NPAIHB Legislative and Policy Update

Tuesday, June 29, 2021

Important Dates

Jul 7, 2021 (11:00 AM Pacific) 

CDC TAC Sub-committee Meeting 

Jul 9, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

TSGAC Tribal Caucus 

Jul 13, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

IHS TSGAC Meeting 

Jul 15, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

CDC TAC Meeting 

July 15, 2021 (12:00 pm Pacific) 

DSTAC 4th Quarterly Meeting 

Jul 20, 2021 

MMPC Meeting 

Jul 21, 2021 (11:00 AM Pacific) 

CDC TAC Sub-committee Meeting 

Jul 21-22, 2021 

CMS TTAG Meeting 

Jul 26-29, 2021 

NPAIHB THD & Quarterly Board Meeting 

Jul 28, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

SAMHSA TTAC Meeting 

Federal Health Agency and Congress Tracker (FHACT). An ongoing list of Dear Tribal Leader Letters, Federal agency actions, and legislation introduced in the 117th Congress related to health.

Action Alerts

Veterans Affairs (VA) is conducting tribal consultation on their State Home Program. Section 3004 of the Johnny Isakson and David P. Roe Veterans Health Care and Benefits Improvement Act of 2020 amended the statutory authorities of the State Veterans Home Construction Grant Program and State Home Per Diem Program to allow tribes to participate. The VA is seeking input on any necessary legislative, administrative, or regulatory changes to support VA State Home Program operated by tribes.

• Written comments due Jul 3, 2021

VA Tribal Consultation on Pharmacy Reimbursement Rates. The VA is also conducting tribal consultation on pharmacy reimbursement rates for facilities in the lower 48 states participating in the VA’s Indian Health Service/Tribal Health Program Reimbursement Agreement Program. The Dear Tribal Leader Letter was issued on May 29, 2021, with proposed changes to pharmacy reimbursement rates. NPAIHB will be hosting a tribal caucus to discuss the proposed changes.

• Link to Tribal Discussion re. proposed changes Jun 24, 2021, 2 pm – 3 pm Pacific
• Written comments due Jul 5, 2021.

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is seeking input on methods, tools, and approaches to ensure that policies and actions equitably serve all communities, especially underserved populations. 

• Written comments due Jul 6, 2021.

Legislative & Appropriations Updates

S.2210 – Better Care Better Jobs Act. Sen. Casey (D-PA), Sen. Wyden (D-OR), Sen. Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Murray, Sen. Duckworth (D-IL), Sen. Hassan (D-NH), and Sen. Brown (D-OH) are leading this historic investment in Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) for elders and people with disabilities. The bill would strengthen and expand access to HCBS and workforce, make permanent Money Follows the Person, encourage state innovative models that benefit direct care workers and care recipients.   

S.2197 – Rural and Frontier Telehealth Expansion Act.  Sen. Rosen (D-NV) and Sen. Sullivan (R-AK) led a bipartisan group of senators in introducing this bill that would increase the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage funding for telehealth services, including audio-only telehealth, by 5% in frontier states or states with limited access to broadband.   

H.R.4151 – Advancing FASD Research, Services, and Prevention Act of 2021 (FASD Respect Act). Rep. McCollum (D-MN) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK) introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address prenatal substance exposure through early intervention by funding prevention efforts. The bill will create a program at HRSA to build State and Tribal systems to identify, treat, and support individuals with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders. 

H.R.3841 – Tribal Health Data Improvement Act of 2021 passes House on June 23. Congressmen Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) and Tom O’Halleran (AZ-1) introduced the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act on June 11. The bill reaffirms Tribal public health authorities are entitled to access public health data. The bill now moves into the Senate Indian Affairs committee. Congressman Mullin shared this statement upon its passage – 

“Our sovereign Tribal Nations and Tribal Epidemiology Centers were always supposed to have equal access to public health data that states, counties, and cities have. But for years, many Tribes have faced numerous challenges while trying to access this public health data,” Mullin said. “The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of equal access to this data in order for Tribes to make decisions for their communities, and the Tribal Health Data Improvement Act makes that happen. I am glad this bill passed the full House ... and I encourage the Senate to take it up quickly, so Tribes don’t have to wait any longer for the data they need.” 

