June 18, 2021 | Issue 21-20 |
|
|
House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health holds Legislative Hearing on Vaccine Legislation |
-
Phyllis Arthur, Vice President, Infectious Diseases and Diagnostic Policy, Biotechnology Innovation Organization
-
Rebecca Coyle, Executive Director, American Immunization Registry Association
-
Yvonne Maldonado, M.D., Chair, Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics, Stanford University Center for Academic Medicine Pediatric Infectious Diseases
-
Lijen (L.J.) Tan, Ph.D., Chief Strategy Officer, Immunization Action Coalition
Watch the full hearing on the committee website here.
|
|
|
Senate Appropriations Committee holds Hearing on FY 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Interior |
During questioning, the Senators noted the significant increases proposed for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Bureau of Indian Education and the budget’s promise to support Tribal sovereignty and self-governance. Additionally, many Senators questioned the Secretary on the pause in oil lease sales. Watch the full hearing on the Committee website here.
|
|
|
House Natual Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples of the United States holds hearing on Federal Facilities in Indian Country |
NIHB has advocated for additional funding for Indian Health Service facilities throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic and the annual Tribal Budget Formulation Work Group. Read NIHB’s COVID-19 advocacy here and Fiscal Year 2022 IHS Budget book here.
Witnesses included:
-
Mr. Randy Grinnell, Deputy Director for Management Operations, Indian Health Service
-
Mr. Jason Freihage, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Management, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs
-
Hon. David Hill, Principal Chief, Muscogee Nation
-
Hon. Ned Norris, Jr., Chairman, Tohono O'odham Nation
-
Hon. Timothy Nuvangyaoma, Chairman, Hopi Tribe
-
Hon. Victoria Kitcheyan, Chairwoman, Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
-
Hon. Chief Allan, Chairman, Coeur d'Alene Tribe
Watch the full committee hearing here.
|
|
|
UPDATES FROM THE FEDERAL & STATE ADMINISTRATIONS |
|
|
New CMS Funding for at Home COVID-19 Vaccinations |
On June 9, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released an announcement of funding for at-home COVID-19 Vaccinations for Medicare Beneficiaries. Specifically, Medicare is incentivizing providers by paying them an additional $35 per dose of COVID-19 vaccine when it is administered in a beneficiary’s home. In total, providers will receive a payment of $150 for the administration of both doses. This funding may be beneficial for hospitals and healthcare facilities in Tribal communities that may have patients who cannot leave their homes.
|
|
|
Next Meeting of the Health Equity Task Force |
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a notice of a meeting of the Health Equity Task Force that will take place on June 25, 2021, from 2 pm to 6 pm ET. The meeting will highlight recommendations on how to address the inequalities seen from the COVID-19 disease. Topics include the impact of long-COVID and access to personal protection equipment, testing, and other supplies needed when combating the disease. The task force met on May 28, 2021, and the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) assisted Victor Joseph, the American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) representative on the Task Force, in providing insights on the health inequalities AI/AN peoples experienced during the pandemic.
|
|
|
Additional Funding for Rural Health Clinics for COVID-19 Testing |
On June 11, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an announcement on the addition of $424.7 million to rural health clinics for COVID-19 testing in rural communities. The funding is from HRSA and will be used to help over 4,200 rural health clinics. Specifically, HRSA is providing $100,000 per clinic site based on the number of certified clinic sites rural health clinics operate. This announcement highlights the priority of the agency to designate funding to health care practices in underserved rural areas. This could be beneficial for Tribal health care facilities located in rural areas and could greatly increase covid testing and provide additional resources necessary for the mitigation of the COVID-19 disease.
|
|
|
Revised Reporting Requirements and Timeline for Provider Relief Fund Payments |
On June 11, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Health Recourses and Services Administration (HRSA) announced a revised notice of reporting requirements and reporting timeline for those who have received Provider Relief Fund payments. This notice intends to help small providers by reducing burdens, extending deadlines for reporting information, and aids in expanding Provider Relief Fund payments for recipients who received payments after June 30, 2020. These requirements are for those who received payments exceeding $10,000 during a single Payment Received Period from the Provider Relief Fund. For Tribal organizations that have received such Provider Relief Fund Payments, it is important that your organization understand these new reporting requirements and deadlines.
|
|
|
Additional $1.8 Billion in Funding for Health Care in Indian Country |
On June 16, the Indian Health Service (IHS) released an announcement on additional investment from the Biden Administration of $1.8 billion of funding from the American Rescue Plan to help aid in the mitigation of COVID-19 in Indian Country. This is an additional allocation to the one that was announced in April 2021 of $4 billion. This new funding aims to aid Indian Country by strengthening the public health workforce, supporting mental health and substance use treatment and prevention as well as continue to treat and reduce the COVID-19 disease within Tribal communities. Specifically, $240 million will be used for public health and workforce activities, $420 million for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment, $500 million to detect, diagnose, trace, monitor, and mitigate COVID-19, and $600 million for COVID-19 related facilities activities.
|
|
|
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will continue hosting a series of virtual ITU trainings this summer for the Bemidji/Nashville Area and the Great Plains Area. ITU refers to the three entities that have worked to develop the capacity to serve traditionally medically underserved communities of American Indian and Alaska Natives. The ITU includes the Indian Health Service, Tribes and Tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations. For more information on ITUs please see this one pager NIHB has created. Currently, the Bemidji/Nashville area training is in progress until June 22, 2021. Tribal leaders, members, and health care facility staff are encouraged to join to learn more about health insurance and the Marketplace to better serve their communities and promote the healthcare improvement of their members. For more information on ITU trainings please email KBitsuie@nihb.org.
Thank you to those who have already attended the CMS ITU trainings for the Oklahoma area and Great Planes area!
|
|
|
GRANTS, RESOURCES AND EVENTS |
|
|
NCAI Mid-Year Conference Registration Open |
Registration for the National Congress for American Indians Mid-Year Conference is now open. The conference will occur virtually this year and provide tribal leaders and partners an opportunity to discuss work on issues facing Tribal Nations. The virtual conference will be held:
June 20-24, 2021
The conference agenda can be found on NCAI’s website here.
|
|
|
Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee to host a Webinar on the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and CARES Act Provider Relief Fund |
The Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee will be hosting a webinar overviewing the use of IHS and tribal funding in the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and the new reporting requirements for the Department of Health and Human Services' Provider Relief Fund. The webinar will be:
Wednesday, June 23, 2021
1:00PM to 2:30 PM ET
For more information on the listening session, visit the Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee here.
|
|
|
The Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives Holds Listening Session |
The Presidential Task Force on Missing and Murdered American Indians and Alaska Natives (Operation Lady Justice) is hosting a listening session to discuss the scope and nature of missing and murdered indigenous persons in LGBTQ+ and Two-Sprit communities. The listening session will be:
Friday, June 25, 2021
1:30 PM – 5:30 PM ET
|
|
|
Administration for Children and Families Seeking Nominations for Tribal Advisory Committee |
- Albuquerque Primary and Alternate
- Billings Alternate
- California Alternate
- Oklahoma Primary and Alternate
- Phoenix Primary and Alternate
Vacancies will be filled on a rolling basis. Click here to learn more.
|
|
|
HRSA Seeking Nominations for a Tribal Advisory Council |
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.
|
|
|
CMS Extends Healthcare.gov Marketplace Special Enrollment Period |
For more information on the special enrollment period, visit the CMS website here.
|
|
|
Visit the NIHB COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center at:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
