations are due no later than December 12, 2024.

The U.S. Census Bureau (Census Bureau) to Conduct Two Virtual Tribal Consultations on Updating the Race/Ethnicity Code List for the American Community Survey and the 2030 Census

The virtual Tribal consultations will provide a forum for Tribes to learn about the Census Bureau’s Race/Ethnicity Coding Improvement Project and provide feedback. The Race/Ethnicity Coding Improvement Project provides an opportunity for Tribes to provide feedback on how detailed race and/or ethnicity and American Indian or Alaska Native populations will be coded in the American Community Survey (ACS) and the 2030 Census. The Census Bureau aims to enhance and improve the code list that was used in the 2020 Census and is currently used in the ACS to ensure that detailed race and/or ethnicity and Tribal responses are accurately coded and tabulated in future data collections. Learn more here.

On Saturday, The House and Senate Armed Services committees released a compromise version of the fiscal year 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. The House is set to vote on the bill this week. Republicans and Democrats exchanged offers last week on a health care package. They aren’t far apart on some issues that might be easier to resolve — extending telehealth and hospital-at-home care rules and averting doctor pay cuts — but have significant differences to reconcile, including how to pay for it. The soft deadline for releasing bill text for a stopgap funding patch is usually the Sunday before the deadline. That means it would have to be out by Dec. 15 ahead of the Dec. 20 deadline when the current continuing resolution expires. House Speaker Mike Johnson has targeted this week to release the legislation, leaving little time for lawmakers to agree on a health care package. We will continue monitoring the lame duck for any key legislative issues pertaining to Indian health, including final funding agreements.  


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.  

Hearings

Topic: After Action Review of the Covid-19 Pandemic: The Lessons Learned and a Path Forward

Committee: House Oversight Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic 

Date: Wednesday, December 4, 10:30 AM EST

Hearing Webpage Link


IHS November 14 Letter: The IHS Director and the HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary write to initiate a joint Tribal Consultation on how HUD and IHS programs can better address housing-related water and sewer infrastructure needs.


IHS November 12 Letter: The Director writes to share the updated Indian Health Service (IHS) Tribal Consultation Policy as Part 6, Chapter 6 in the Indian Health Manual (IHM) is signed. 


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

Register for Tribal Consultation or View Webcast


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

View NIHB's Full Dear Tribal Leader Letter Tracker

Consultations

HUD/IHS Housing-related Infrastructure for Tribal Communities Tribal Consultation

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: December 16, 2024, 1:00 – 3:00 PM ET

Meeting Link

Comments Due: January 8, 2024

Comment Submission: consultation@hud.gov and consultation@ihs.gov, subject line “HUD/IHS Housing-related Infrastructure for Tribal Communities.”


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

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

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


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


SAMHSA Consultation on Tribal Consultation Policy

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


NIH Consultation on Disposition of Biospecimens Collected from Tribal Populations

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Consultation Framing Letter

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

Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings

IHS Self-Governance Advisory Committee Meeting

Dates: December 16-17, 2024

Location: Washington, DC 

Meeting Website


Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) Monthly Call

Date: December 19, 2024, 3:00-4:00 PM ET

Meeting Zoom Link

Meeting Website

View NIHB's Full Regulations Tracker

IHS Virtual Symposium: Provider Outreach and Education Specialist Novitas Solutions

Date: December 10-12, 2024

Registration Link


Advisory Committee on Minority Health

Date: December 16, 2024, 2:00-3:30 PM ET

Meeting Registration

Meeting Webpage

 

CMS Presents, “Traditional Healer: Caring for the People”

Date: November 19, 2024, 2:00-3:00 PM ET

Event Zoom Link

Event Webpage 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 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.


IHS Tribal Management Grant Program | Click Here to Learn More

Application deadline: January 13, 2025

Description: IHS is now accepting applications for a competitive grant for federally recognized tribes and tribal organizations that is administered by the Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes. The Tribal Management Grant Program is designed to enhance and develop health management infrastructure and assist tribes and tribal organizations in assuming all or part of existing IHS programs, functions, services, and activities through agreements under the Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act. It also aims to assist tribes and tribal organizations with existing agreements to further develop and improve their management capability.


Pediatric Pulmonary Centers Program | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: February 18, 2025

Award Amount: Up to $340,000

Description: The purpose of the PPC program is to provide interdisciplinary training to improve the health of infants, children, and adolescents with chronic respiratory conditions, sleep issues, and other related special health care needs.

 

Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students | Click Here to Learn More

Application Deadline: February 19, 2025

Description: The Scholarships for Disadvantaged Students (SDS) program increases diversity in the health professions and nursing workforce by providing awards to eligible health professions schools for use in awarding scholarships to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who have financial need, including students who are members of racial and ethnic minority groups.

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