NPAIHB Legislative and Policy Update

Thursday, July 8, 2021

Important Dates

Jul 8, 2021 (12:00 PM Pacific)

Technical Assistance Webinar on the PRF Reporting Portal

Registration Link

Jul 8, 2021 (12:00 PM Pacific)

IHS All Tribal and Urban Indian Organization Leaders Call

Registration Link

Jul 9, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

TSGAC Tribal Caucus

Zoom Registration

Jul 13, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

IHS TSGAC Meeting 

Jul 15, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

CDC/ATSDR TAC Meeting 

July 15, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

OMB Tribal Consultation on the President’s FY 2022 Budget 

Registration Link

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 

Jul 28, 2021 (10:00 AM Pacific) 

CHAP TAG Monthly 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

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Tribal Consultation on FY 2022 Budget.  OMB announced tribal consultation on Jul 15, 2021 at 10:00 am Pacific on the President’s FY 2022 Budget to inform and guide the FY 2023 budget. 

• Registration Link for Tribal Consultation on Jul 15, 2021 10-12 pm Pacific 

Legislative & Appropriations Updates

H.R. 4217 - Taskforce Recommending Improvements for Unaddressed Mental Perinatal & Postpartum Health (TRIUMPH) for New Moms Act of 2021. Rep. Nanette Diaz Barragan (D-CA)/Energy and Commerce (6/29/21) introduced a bill to provide for the establishment of a Task Force on Maternal Mental Health, and for other purposes. The bipartisan bill protects the mental health of new mothers by increasing prevention, screening, diagnosis, intervention, treatment, and access to care for maternal mental health conditions. 

H.R. 4297 - Supporting Working Mothers Act. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA)/Education and Labor (7/1/21) introduced a bill to provide for certain accommodations for breastfeeding in the workplace, and for other purposes. The legislation would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act to expand access to nursing accommodations in the workplace, without placing one-size-fits-all mandates on employers.  

H.R. 4348 - Tribal Family Fairness Act. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA)/Ways and Means (7/2/21) introduced a bill to remove administrative barriers to participation of Indian tribes in federal child welfare programs, and increase federal funding for tribal child welfare programs, and for other purposes. The bill would remove longstanding barriers to federal funding to support children and families for small tribes who often have the greatest need. At the same time, the bill would ensure that larger tribes do not experience a decrease in federal funding if more tribes participate in the program. 

The House Committee on Appropriations recommends $8.1 billion for Indian Health Service (IHS) for FY 2022.  On Thursday, July 1, 2021, the House Appropriations Committee approved of the FY 2022 markup and formally introduced H.R. 4372 and filed House Report 117-83 for FY 2022 appropriations. The House Report 117-83 includes the following program increases over FY 2021 enacted:  

• + $482.8 million for Hospitals and Health Clinics 
• + $250 million for Electronic Health Records 
• + $216 million for Purchased/Referred Care 
• + $25.5 million for Indian health professions 
• + $25.3 million for direct operations 
• + $20 million for Community Health Aide Program 
• + $17 million for Alcohol and Substance Abuse 
• + $9.5 million for Mental Health 
• + $8 million for small ambulatory programs 

Administrative and Regulatory Updates

Indian Health Service (IHS) issued a Dear Tribal Leader Letter requesting priorities for health professionals for IHS scholarship program year 2022-2023. 

• Priorities due Jul 7, 2021 to Tara Johnston at tara.johnston@ihs.gov  

2021 Health Center Patient-Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Recognition. For HRSA-funded health centers, updates to the PCMH Recognition status are due Friday, July 9, 2021.  

• PCMH Verification Tables available here.  
• Instructions to submit updates available here.

Provider Relief Fund Portal is now open for providers who need to report on the use of funds in Reporting Period 1.  Reporting periods provided below: 

• Register for the PRF Reporting Portal
• Review the PRF FAQ
• Registration link for Technical Assistance Webinar on Jul 8, 2021 at 12 pm Pacific. 

NPAIHB submitted comments to OMB Director Shalanda Young on her request for information on methods and leading practices for advancing equity in underserved communities.  The comments underscored the barriers and burdens American Indian/Alaska Native face accessing Medicare and Medicaid benefits, the need to move towards ISDEAA compacts and contracts and to simplify grant processes, historical IHS policy requests for full funding, and request for agencies to jointly work together to address the housing crisis in Indian Country. 

• Read the comment here.

Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series on Telehealth for the Treatment of Serious Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders.  SAMHSA released guidance on the effectiveness of telehealth modalities for the treatment of serious mental illness and substance use disorders intended to distill research on these recommended practices and provide examples of how practitioners have adopted these practices in their programs.  

• Access the Guide here.

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