March 12, 2021 | Issue 21-08
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Congresswoman Haaland’s Confirmation Vote Scheduled for March 15
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On Thursday, March 11, the U.S. Senate voted 54-42 to end debate on Representative Deb Haaland’s nomination as Secretary of the Interior. With this procedural hurdle passed, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced Congresswoman Haaland’s full Senate confirmation hearing will be set for Monday, March 15 at 5:30 pm EST. The full Senate hearing will be broadcast live on the U.S. Senate website here. Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have already expressed their support for Congresswoman Haaland’s nomination.
NIHB fully supports Congresswoman Haaland's nomination and in December 2020 sent a letter to then-President-Elect Biden endorsing Congresswoman Haaland. NIHB also signed onto a letter with 20 other Tribal organizations that was sent to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. NIHB encourages Tribal leaders, advocates, and community members to call their Senators urging a confirmation vote. NIHB has provided talking points and phone numbers.
For questions, contact Josh Jackson, Congressional Relations Manager, at jjackson@nihb.org.
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House Energy and Commerce Committee Announces Vice-Chairs for the 117th Congress
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NIHB looks forward to working with Congressman Sarbanes and the other subcommittee Vice-Chairs in their new role as we continue to advocate for improvements in the Indian healthcare system.
Read the full press release here.
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House Energy and Commerce Committee Introduces the LIFT America Act
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On Thursday, March 11, the Democratic members of the House Energy and Commerce Committee introduced the Leading Infrastructure for Tomorrow’s (LIFT) America Act. The infrastructure package is aimed at modernizing the nation’s infrastructure in a way that combats climate change and protects public health. The bill includes over $312 billion in clean energy, broadband, and health infrastructure, including $5 billion for the Indian Health Service over 5 years for planning, design, construction, modernization, and renovations of hospitals and health care facilities. Read the full press release here.
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NIHB Joined by Nine National Native Organizations in Letter to President Joe Biden to Request Prioritization of American Indians and Alaska Natives in Washington, DC Metropolitan Area for COVID-19 Vaccines
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On Monday, March 8, 2021, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) was joined by nine national Native organizations in a letter submitted to President Joe Biden, requesting that the Administration swiftly and effectively deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to the American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in the Washington, DC Metropolitan area, as well as all urban Indians. The NIHB Board of Directors passed Resolution 21-01: Promoting and Prioritizing AI/ANs in the DC Metropolitan Area for the COVID-19 Vaccine on February 26, 2021. NIHB was joined in this effort by the National Council of Urban Indian Health, Native American Lifelines (the only urban Indian clinic in the Washington DC Area, located in Baltimore), National Indian Education Association, National American Indian Housing Council, Native American Finance Officers’ Association, Native American Contractors Association, National Indian Gaming Association, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, and the National Congress of American Indians.
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UPDATES FROM THE FEDERAL & STATE ADMINISTRATIONS
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HHS Dear Tribal Leader Letter on Consultation
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On March 2, the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a Dear Tribal Leader Letter seeking input from Tribal leaders on improvements that can be made to HHS’ policies and practices for consultation with Indian Country. During March 2021, HHS is holding six different consultation sessions for Tribal representatives and Tribal leaders to provide recommendations on the department’s Tribal Consultation Policy. These sessions will offer discussions on strengthening of the Tribal Consultation Policy and Process, Communication and outreach with program changes, the improvement of the annual regional Tribal Consultations, and other comments and concerns from Tribes and Tribal Leaders. Information collected during these sessions will be shared and discussed with the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) and at the HHS Annual Tribal Budget Consultation in April. Comments and recommendations on HHS’s Tribal Consultation Policy are due March 26, 2021 and can be submitted to consultation@hhs.gov.
- Join by Webinar: Monday, March 22, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET): Region 1, 2, 3, & 4
- Join by Webinar: Monday, March 22, 2021 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET): Region 5
- Join by Webinar: Tuesday, March 23, 2021 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET): Region 7 & 8
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Join by Webinar: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 (10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. ET): Region 6
- Join by Webinar: Wednesday, March 24, 2021 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET): Region 9
- Join by Webinar: Thursday, March 25, 2021 (2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. ET): Region 10
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Additional Funding for CMS Navigators during the Special Enrollment Period
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On March 1, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced additional funding for Navigators to support the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for the Marketplace. Specifically, $2.3 million is being added to the current 30 Navigator grantee organizations in Federally-facilitated Marketplace states in an effort to aid in outreach, education, and enrollment efforts for the 2021 SEP that terminates on May 15, 2021. Navigators are encouraged to determine how to best utilize this additional funding based on the previously approved plans that they submitted to CMS and current needs. This can include the addition of more staff to help more American Indians and Alaska Natives sign up for health insurance. The Navigator program will also be additionally funded in the spring to during the Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) grants for the future applicant pool. Enrollment Assisters, Patient Benefit Coordinators, and other individuals working in health care insurance enrollment are encouraged to identify if this additional funding may benefit you and your community. These grants will be awarded in advance of the upcoming Open Enrollment of plan year 2022.
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Information Collection Request from HRSA on Grants for Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program
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On February 24, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a notice on an information collection request on the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Program and the data collected through this program. Through this Federal Office of Rural Health Policy program, HRSA is able to issue grants that expand access to, coordinate, and improve the quality of essential health care services, including preventative and emergency services regarding the development of healthcare networks in rural and frontier areas. Specifically, the purpose of the Small Health Care Provider Quality Improvement Grant Program is to improve support for rural primary care providers by adding quality improvement activities into their practice in an effort to “promote the development of evidence-based culture and delivery of coordinated care.” The agency is interested in improving the data collection through this program to aid health care facilities and health care providers in rural and frontier areas in providing essential health care services to their patients. Health care facilities located in rural and frontier areas may qualify for this program and would be required to use evidence-based quality improvement models along with health information technology to collect and report data to improve their essential health care services. Comments on this information collection request are due April 26, 2021.
