June 5, 2020 |  Issue 20-18  Missed Last Week's Washington Report? Click Here to Visit our Archives!
 UPCOMING EVENTS 

National Vaccine Advisory Committee
June 9, 2020
Virtual

June 10, 2020
Virtual
Virtual

June 10-11, 2020
Virtual

NIHB 2nd Quarterly Board Meeting
June 17-19, 2020
Virtual

National Clinical Care Commission
June 26, 2020
Virtual

Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) TAG Vacancies
 In February 2018, with the announcement of CHAP expansion to Tribes beyond Alaska, IHS created a CHAP Tribal Advisory Group.

 Information on CHAP and CHAP TAG, including vacant  positions, is available on the CHAP
website .

Join the National Partnership for Dental Therapy!
Click HERE for more information!

Stay Current: Health Alerts from the CDC!
Don't wait for the emergency to arrive before signing up for emergency alerts from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention!

 
Follow NIHB on Twitter and Instagram
@NIHB1
 
Top Story
HEROESPrioritiesNational Indian Health Board Urges Senate to Pass Tribal Health Priorities in the HEROES Act


In This Issue:

TOP STORY
CAPITOL HILL UPDATES
WaterBillBipartisan Bill Introduced in the House to Allocate Funding for Tribal Water and Sanitation Construction
On May 29, Congressman Tom O'Halleran (D-AZ) and Congressman Don Young (R-AK) introduced H.R. 7056 for the purpose of allocating funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS) Sanitiation Facilities Construction Program to fulfill critical sanitation projects throughout Indian Country. This bill would provide $2.67 billion per year for each of Fiscal Years (FY) 2020 through 2024. This funding is specifically to address projects that are under IHS's Sanitation Facilities Deficiency List. With more than 100,000 Tribal homes lacking sufficient access to running water and sanitation infrastructure, this public health essential has been especially exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic particularly in areas such as Navajo Nation that is currently experience the highest infections per capita rate in the United States. 

To read the full text of the bill, click  here
MarkupHouse Appropriations Committee Expected to Hold Markups in July
On Thursday June 4, House Appropriations Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-CA)  announced that all House Appropriations Subcommittees along with the full Committee will convene markups the weeks of July 6 and July 13, expecting that spending bills could go to the House floor for votes on the weeks of July 20 and July 27. NIHB will continue to monitor committee activity and advocate for Tribal healthcare provisions in any spending bills introduced. 
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND STATE GOVERNMENT UPDATES
ASPEExtensionThe Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) from HHS is requesting an extension of a research and assessment program  
On May 27, 2020 HHS released a notice for the collection of Qualitative Research and Assessment. They plan on extending their assessment to conduct qualitative research in order to gain a better understanding of recent health policy issues, create diverse research projects and to provide recent information to HHS leadership. Specifically HHS is requesting approval for interviews, focus groups, questionnaires and other qualitative methods. Comments are due July 27, 2020. 
LTCHsCMS Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals, Long Term Care Hospitals (LTCHs), policy changes to fiscal year 2021 and Medicare & Medicaid promoting interoperability programs 
On May 29, 2020 CMS released a proposed rule on a revised section of the Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system (IPPS) for operating and capital related costs of acute care hospitals, LTCHs, as well as other proposed changes to fiscal year 2021 rates. Among other policy changes, this rule would also make changes to policies of programs associated with Medicare IPPS hospitals, IPPS excluded hospitals and LTCHs. Specifically, addressing wage index disparities impacting low wage index hospitals, new technologies for add on payments for antimicrobial products as well as many other specific policy changes. Comments on this rule are due July 10, 2020. 
PartDCMS notice on changes to their Medicare Part D Reporting Requirements
On May 29, 2020 CMS released a notice on a revision to their Medicare Part D reporting requirements to be used as resource for oversight, monitoring, compliance and auditing activities crucial to provide quality provision of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit to beneficiaries.  Comments on this notice are due June 29, 2020. 
ACFAdministration for Children and Families announces Tribal Consultation to take place Wednesday, June 10th and Thursday, June 11th
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announced its 2020 Tribal Consultation is taking place virtually on Wednesday, June 10 and Thursday, June 11, 2020 from 1:00pm - 6:00pm (EDT) each day.

ACF includes programs that directly grant over $1 Billion in funds to Tribes and Native non-profits. This includes the Administration for Native Americans, the Office of Head Start, and the Office of Child Care, and programs such as Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). ACF looks forward to hearing from Tribes directly how ACF programs are working in Tribal communities as well as the challenges that need to be addressed.

All Tribal leaders, representatives, and other Tribal attendees must register here for June 10 virtual meeting, and  register here for the June 11 virtual meeting. 

UPCOMING EVENTS, CALLS, AND WEBINARS
Please see below for call information to the  IHS' All Tribes Call on Thursday, June 11th at 4:00 PM Eastern . This call is intended to update Tribes on the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Tribal Leaders will have an opportunity to provide comments and ask questions to federal officials. IHS has also scheduled a COVID-19 call for the following week at the same time-call info is the same for both calls.

Date:   Thursday, June 11th 
Time:  4 :00 PM - 5:30 PM (Eastern)
Conference Call:   800-857-5577 | Participant Passcode:  6703929
Webinar Adobe Connect:   https://ihs.cosocloud.com/r4k6jib09mj/ | Participant Password:  ihs123
VaccineMeetingMeeting of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee
On May 19, 2020 HHS released a notice on a virtual meeting for the National Vaccine Advisory Committee. The meeting will be open to the public and is scheduled to be held on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

For more information click here. 
CommissionMeetingMeeting of the National Clinical Care Commission
On May 21, 2020 the Office of Disease prevention and health Promotion with HHS released a notice on the National Clinical Care Commission that will conduct a virtual meeting on June 26, 2020. The meeting will cover the evaluation with recommendation on improvements to the coordination related to diabetes and its complications
WebinarCMS and NIHB Webinar on Outreach and Enrollment
June 11, 2020
2:00 - 3:00pm ET
Advance registration is required. Register here!
GRANTS & RESOURCES
LittleShellNotice of Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Area Designation for the Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana
On May 21, 2020,The Indian Health Service announced the establishment of geographic boundaries of the Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Area for the newly federally recognized Little Shell Tribe of Chippewa Indians of Montana.

 
The target audience for CMS ITU Trainings includes:
  • Business Office staff
  • Benefits Coordinators
  • Patient Registration staff
  • Medical Records staff
  • Purchased/Referred Care staff
Please click here to access the schedule of virtual CMS ITU trainings. 
910 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Main Phone: 202-507-4070
Fax: 202-507-4071
Thank you for visiting the Washington Report!