NPAIHB Legislative & Policy Update
Tuesday, April 27, 2021
IMPORTANT DATES
Apr 27-29 2021
National Indian Health Board, National Tribal Public Health Summit
Free Listening Sessions During Summit (Register for Consultation/No-Cost
Institutes Only)
April 27, 9 -11a.m. Pacific | Indian Health Service  
April 28,10:45 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Pacific | Pacific Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention
April 29, 9 - 11 a.m. Pacific | Indian Health Service Behavioral Health

April 28, 2021
Senate Committee on Appropriations
Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Addressing Health Disparities in Indian Country: Review of the Indian Health Service's COVID Response and Future Needs
7 a.m. Pacific
 
April 28, 2021
House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing
The Long Haul: Forging a Path through the Lingering Effects of COVID-19
8 a.m. Pacific

Apr 29, 2021
Veterans Administration Tribal Consultation on the Elimination of Co-Pays for Covered American Indian/Alaska Native Veterans
10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Pacific
Call 800-767-1750, extension 52908.

April 30, 2021
White House COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force
11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Pacific
 
May 4, 2021
House Committee on Energy and Commerce Hearing
Negotiating a Better Deal: Legislation to Lower the Cost of Prescription Drugs
8:30 a.m. Pacific
 
May 5 - 6, 2021
Health & Human Services Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee (HHS-STAC)

ACTION ALERTS
The White House has announced their intent to nominate Bryan Newland for Assistant Secretary of Indian Affairs.  Bryan Newland is the former President of the Bay Mills Indian Community (Ojibwe) and previously has served as Counselor and Policy Advisor to the Assistant Secretary of the Interior -Indian Affairs under Obama's Administration.  His nomination will be considered by the U.S. Senate. 
 
Administration of the Janssen (Johnson & Johnson) COVID-19 vaccine resumes.  The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, FDA, and CDC have determined that the pause on use of the Janssen COVID-19 vaccine in the US should be lifted.  IHS announced that its facilities will resume administering Janssen COVID-19 vaccine. 
Veterans Affairs (VA) Consultation on Co-Pays for American Indian/Alaska Native VeteransThe VA issued a Dear Tribal Leader Letter on Mar 29, 2021, calling for consultation on recent legislation that prohibits the VA from collecting co-pays from covered AI/AN veterans.
  • Dear Tribal Leader Letter
  • NPAIHB Tribal Caucus on April 22, 2021
  • Consultation Apr 29, 2021 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Pacific
  • Call 800-767-1750, extension 52908.
  • Written comments due May 29, 2021.
LEGISLATIVE UPDATES
 S.1365 - Extending Tribal Broadband Priority Act of 2021: This bill will give tribal nations and Native Hawaiian organizations an adequate amount of time to apply for spectrum licenses to deploy much-needed internet services on their lands.

H.Res.344 / S.Res.172 - Declaring Racism a Public Health Crisis: These resolutions acknowledge the history of racism and discrimination within health care and the systemic barriers that people of color continue to face when seeking care. These follow CDC Director Wolensky's declaration of a similar nature in early April that stated: "The disparities seen over the past year were not a result of COVID-19. Instead, the pandemic illuminated inequities that have existed for generations and revealed for all of America a known, but often unaddressed, epidemic impacting public health: racism."

H.R.2767 - Peers in Medicare Act: This bill would expand access to peer support specialists by clarifying that they can participate as part of a team that provides behavioral health integration (BHI) services for Medicare beneficiaries.

Legislative Tracker: An on-going list of legislation introduced in the 117th Congress.
ADMINISTRATIVE and REGULATORY UPDATES
Indian Health Service Reopens and Extends Comment Period on the Acquisition Rules to Implement the Buy Indian Act. Consultation occurred on the proposed regulations in November of 2020. The proposed rule was originally published on November 10, 2020 for 60 days.
Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services Meeting. Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the upcoming public meeting of their Advisory Council on Alzheimer's Research, Care and Services.
HIPAA Privacy Policy Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Please join us for a discussion on the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that impacts HIPAA Privacy rules.
NPAIHB Regulations and DTLL Tracker. An on-going list of federal agency actions and Dear Tribal Leader Letters.
For more information
 Laura Platero, Executive Director
Veronica Smith, Health Policy Consultant | Lisa L. Griggs, Executive and Program Ops Assistant | Candice Jimenez, Health Policy Specialist | Liz Coronado, Health Policy Specialist
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