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Information Collection Request from CMS on an Update to the Home and Community Based Services Waivers and their Supporting Regulations
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On February 25, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published a notice an information collection request on the “Annual Report on Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waivers and Supporting Regulations”. This report will be used to compare actual data to waiver estimates and information from this collection will then be compared to the Medicaid Statistical Information System and the federal and state financial data.. Communities using HCBS should submit the required data to CMS related to their HCBS programs in an effort to more effectively assess if their State, local and Tribal government waiver should be renewed. For more information on HCBS waivers, click here. Comments are due April 26, 2021.
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Information Collection Request from CMS on the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and the Merit-Based Incentive Payment Systems Survey
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On February 26, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a notice on a collection request to support the implementation of the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers (CAHPS) for Merit-Based Incentive Payment Systems (MIPS) survey, adding a question on telehealth to address the Public Health Emergency and the patient-reported usage of telehealth services in an effort for telehealth to be processed under an emergency clearance through CMS programs. CMS is intending to incorporate this addition into their survey for calendar year 2021 to address the increased use of telehealthcare due to the COVID-19 public health emergency. Respondents to this information collection request would include virtual groups like vendors associated with health care facilities and beneficiaries who receive treatment from health care providers who currently administer and respond to the CAHPS survey. Comments on this collection request are due April 9, 2021.
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Upcoming Federal Tribal Consultations
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President Biden’s “Memorandum on Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation Relationships" is intended to strengthen the government's relationship with Tribes while encouraging federal agencies to consult with Tribes on all issues that impact Tribal Nations. In March, several federal agencies that directly impact Tribal health are holding Tribal consultation sessions and/or have deadlines related to their Tribal consultation plans. To see the full list click here.
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GRANTS, RESOURCES AND EVENTS
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Tribal Public Health Summit: Call for Abstracts Open
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The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is now accepting abstract submissions for its upcoming Tribal Public Health Summit which will be held virtually April 27th – 29th, 2021.
Every year the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) brings together public health practitioners, researchers, and policy experts to allow for conversation, mobilization, and strategy. This year is no different despite COVID-19. In fact, COVID-19 has made our work even more urgent and vital. The COVID-19 pandemic has illuminated, for all to see, the critical underfunding of the Indian Health Service (IHS) and the importance of improving Tribal public health infrastructure. We invite you to join us virtually, present your work, and kick off these important explorations.
Abstract submissions due by Friday, March 26, 2021.
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IHS Consultation on Potential Allocation of Funds from American Rescue Plan Act, Wednesday, March 17
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The Indian Health Service (IHS) sent a Dear Tribal Leader Letter initiating Tribal Consultation to seek rapid input regarding the potential allocation of $6 billion currently under consideration by Congress as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
These funds are proposed to be available to support eligible expenses dating back to January 31, 2020, which is the date that the COVID-19 public health emergency was declared. The funds will be provided on a one-time, non-recurring basis, and can only be used for the purposes outlined in the final bill. Deadline for written comments to consultation@ihs.gov: Friday, March 19, 2021
Wednesday, March 17, 2021
12:30 PM – 2:00 PM Eastern Time
Call In: 1-800-857-5577; Participant Code: 4151302
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White House Tribal COVID-19 Update, Wednesday March 17
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On Wednesday, March 17 the White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs for a Tribal COVID-19 Response Team will host an informational call for Tribes and Tribal Leaders. This call will highlight any updates in the COVID-19 response over the last week throughout Indian Country. Please Note: This call is closed press and not for attribution.
Wednesday, March 17
4:30 PM Eastern Time
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with joining information.
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Webinar: Understanding President Biden's Climate Change Executive Orders in Indian Country
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Please join the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) for a Climate and Health Learning Community Webinar: “Understanding President Biden’s Climate Change Executive Orders in Indian Country” on Friday, March 26. This webinar will discuss the two executive orders (EO 13990 and EO 14008) regarding climate change and environmental health, and what the orders mean in the context of Tribal climate improvement efforts.
Learning Objectives:
Attendees will have a greater understanding of:
- The power of Executive Orders and Presidential Memorandums
- How the President’s climate change Executive Orders affect Indian Country
- The next steps after issuing an Executive Order.
Please come prepared to ask questions or share your own insights and experiences! The Learning Community is focused on knowledge exchange, and members are encouraged to network and build relationships with each other and the presenters. Click here to register.
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The IHS is Hosting a Webinar Series for Community Health Representatives
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Beginning April 8, 2021, the Indian Health Service (IHS) will be conducting a series of one hour webinars for Community Health Representatives (CHR) every Thursday. This series will be in four parts and is primarily for non-clinical staff in positions involving behavioral and community health care, HIV, Hepatitis C, Substance use disorder, and 2SLGBTQ health services. Over the course of this four-day webinar series, the speakers will include Janet Cifuentes, PharmD, Heather Huentelman, Jessica Rienstra, BSN, RN and Rick Haverkate, MPH. Individuals with a passion for improving the health disparities of American Indians and Alaska Native people are encouraged to join.
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Visit the NIHB COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center at:
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