Week of September 25, 2023 | |
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In this Letter:
đź“ť Dear Tribal Leader Letters
✒️Congressional Items
đź“’Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations
đź“ŁAnnouncements
🎟️Events
đź’µ Notice of Funding Opportunities
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Dear Tribal Leader Letters
View all of IHS' Tribal Leader Letters Here
September 20 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to share IHS Medical Priority Levels updates and initiate Tribal Consultation
September 11 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to initiate virtual Tribal Consultation on the feasibility of creating state-wide Purchased/Referred Care delivery areas (PRCDAs) in North Dakota and South Dakota
September 7 Letter: The IHS Director writes to announce the fiscal year 2023 allocation decisions for $700 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding
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Congressional Items
With the federal funding running out on September 30, and no deal in sight, a shutdown is seeming more and more likely. The House of Representatives will be working this week to pass 11 appropriations bills it has not yet passed, after having abandoned a plan for a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the government funded beyond this week. Read more in NIHB’s alert that was sent on Friday, September 22 for how you can reach out to your member of Congress.
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Bills NIHB is tracking this Month
Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI)
There are multiple bills that contain a reauthorization for SDPI, including S.1855 - Special Diabetes Program Reauthorization Act of 2023 and H.R. 3561 - Promoting Access to Treatments and Increasing Extremely Needed Transparency (PATIENT) Act. H.R. 5378, “Lower Costs, More Transparency Act”, which included reauthorization of SDPI, was scheduled for consideration last week under suspension of the Rules. However, minutes before the vote, the legislation was pulled. At this time, the exact vehicle for reauthorizing SDPI is uncertain. NIHB continues to advocate to Congress for SDPI’s reauthorization and is closely monitoring bills that contain language reauthorizing the program.
Hearings
Medicare Forever: Protecting Seniors by Making the Wealthy Pay Their Fair Share
Committee: Senate Committee on the Budget
Date: September 27, 2023, 10 AM ET
Hearing Webpage Link
Oversight Hearing on Water as a Trust Resource: Examining Access in Native Communities
Committee: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs
Date: September 27, 2023, 2:30 PM ET
Hearing Webpage Link
Tribal Autonomy and Energy Development: Oversight of the Implementation of the Indian Tribal Energy Development & Self-Determination Act
Committee: House Committee on Natural Resources
Date: September 28, 2023, 10:15 AM ET
Hearing Webpage Link
Work & Welfare Subcommittee Hearing on Modernizing Child Welfare to Protect Vulnerable Children
Committee: House Ways and Means Committee
Date: September 28, 2023
Hearing Webpage Link
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Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations
Consultations
Social Security Administration Tribal Consultation on Administrative and Policy Issues at the National Indian Council on Aging, Inc. (NICOA) American Indian Elders Conference
Description: The SSA Tribal Consultation Invitation indicates that the SSA seeks to learn the pros and cons of the proposed framing questions to provide direct input into SSA policies, procedures, and priorities and to assist in providing strong consultations, round table discussions, and listening sessions. Additionally, we seek to strengthen our Equity Action Plan by identifying innovative service channels that SSA can consider in servicing Tribal communities.
Date: September 26, 2023
Location: Harrah’s Casino in Cherokee, North Carolina
Comments Due: October 30, 2023
Comment Submission: AIAN.EC@ssa.gov, subject line “SSA Tribal Consultation Written Response”
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Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Tribal Consultation on the President’s FY 2025 Budget
Description: The purpose of this Tribal consultation is to share your views with OMB Leadership on the funding needs for services, programs and activities serving and benefitting Tribal governments, organizations and communities as part of the President’s FY 2025 Budget process.
Date: September 27, 2023, 1:00 – 4:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
Comments Due: September 29, 2023
Comments Submission: tribalconsultation@omb.eop.gov
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Designating the States of North Dakota and South Dakota as PRCDAs Virtual Tribal Consultation
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Date: October 18, 2023, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
Comments Due: November 15, 2023
Comment Submission: consultation@ihs.gov, subject line “North Dakota and South Dakota State-wide PRCDA Study Tribal Consultation”
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Designating the States of North Dakota and South Dakota as PRCDAs Virtual Tribal Consultation
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Date: October 26, 2023, 3:00 – 4:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
Comments Due: November 15, 2023
Comment Submission: consultation@ihs.gov, subject line “North Dakota and South Dakota State-wide PRCDA Study Tribal Consultation”
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IHS Medical Priority Levels for Purchased/Referred Care (PRC)
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Comments Due: October 27, 2023
Comment Submission: consultation@ihs.gov, subject line “IHS MEDICAL PRIORITY LEVELS CONSULTATION”
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Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer: Health Information Technology Modernization The Path Forward
Date: November 8, 2023, 1:30 – 3:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
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Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings | |
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Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting
Date: October 24 – 25, 2023
Location: TBA
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Community Health Aide Program (CHAP) Tribal Advisory Group (TAG) Meeting
Date: October 26, 2023, 12:30 – 3:30 PM ET
Meeting Link
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Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) National Meeting
Date: December 6 – 7, 2023
Location: TBD
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Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Tribal Listening Session on the Safe Disposal of Opioid Analgesics
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Date: October 5, 2023, 2:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Environmental Justice Index Tribal Listening Session
Date: October 27, 3:00 PM ET
Meeting link is forthcoming
Office of Minority Health (OMH) Listening Session on Healthy People 2030
Dear Tribal Leader Letter
Date: October 25, 2023, 4:00 PM ET
Meeting Registration Link
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Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Recommends Updated COVID-19 Vaccine
On September 12, the CDC released a press release recommending that all people over the age of six months old receive an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The full recommendation from the CDC can be found here.
