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June 26, 2023 Issue

News

Hearing to Reauthorize Impactful Opioid Law, The SUPPORT Act

On June 21^st, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health met to address the reauthorization of the SUPPORT Act. The SUPPORT Act was signed into law in 2018 with bipartisan support and responded to the opioid crisis by supporting various prevention and care strategies. Provisional data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that from December 2021 to December 2022, more than 105,000 people died from a drug overdose. Many of the most impactful parts of the SUPPORT Act will expire at the end of September. 

Four bills introduced at this hearing directly involve Indian Country. H.R. 4100 reauthorizes the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to create programs that collaborate with Tribes to collect and track data on new occurrences of infections related to substance use like hepatitis, HIV, or infective endocarditis. H.R. 4099 reauthorizes grants and technical assistance available to Tribes to create substance-use prevention, rapid response, and data collection programs through the CDC. H.R. 4057 reauthorizes the CDC to provide technical assistance to collect and report data related to adverse childhood experiences if requested by Tribes. The Interagency Task Force on Trauma-Informed Care is also up for reauthorization with H.R. 4080. This task force aims to assess and recommend best practices for federal agencies as they assist youth who are impacted by substance use or other trauma. Members of this task force include Indian Health Service, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Justice, and many others.

Seven of the bills on the Subcommittee's agenda involved Medicaid. H.R. 3892 would permanently allow the option for a state Medicare program to cover mental and behavioral services in residential and inpatient capacities within facilities with sixteen or more beds. Currently, the Institutions for Mental Diseases (IMD) Exclusion restricts Medicaid coverage to facilities with fewer than sixteen beds which has interfered with access to care in many cases. Both the Energy and Commerce Chair and Health Subcommittee Chairman have expressed their support for H.R. 3892. Another bill discussed at the hearing also may allow for the IMD exclusion, which prohibits Medicaid coverage for children in foster care participating in particular residential treatment programs, to be lifted.

Changes to Medicare coverage for people who are incarcerated may also be on the horizon. Two bills at the hearing allow state Medicaid programs to cover people who are incarcerated and thirty days from their release or are in pretrial detention. Additionally, one bill would permanently allow Medicaid to fund medication-assisted treatments, which often aid the care of opioid use disorder.

Another Subcommittee meeting on the SUPPORT Act and other relevant bills is scheduled for July 21^st 2023.

To view a summary of all of the 28 bills considered in the hearing, click here.

Announcements

Upcoming Deadline to File PACT Act Claim is August 8, 2023

The PACT Act is a law that allows Veterans exposed to toxic substances such as burn pits or Agent Orange to receive expanded Veterans Affairs health care benefits. To receive backdated benefits from August 10, 2022, the deadline to file a claim is August 8, 2023. Learn more on the Veterans Affairs Website.

Upcoming Tribal Health Equity Data Symposium on September 26 and 27

National Indian Health Board will host the Tribal Health Equity Data Symposium on September 26 – 27, 2023 in Washington, D.C. The symposium will explore what needs to change in data law, policy, systems, and practices in order to better support health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives. Themes covered will include data access, measuring health equity, race/ethnicity standards, and culturally centered data reporting and communication.

The Call for Proposals is open now until July 16; proposals may be submitted by email to Rochelle Ruffer at rruffer@nihb.org. For more information on the symposium and NIHB’s health equity work, please see nihb.org/health-equity.

Health Information Technology Advisory Committee is Seeking Nominations by July 31^st

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) is accepting nominations for people to serve on the Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC). The GAO aims to appoint at least two people to the advisory committee who will focus on patients or consumers, health plans or purchasers, and researchers. Read more about this opportunity here. To apply, submit a letter of nomination and resume to HITCommittee@gao.gov. 

