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
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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
.
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Join the National Partnership for Dental Therapy!
Click
HERE for more information!
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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!
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National Indian Health Board Urges Senate to Pass Tribal Health Priorities in the HEROES Act
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In This Issue:
TOP STORY
CAPITOL HILL UPDATES
FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND STATE GOVERNMENT UPDATES
UPCOMING EVENTS, CALLS, AND WEBINARS
GRANTS AND RESOURCES
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Bipartisan 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
.
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House 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.
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FEDERAL ADMINISTRATION AND STATE GOVERNMENT UPDATES
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The 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.
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CMS 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.
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CMS 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.
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Administration 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.
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UPCOMING EVENTS, CALLS, AND WEBINARS
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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
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Meeting 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.
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Meeting 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
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CMS and NIHB Webinar on Outreach and Enrollment
June 11, 2020
2:00 - 3:00pm ET
Advance registration is required. Register here!
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Notice 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.
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CMS ITU
Trainings
Don't miss the National Indian Health Board's (NIHB) presentation at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS), Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal Health Programs, and Urban Indian Programs (CMS I/T/U) regional training sessions! CMS is committed to helping the I/T/U facilities to maximize their ability to access third party resources. To meet this objective, CMS, in partnership with the States, the Department of Veteran Affairs, the Social Security Administration, the DHHS Office of the Inspector General, IHS and NIHB provide training to patient benefits advocates on the programs and benefits available through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace.
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