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Top Takeaways
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Tribal Roundtable to Evaluate the CMS State Consultation: learn how to register to participate.
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IHS Request for Comment on Forms to Implement Privacy Rule: get more information on how to submit a comment.
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IHS Tribal and Indian Organization Monthly Call: read about this upcoming meeting’s agenda.
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Enrollment Assisters in Indian Country: Certified Application Assisters (CAC) Training is going offline as of Wednesday, August 2, 2023.
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In this Letter:
📰 News
📝 Dear Tribal Leader Letters
📣Announcements
📒Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations
💵 Notice of Funding Opportunities
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Government Accountability Office Recommends Improvements on IHS Management of Adverse Event Data
On July 10, 2023, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a new report, “Actions Needed to Improve Use of Data on Adverse Events.” The purpose of the GAO investigation was to evaluate the Indian Health Services’ (IHS) effectiveness in monitoring adverse events— events that “could have, or did, cause harm, damage, or loss to patients.” This report was the product of a GAO audit conducted from January 2022 through July 2023. To perform this audit, the GAO interviewed select IHS officials at headquarters, area offices, and facilities; reviewed IHS policies and procedures; assessed the IHS Fiscal Year 2019-2023 Strategic Plan, and obtained IHS reports with data on adverse events. At the conclusion of this investigation, the GAO found that IHS headquarters reports on adverse events do not provide information on adverse event trends within areas or facilities, which limits the oversight headquarters can provide and, in turn, increases the potential for location-based safety inequities. As a result, the GAO recommended that “IHS headquarters should regularly review and compare data on adverse events trends for—at a minimum—each area and take steps, as appropriate, to make improvements and disseminate best practices in response to those trends.”
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IHS Tribal and Indian Organization Monthly Call Agenda
This week, IHS will host the July Tribal and Urban Indian Organization Leaders Call to share new information and gather input from Tribal leaders. The call will take place on Thursday, July 13, 2023, from 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET online over ZoomGov (Meeting ID 161 002 6910). The agenda indicates that there will be three updates provided at this meeting. First, Director Jillian Curtis will provide new information from the Office of Finance and Accounting. On June 30, 2023, IHS Director Roselyn Tso published a Dear Tribal Leader Letter providing details on the over 418 million dollars in COVID-19 supplemental rescission impacts that are occurring as a result of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, making this update from Director Curtis all the more significant. Corbett Hodson, Acting Chief Compliance Officer, will also provide updates from the IHS National Compliance Program. Finally, Directors James Ludington and Mark Calkins will provide updates from the Office of Environmental Health and Engineering on the Small Ambulatory Program Consultation and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Projects. Following these presentations, Tribal and Indian Organization leaders will have a facilitated discussion and provide input to IHS representatives. View the IHS calendar information on this event here.
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Dear Tribal Leader Letters
View all of IHS' Tribal Leader Letters Here
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June 30 Letter: IHS announces $419M in funding recission impacts under the Fiscal Responsibility Act
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June 29 Letter: Opportunity for Tribal and Urban Indian organization sites to collaborate in planning for new IHS electronic health record solution
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June 21 Letter: Announcement of Mr. DuWayne Begay’s appointment as Director of Navajo Area IHS
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Tribal Roundtable to Evaluate the CMS State Consultation Plans
Join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) as we host a virtual roundtable discussion with Tribal Leaders to discuss and evaluate state Medicaid consultation policies. This roundtable will offer Tribal Leaders an opportunity to discuss needed improvements in state consultation plans and allow Tribal Leaders to help strengthen the nation-to-nation relationship by improving the use and effectiveness of Tribal Consultation.
We invite Tribal Leaders to join the discussion on Wednesday, July 19, from 2:00 - 3:30 PM ET. This roundtable is free to attend, but we ask that you please register in advance.
You can register for the roundtable discussion here. If you have any questions, please contact Garrett Lankford, Federal Relations Analyst, at [email protected].
Announcement for Enrollment Assisters in Indian Country
Marketplace Learning Management System (MLMS) is closing the 2023 Certified Application Assisters (CAC) Training. The 2023 CAC/Navigator training content will go offline as of Wednesday, August 2, 2023, at 6:00 PM ET. During this “go-dark” period, enrollment assisters cannot access the certification training. Any enrollment assisters who need to take the 2023 Assister Certification training must do it before it is no longer available. Access the CMS enterprise portal here. This PowerPoint and this video with instructions on accessing CAC training are also available.