Upcoming Tribal Advisory

Committees & Consultations

HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultations Summer 2023: Each of the 10 HHS regions will again be hosting consultations with regional Tribes to discuss programmatic issues and Tribal priorities. Each session will include one-on-one opportunities with regional leadership. The remaining consultation dates follow:

June 27 | Region 1 | Virtual

June 28-29 | Region 9 | Phoenix, AZ

July 11-12 | Region 5 | New Buffalo, MI

July 19 | Region 3 | Virtual

August 1-2 | Region 8 | Denver, CO

August 10-11 | Region 10 | Anchorage, AK

August 22-24 | Region 6 | Dallas, TX

August 30-31 | Region 4 | Choctaw, MS 

Facilities Appropriations Advisory Board (FAAB) Meeting

Date: Wednesday, June 28 – Thursday, June 29, 2023

Time: 9:00 AM ET [both days]

Join ZoomGov Meeting | Meeting ID: 161 149 3731 

Notice of Funding Opportunities

June Deadlines:

IHS Grants for Addressing Dementia in Indian Country – Models of Care | Click Link

Application Deadline: June 27, 2023

Description: This program supports the development of models of comprehensive, responsive dementia care including planning and implementing approaches to care, developing best and promising practices, and identifying funding streams to support service sustainability.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Preventing Youth Overdose: Treatment, Recovery, Education, Awareness and Training (PYO TREAT) Grants | Click Link

Application Deadline: June 27, 2023

Description: SAMHSA is funding four three-year grants to improve youth awareness on risks associated with substance abuse, especially fentanyl, as well as to increase access to screenings, medications, and trainings for opioid use disorders.

IHS Tribal Self-Governance Program Planning and Negotiation Cooperative Agreements | Click Link

Application Deadline:  Applications for the planning opportunity are due June 20, while applications for the negotiation support are due June 30.

Description: Part one of this opportunity supports a one-year planning cooperative agreement to prepare Tribal entities for assuming IHS programs and services into their Tribal health program. Part two supports a one-year negotiation cooperative agreement to support the negotiation process for the program.

ACF Victims of Human Trafficking Services and Outreach (DVHT-SO) Program | Click Link

Award Amount: Five cooperative agreements of between $250,00 to $300,000

Application Deadline: June 30, 2023

Description: The cooperative agreements will build, expand, and sustain organizational and community service capacity for people who have experienced a severe form of human trafficking.

Administration for Children and Families Funding for Victims of Human Trafficking in Native Communities Demonstration Project | Click Link

Award Amount: Three awards of approximately $300,000 each

Application Deadline: June 30, 2023 on www.grants.gov

Description: The funds can be used to provide holistic case management services, improve the identification of sex and labor trafficking victims, and raise public awareness.

July Deadlines:

HRSA Primary Care Training and Enhancement – Language/Disability Access | Click Link

Application Deadline: July 3, 2023

Description: Grants will be used to develop curricula and train medical students, physician assistant students, and primary care medical residents to provide high-quality primary care services to individuals with limited English proficiency, and/or individuals with physical, intellectual, or developmental disabilities. 

National Organizations of State and Local Officials Program | Click Link

Application Deadline: July 6, 2023

Description: HRSA will fund a national level organization with an in-depth understanding of, and experience with, providing technical assistance and support to state, territorial, tribal, and local public health officials and organizations.

HRSA Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment (STAR LRP) Program – Providers and Site Opportunities

Award Amount: Up to $250,000 in in educational loan repayment

Application Deadline: July 13, 2023, 7:30 PM ET

Description: Eligible substance use disorder treatment clinicians and community health workers can apply to receive up to $250,000 in educational loan repayment from HRSA in exchange for working full-time for six years at an approved facility. Eligible treatment facilities for substance use disorder can become also become approved for clinicians and community health workers in HRSA's STAR LRP eligible sites/facilities.

SAMHSA Support for 988 Tribal Response Cooperative Agreements | Click Link

Application Deadline: July 18, 2023

Description: This funding opportunity will provide resources to improve the response to 988 contacts by AI/ANs or in Tribal communities by improving the integration and support of 988 crisis centers with access to culturally competent in a manner that respects Tribal sovereignty.

HRSA Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program | Click Link

Award Amount: up to $100,000 in loan repayment for eligible health professionals

Application Deadline: July 20, 2023, 7:30 PM ET

Description: The Administration is investing $15 million to recruit and retain pediatricians through a loan repayment program of up to $100,000 for eligible health professionals (pediatric medical subspecialty, pediatric surgical specialty, or child and adolescent behavioral health care) in exchange for a three-year, full-time service commitment at an approved facility in an underserved area. Those interested can attend an application webinar or Q&A session. 

National Indian Health Board | www.nihb.org | 202-507-4070

Visit the NIHB COVID-19 Tribal Resource Center at www.nihb.org/covid-19