NPAIHB submitted testimony on the FY 2022 Indian Health Service and Health and Human Services budget before the Senate Interior and Labor, Health & Human Services Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittees 

• Read the IHS FY 2022 Budget testimony here 
• Read the HHS FY 2022 Budget testimony here 

Administrative and Regulatory Updates

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) announced an opportunity to apply to be a Healthy People 2030 (HP2030) Champion. Organizations selected will be recognized for their commitment towards achieving a society in which all people can achieve their full potential for health and well-being across their lifespan. 

• Register for the informational webinar on July 28, 2021 at 10:00am Pacific 
• Starting July 5, 2021 letters of interest may be submitted to HP2030@hhs.gov    

White House Tribal Briefing on Child Tax Credit. Gene Sperling, White House American Rescue Plan Coordinator and Senior Advisor to President Biden spoke to tribal leaders on June 29 about the importance of ensuring tribal citizens are informed about the Child Tax Credit. The Child Tax Credit in the American Rescue Plan provides the largest Child Tax Credit and historic relief to the most working families ever. 

• For those with children, the American Rescue Plan increased the Child Tax Credit from $2,000 per child to $3,000 per child for children over the age of six and from $2,000 to $3,600 for children under the age of six, and raised the age limit from 16 to 17. All working families will get the full credit if they make up to $150,000 for a couple or $112,500 for a family with a single parent (also called Head of Household). 
• Receiving Child Tax Credit payments is not considered income for any family. Therefore, it will not change the amount you receive in other Federal benefits. These Federal benefits include unemployment insurance, Medicaid, SNAP, SSI, SSDI, TANF, WIC, Section 8, or Public Housing. 
• For individuals, families who have not filed taxes in either 2019 or 2020, you are still eligible for the child tax credit: Child Tax Credit Non-filer Sign-up Tool 
• Find more information, here: Child Tax Credit | Resources & Guidance | FAQs 

Provider Relief Fund Guidance. HHS has released updated information regarding Provider Relief Fund (PRF) reporting and deadlines to expend funds. The deadlines to use funds and reporting time periods are provided below:

• Register for the PRF Reporting Portal
• Review the PRF FAQ

HHS Region 10 Tribal Consultation was held Jun 15-16, 2021. HHS Region 10 will be accepting written testimony until Friday, September 3, 2021.

• Written Testimony may be submitted to consultation@hhs.gov.

Indian Health Service (IHS) announces allocation decision for the remaining $1.8 billion under the American Rescue Plan Act. The funds will be allocated as follows:

• $240 million for public health workforce activities;
• $420 million for mental health and substance abuse prevention and treatment;
• $500 million to detect, diagnose, trace, monitor, and mitigate COVID-19 infection; and
• $600 million for COVID-19 related facilities activities.

Department of Commerce announces National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) grants to expand broadband on Tribal lands. The Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program provides nearly $1 billion in grants to expand broadband access on Tribal lands. Grants are available for eligible Native American, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian entities for broadband deployment, digital inclusion, workforce development, telehealth and distance learning.

• At our July QBM, we will have Crystal Hottowe, Broadband Program Specialist from the Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program present information on this funding opportunity.
• Fact Sheet | Notice of Funding Opportunity

Establishing Office of Minority Health Tribal Advisory Committee (TAC). HHS issued a DTLL to seek tribal input on establishing a TAC to advise the Office of Minority Health on the structure and function of the Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity. Tribal consultation will be held during the 2021 HHS Regional Tribal Consultation Meetings.

• Region 10 Tribal Consultation Jun 14-16, 2021
• Written comments due Aug 20, 2021.

The Administration for Children and Families is requesting a three-year extension of the Tribal Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting Program: Guidance for Submitting an Annual Report to the Secretary to allow for minor updates to be made. The updates relate to changes in timing for reporting.

For more information Laura Platero, Executive Director

Lisa L. Griggs, Executive and Program Ops Assistant | Candice Jimenez, Health Policy Specialist | Liz Coronado, Health Policy Specialist

Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board npaihb.org