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Week of August 26, 2024

In this Letter:

📣Announcements 

✒️Congressional Items 

📝 Dear Tribal Leader Letters

📒Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations

🎟️Events 

💵 Notice of Funding Opportunities

Announcements

CFPB Looking for Feedback from Tribes About Impact of Medical Debt

This week, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released research on the disproportionate impact of medical debt on Alaska Native consumers. Due to the shortages of providers, limited access to primary and specialty services available in rural areas, and issues of medical coverage for Alaska Native beneficiaries – Alaska Natives are disproportionately impacted by medical debt.

CFPB is interested in hearing from Tribal leaders, Tribal healthcare administrators, and AI/AN community members on the impact of medical debt on AI/AN individuals, issues with billing and reimbursement for medical services, and funding mechanisms for Tribal Nations health care clinics. Questions and information can be sent to Cheryl.Parkerrose@cfpb.gov and Marie.Eckstein@cfpb.gov. 

Congressional Corner

Both the House and the Senate are out for the August Recess. Both Chambers will return this month to consider legislation to continue to fund the government beyond the end of the Fiscal year on September 30, 2024. 

This is an excellent time to visit with your Senators and Representatives while they are working in their home states and districts!  NIHB has several resources available for you on key Indian health topics for 2024. This includes:

• Mandatory Funding for CSC and 105(l) Leases: NIHB will continue advancing our advocacy efforts regarding moving Contract Support Costs (CSC) and 105(l) Lease Payments to mandatory appropriations this month. This includes getting Members of Congress to sign onto letters to leadership supporting this change. Visit our advocacy resource page for more information and to see how you can get involved!

• SDPI Renewal: The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) expires on December 31, 2024. Click here for additional resources supporting renewal of this critical program.

• TERRA Act (H.R. 7859): The Tribal Environmental Risk and Resilience Act (TERRA Act) was introduced in the House earlier this year with 13 bipartisan co-sponsors, but a hearing before the House Natural Resources Committee has yet to be scheduled. Click here to access a House template letter urging House members to hold a hearing and support this bill.

• Telehealth Access for Tribal Communities Act of 2024: Rep. Leger Fernandez has introduced a piece of legislation which would allow Tribal facilities to bill and be reimbursed for audio-only telehealth services by Medicare—preserving the flexibilities put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic. NIHB supports this important legislation to support continued access to telehealth for Tribal communities.

Please contact NIHB’s Congressional relations team for more information at wdavis@nihb.org and tbarrett@nihb.org. 

Dear Tribal Leader Letters

View NIHB’s full Dear Tribal Leader Letter Tracker here 

SSA July 29 Letter: The Director writes to share opportunities to attend upcoming events.

IHS August 12 Letter: The Director writes to Tribal Leaders and UIO Leaders to share information to help support Tribal and Urban Indian efforts to address climate change, assess associated health risks, and develop strategies to advance environmental justice. 

Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations

View NIHB’s full Regulations Tracker here

Consultations

2024 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Annual Regional Tribal Consultations | Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Region 4: September 4, 2024 | ZoomGov

OASH Tribal Consultation on the Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Outbreak

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Comments Due: September 5, 2024

Comments Submission: STI@hhs.gov | subject line “Tribal Consultation”

ACL National Plan on Aging

ACL Website Additional Information

Comments Due: September 15, 2024

Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer Health IT Modernization Program: Site Readiness and Training

Dear Tribal Leader Letter

Date: November 7, 2024, 1:30 – 3:00 pm ET

Meeting Registration Link

Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings

DSTAC 4th Quarter Meeting

Date: September 10-12, 2024

Meeting Webpage Link

Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting (STAC)

Dates: September 10-12, 2024

Location: Tacoma, WA

Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Meeting

Dates: September 17-18, 2024

(Congressional outreach day September 19)

Location: Washington, DC 

TTAG Face to Face Meeting (hybrid)

Dates: November 6-7, 2004

Location: National Museum of the American Indian, Washington DC

Listening Sessions

CMS Listening Session on New Medicare Health Equity Services

IHS/Tribal Providers: September 9, 2024 | 3:30 – 4:30 pm ET

Providers in US Territories: September 10, 2024 | 3:30 – 4:30 pm ET

CMS Listening Session on the Obstetrical Services Provisions in the CY 2025 Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Proposed Rule

Proposed Rule Link

Comments Due: September 9, 2024

Comment Submission: www.regulations.gov (CMS-1809-P)

Events

September 2024 IHS All Tribal and Urban Indian Organization Leaders Call

Date: September 6, 2024

Meeting Webpage Link

Notice of Funding Opportunities

Notice of Funding Opportunity Application for the Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model | Click Here to Learn More

Award Amount: Up to $7,500,000

Application Deadline: September 9, 2024

Description: The Innovation in Behavioral Health (IBH) Model (the “Model”) is an eight-year, voluntary service delivery and payment model promoting integrated care in behavioral health (BH) settings. The IBH Model will test the impact of a value-based payment (VBP) model aligned across Medicaid and Medicare that supports an integrated care delivery framework in specialty BH organizations and settings for adult Medicaid, Medicare, and dually eligible beneficiaries with moderate to severe mental health conditions and/or substance use disorders (SUDs).

SAMHSA Community-Based Maternal Behavioral Health Services Program | Click Here to Learn More

Award Amount: $500,000 per year

Application Deadline: September 9, 2024

Description: The purpose of this program is to improve access to evidence-based, timely, and culturally relevant maternal mental health and substance use (behavioral health) intervention and treatment by strengthening community referral pathways. Recipients will be expected to collaborate with pregnancy and postpartum healthcare organizations, refer individuals in need of behavioral health care to the appropriate entities, and provide short-term mental health and substance use services to individuals who cannot access care.

IHS FY 2024 Small Ambulatory Program (SAP) | Click Here to Learn More

Award Amount: Up to $3.5 million

Application Deadline: November 8, 2024

Description: Under the SAP, American Indian and Alaska Native Tribes and Tribal Organizations operating an Indian health care facility pursuant to a health care services contract or compact established under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, Pub. L. No. 93-638, as amended (25 U.S.C. § 5301 et seq.), may competitively apply for SAP funding to construct, expand, or modernize a small ambulatory health care facility.

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

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