September 22, 2021 | Issue 21-33
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House Passes Continuing Resolution to Avoid Government Shutdown
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On Tuesday, September 20 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a temporary, stop-gap funding measure 220-211 to avoid a government shutdown from occurring on September 30.
The continuing resolution would keep the federal government running, including the Indian Health Service, through December 3.
The continuing resolution will now be considered in the United States Senate where the measure would give Congress nine additional weeks to negotiate spending bills for the rest of Fiscal Year 2022.
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UPDATES FROM THE FEDERAL & STATE ADMINISTRATIONS
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DTLL on HRSA's Upcoming Tribal Consultation
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New APR and PRFs for Healthcare Providers
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On September 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an announcement on applications to apply for American Rescue Plan (ARP) rural funding and Provider Relief Fund (PRF) funding for Phase 4. Applications for this funding will open on September 29, 2021. Overall, $8.5 billion in ARP funding and $17 billion in PRFs will be distributed to rural health providers who serve Medicaid, the Children’s Health Care Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicare patients. Specifically, funding from the PRF will be used to make up revenue loss and expenses due to the COVID-19 pandemic from July 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021. This Phase 4 funding also plans to alleviate smaller providers who provide services to vulnerable communities by reimbursing them at a higher rate than larger providers. In addition to this funding, the HHS has released guidance on the methodology used to calculate Phase 3 payments. HHS has also included in this announcement a final 60-day grace period to help providers come into compliance with PRF reporting requirements if they are unable to meet the September 30, 2021, deadline of the first PRF reporting period. This information may be helpful to Tribal communities and Tribal health hospitals or clinics in obtaining additional funding as well as understanding new policies and extensions related to the different PRF Phases.
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Additional Funding from the ARP for Increase Access to Health Care
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On September 10, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an announcement on the “Biden-Harris Administration Investment of $20 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) Funding to Improve Access to Affordable and Comprehensive Health Insurance.” This funding will be given to 21 state-based Marketplaces to be used to improve and increase access to affordable health care coverage. Specifically, this funding will be used to aid in the modernization of Information Technology (IT) systems to target consumer outreach activities and alleviate enrollment burdens. This information may be beneficial to enrollment assisters and certified application counselors who work with Tribal communities in understanding these new updates meant to alleviate and quicken the enrollment into health insurance process. To see if your state is included in the 21 state-based Marketplace grants that have been awarded please click here.
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Upcoming Webinar from CMS on the Medicare Open Enrollment Period
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On September 30, 2021, the Centers for Medicare, and Medicaid Services (CMS) will be hosting an online seminar titled “Getting Ready for the Medicare Open Enrollment Period”. This online seminar will be held from 1PM to 4PM ET and will cover Medicare program updates, recourses for the upcoming enrollment period and best practices for enrolling individuals into health insurance. Enrollment Assisters and Certified Application Counselors (CACs) who work in or with Tribal communities should attend this seminar to be aware of the most up-to-date techniques and resources for enrollment into health insurance. More information such as registration and an official agenda will be available one week before the seminar and will be available here.
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CMS Navigator Grant Awardees
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This year the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Navigator program has released the largest amount of funding for Navigators across the country. Navigators are individuals who work with the uninsured population on affordable health care options available to them. In Tribal communities Navigators are extremely important for signing individuals up for health care insurance. Click here to find a Navigator program that has been awarded a grant this year to collaborate with. Congratulations to the Great Plains Tribal Chairmen's Health Board on being one of the Navigator Awardees for South Dakota.
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Registration Open for the 2021 AI/AN Multidisciplinary Health Summit
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The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) will be holding an American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Multidisciplinary Health Summit from September 21, 2021, till September 23, 2021. The summit will be held from 1PM to 6PM ET on all three days. Tribal health professionals and Tribal leaders may be interested in attending this summit to learn more about best practices of other Tribal communities in working with Federal, state and local partners, as well as learn more about federal, state, local and AI/AN and Urban Indian programs. To register please click here.
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White House Announces 2021 Tribal Nations Summit
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On September 21, 2021, The White House announced that the 2021 White House Tribal Nations Summit will occur the week of November 8, 2021. Specific dates and times will be shared in a follow-up announcement. This year the Summit will take place virtually.
The Summit allows Tribal leaders and officials from the highest levels of the Administration to engage in robust and meaningful dialogue on key issues, policy initiatives, and goals for Indian Country. Additional details about the Summit are forthcoming.
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Upcoming Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education from CMS
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On August 30, the Center for Medicare, and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a notice on a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE). This meeting will take place on September 15, 2021, from 12PM to 5PM ET. This meeting will be virtual and topics at the meeting will include strategies to enhance enrollment into health insurance, increase education on health insurance and discuss best strategies for outreach on enrolling into health insurance. This meeting could be beneficial for enrollment assisters or certified application counselors (CACs) who work with Tribal populations to learn best practices and new updates on CMS outreach and education.
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Upcoming Meeting of the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
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On September 7, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published a notice of a meeting of the COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force. This virtual meeting will be held on September 30, 2021 and will include discussions on final recommendations for mitigating inequalities caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This meeting may be of importance for Tribal leaders and Tribal health care facility staff who have seen their communities suffer severely from the COVID-19 pandemic and are interested in hearing best practices or strategies for mitigating inequalities that continue to impact your community. For more information on this meeting and to register to attend please click here.
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Upcoming Meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education from CMS
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On August 30, the Center for Medicare, and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a notice on a meeting of the Advisory Panel on Outreach and Education (APOE). This meeting will take place on September 15, 2021, from 12PM to 5PM ET. This meeting will be virtual and topics at the meeting will include strategies to enhance enrollment into health insurance, increase education on health insurance and discuss best strategies for outreach on enrolling into health insurance. This meeting could be beneficial for enrollment assisters or certified application counselors (CACs) who work with Tribal populations to learn best practices and new updates on CMS outreach and education.
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Administration for Children and Families Seeking Nominations for Tribal Advisory Committee
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- Billings Alternate
- California Alternate
Vacancies will be filled on a rolling basis. Click here to learn more.
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New Funding Opportunity from NIH for a Resource Center to Serve American Indian and Alaska Native Populations
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On August 9, the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Institute of Minority Health and Health Disparities released a funding opportunity for a selected resource center to provide both support and technical assistance for Tribal Epidemiology centers. This funding is being awarded to aid in research and data science capacity relating to American Indian and Alaska Native populations. If awarded this funding, the center would begin work in July of 2022. If you or an organization within your Tribal community is interested in receiving these funds, please submit a letter of intent by October 30, 2021. To apply online click here.
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HRSA Seeking Nominations for a Tribal Advisory Council
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The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is seeking nominations for their Tribal Advisory Council (TAC). These individuals are required to be Tribal officials who have the authority within their Tribe to act on behalf of their communities and who represent the collective views of the Tribes in the area from which they were nominated. These individuals when nominated will serve a length of two years before new nominations will take place. Currently, the areas open for nomination include the Albuquerque Area, California Area, Phoenix Area, and the Tucson Area. To see the work the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has done on Tribal Advisory Committees please click here. Eligibility criteria for those interested in applying can be found here.
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Visit the NIHB COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center at:
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