IHS Request for Comment on Forms to Implement Privacy Rule
IHS is seeking comments on the information collection, “IHS Forms to Implement the Privacy Rule.” IHS plans to use the following data collection methods to meet the information collection requirements contained in this Rule: authorization for use or disclosure of protected health information, acknowledgment of receipt of the IHS Notice of Privacy Practices, request for restriction, request for confidential communication by alternative means or alternate location, request for revocation of restrictions, HHS Privacy Act Regulations request for an accounting of disclosures. The comment for input on these forms is due September 1, 2023. You can read the full request for comments here.
Notice of Revised Program Guidance for Inflation Reduction Act
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services released revised guidance for the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program for the implementation of the Inflation Reduction Act. The revised guidance clarifies how CMS selects drugs for price negotiation, revises the negotiation processes for participating drug companies, and expands opportunities for drug companies and the public to participate in the negotiation process. Read more about the revised guidance on the CMS website here.
Upcoming Tribal Health Equity Data Symposium on September 26 and 27
National Indian Health Board will host the Tribal Health Equity Data Symposium on September 26 – 27, 2023, in Washington, D.C. The symposium will explore what needs to change in data law, policy, systems, and practices in order to better support health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Themes covered will include data access, measuring health equity, race/ethnicity standards, and culturally centered data reporting and communication. The Call for Proposals is open now until July 16; proposals may be submitted by email to Rochelle Ruffer at [email protected]. For more information on the symposium and NIHB’s health equity work, please see nihb.org/health-equity.
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Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Regional Tribal Consultations Summer 2023: Each of the 10 HHS regions will again be hosting consultations with regional Tribes to discuss programmatic issues and Tribal priorities. Each session will include one-on-one opportunities with regional leadership. The remaining consultation dates are:
July 11-12 | Region 5 | New Buffalo, MI
July 19 | Region 3 | Virtual
August 1-2 | Region 8 | Denver, CO
August 10-11 | Region 10 | Anchorage, AK
August 22-24 | Region 6 | Dallas, TX
August 30-31 | Region 4 | Choctaw, MS
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IHS Tribal and Indian Organization Monthly Call
Date: July 13, 2023
Time: 3:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Join ZoomGov Meeting | Meeting ID 161 002 6910
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Direct Service Tribal Advisory Committee (DSTAC) Monthly Call
Date: July 20, 2023
Time: 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
Join ZoomGov Meeting
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NIHB Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Reform Policy Committee (MMPC) Face-to-Face Meeting
Date: July 25, 2023
Location: Washington, DC
Details: Email Hannah Brennan, Senior Policy Analyst, at [email protected] for more information
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Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Tribal Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) Face-to-Face Meeting
Date: July 26-27, 2023
Location: Washington, DC
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Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
Date: August 29, 2023
Time: 1:00 - 4:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
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Notices of Funding
Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment (STAR LRP) Program – Providers and Site Opportunities
Award Amount: Up to $250,000 in educational loan repayment
Application Deadline: July 13, 2023, 7:30 PM ET
Description: Eligible substance use disorder treatment clinicians and community health workers can apply to receive up to $250,000 in educational loan repayment from HRSA in exchange for working full-time for six years at an approved facility. Eligible treatment facilities for substance use disorder can be approved for clinicians and community health workers in HRSA's STAR LRP eligible sites/facilities.
SAMHSA Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements | Click Link
Application Deadline: July 18, 2023
Description: This funding opportunity will provide resources to improve the response to 988 contacts by AI/ANs or in Tribal communities by improving the integration and support of 988 crisis centers with access to culturally competent in a manner that respects Tribal sovereignty.
HRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program | Click Link
Award Amount: up to $100,000 in loan repayment for eligible health professionals
Application Deadline: July 20, 2023, 7:30 PM ET
Description: The Administration is investing $15 million to recruit and retain pediatricians through a loan repayment program of up to $100,000 for eligible health professionals (pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent behavioral health care) in exchange for a three-year, full-time service commitment at an approved facility in an underserved area. Those interested can attend an application webinar or Q&A session.
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