Statement from IHS Director Roselyn Tso on the Availability of Updated COVID-19 Vaccines
On September 22, IHS Director Roselyn Tso released the following statement on the availability of updated COVID-19 vaccines:
“The Food and Drug Administration recently authorized and approved, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended for use, the updated Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA COVID-19 vaccines, formulated to more closely target currently circulating variants and to provide better protection against serious consequences of COVID-19. Everyone 6 months and older, regardless of current vaccination status, should get an updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccine to protect against COVID-19 illness this fall and winter.
Updated mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will be distributed as soon as they are available. Vaccines will also be available through 2024 to uninsured or underinsured adults through the HHS Bridge Access Program at facilities that participate in the program, or through enrolled community partners. Pediatric mRNA COVID-19 vaccines will continue to be available to all American Indian and Alaska Native children via the Vaccines for Children program.
The IHS encourages our American Indian and Alaska Native patients to contact their local IHS, tribal, or urban Indian organization facility to receive an updated vaccine. You can also visit vaccines.gov to learn more. Many IHS facilities are coordinating and synchronizing fall vaccine efforts, so that all vaccine needs can be met at the same visit. All vaccines, including for COVID-19, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus, and other routine vaccines, may be administered at the same visit.”
HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra Signs Updated HHS Tribal Consultation Policy
During the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) Quarterly Meeting on September 12, HHS Secretary Becerra signed the agency’s updated consultation policy. This policy is the product of over two years of collaboration and several rounds of consultation.
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Events

Community Health Aid Program (CHAP): Implementation in Tribal Communities
Description: The purpose of the Webinar is to provide a Tribally-driven discussion on CHAP as it exists in Tribal communities in the Alaska and Portland Areas. Presenters will share the vision of their Tribes and Tribal leaders utilizing CHAP in the context of Self Governance and Self Determination.
Date: September 28, 2023, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
Event Registration Link
Utilizing Culture in Grant Writing and Programming with National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH)
Description: Shane Lopez-Johnston (Tolowa), the prevention and special projects director at the Native American Rehabilitation Association of the Northwest hosts this virtual event on grant writing strategies tailored for urban Indian programs, strategic planning to define grant funding scope and goals, and best practices for grant management.
Date: September 28, 2023, 2:00 – 3:00 PM ET
Event Registration Link
NCUIH UIO Focus Groups: Setting Policy Priorities for 2024
Description: This event will offer an opportunity for dialogue between NCUIH staff and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). Topics of discussion will include urban Native health initiatives and 2024 priorities. The focus groups will reflect on the achievements and challenges of 2023. Participants will be encouraged to share their personal experiences, insights, and feedback.
Date: Multiple Sessions from October 3 — October 5, 2023
Meeting Webpage Link
| Notice of Funding Opportunities | |
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FY 2022 and FY 2023 Small Ambulatory Program Application | Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: $3,500,000 for up to 12 IHS Areas
Application Deadline: November 10, 2023
Description: Under the SAP, American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes or Tribal Organizations that are operating an Indian health care facility pursuant to a health care services contract or compact entered into under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, P.L. 93-638, as amended (25 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq.), may competitively apply for funding for the construction, expansion, or modernization of small ambulatory health care facilities. The FY 2022 budget includes $25 million and the FY 2023 budget includes $25 million for a total budget of $50 million available for SAP. Fiscal year 2022 and 2023 SAP projects will be awarded up to $3.5 million and all 12 IHS Areas that submit an application will have an opportunity to receive an award.
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HRSA National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Students to Service (S2S) Loan Repayment Program | Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: up to $120,000 in tax-free loan repayment
Application Deadline: December 7, 2023
Description: Students in the final year of a primary care health professions school may qualify for up to $120,000 in tax-free loan repayment for their medical, nursing, or dental school student loans in exchange for a three-year service commitment in a high-need rural, Tribal, or urban community. New this year, a Maternity Care Target Area Supplemental Award of an additional $40,000 is available to physicians specializing in obstetrics, gynecology, or family medicine physicians who practice obstetrics on a regular basis, as well as certified nurse midwives.
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Crisis Counseling Assistance and Training Program (CCP) | Click Here to Learn More
Application Deadline: Ongoing
Description: The CCP is a short-term disaster relief grant for states, U.S. territories, and federally recognized tribes. CCP grants are awarded after a presidential disaster declaration. CCP funding supports community-based outreach, counseling, and other mental health services to survivors of natural and human-caused disasters.
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Emergency Community Water Assistance Grants | Click Here to Learn More
Award Amount: $150,000 for water transmission line grants; $1 million for water source construction
Application Deadline: Ongoing
Description: This program helps eligible communities prepare for or recover from an emergency that threatens the availability of safe, reliable drinking water. This program helps prevent damage or restore household and business access to clean, reliable drinking water in eligible rural areas and towns following natural disasters. Funding can improve the natural environment and encourage manufacturers and other businesses to locate or expand operations.
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