Urge Your Lawmakers to Support Indian Health in Budget Reconciliation
This morning the House of Representatives is planning to vote on the Budget Reconciliation measure, H.R. 5376, the Build Back Better Act, which is intended to carry out the President’s domestic agenda relating to social programs, child care, taxation, and various health care measures. Originally, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs had been allocated $20.5 Billion for Native American programs, including Indian health care. Based on objections to the top line dollar figure for the entire Budget Reconciliation of $3.5 Trillion, that amount was trimmed to roughly $1.75 Trillion. As a result, Indian programs took a hit and were reduced significantly.
The House Committee on Rules released two bills for consideration, as of Wednesday, November 4, 2021, 3 p.m. A summary of the bill is provided here.
This bill may be changed based on the disposition in the Committee on Rules and House of Representatives’ vote. Once the bill is passed by the House of Representatives, the Senate will consider the bill and, most likely, the bill will be amended. The National Indian Health Board will continue to update on this matter as it continues to evolve.
The various types of direct funding for Indian health-related programs include the Indian Health Service facilities (and related programs), behavioral health, and epi centers; institutional aid for tribal colleges; nutritional services; tribal health professional opportunity grants; elder abuse neglect and prevention in nursing and skilled nursing facilities. The amount of direct funding is roughly $4.121 Billion.
Other types of health care-related funding for which Tribes or Tribal organizations may be eligible or that may benefit Tribal health facilities or programs involve the Medicaid, Medicare, Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Service, and Health Resources Service Administration programs. This funding provides for competitive grants, scholarships, and other incentives or changes in the law to assist and improve health care access in Indian Country. The approximate total for the other programs is approximately $30.375 Billion.
Continued advocacy is needed by all Tribes to ensure that these numbers for Indian health care, particularly the direct funding, do not get reduced in the final measure. .
