Week of September 9, 2024 | |
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In this Letter:
đź“ŁAnnouncements
✒️Congressional Items
đź“ť Dear Tribal Leader Letters
đź“’Upcoming Tribal Advisory Committees & Tribal Consultations
đź’µ Notice of Funding Opportunities
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Final Rule from HHS: Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF)
On September 3, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a final rule on the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF). The DTLL states “This final rule amends the regulations at Title 42, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 136, by adding Subpart L, and consistent with Section 202(d) of IHCIA, establishes the CHEF threshold cost of $19,000, and for any subsequent year, not less than the threshold cost of the previous year, increased by the percentage increase in the medical care expenditure category of the consumer price index (CPI) for all urban consumers.” The final rule will be effective October 29, 2024, 60 days after the date of publication in the Federal Register and finalizes the regulations. The final rule is available here.
IHS will be hosting virtual training sessions to notify Federal and Tribal PRC program staff on the new requirements on September 18, October 10, and October 22, 2024. Additional details on the final rule and registration for the trainings are available in the DTLL. Any questions on the final rule can be directed to CAPT John Rael, Director, Office of Resource Access and Partnerships, at John.Rael@ihs.gov or (301) 443-0969.
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NIHB Submits Comments on the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) on Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis
Last week, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) submitted comments on the to the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) on syphilis and congenital syphilis. Our recommendations emphasize the need for the Secretary to declare a public health emergency that will allow additional federal resources to reach tribes and to devise a plan that will increase tribal access to data, personnel, and funding. You can read the comments here.
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Congress returns this week for a three-week dash to the end of the fiscal year before leaving for election recess in October. Without appropriations legislation adopted for FY 2025, Congress is laser-focused on completing a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the federal government open past September 30. While focus will be on a CR, the House and Senate will also expected to begin budget conferencing in the background for a more permanent FY 2025 appropriations during September.
This week, NIHB’s own Marty Wafford, Oklahoma City Area Representative for the National Indian Health Board, will testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration on Wednesday, September 11, 2024. The committee is holding an oversight hearing on the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservation (FDPIR) and the USDA Inventory Crisis.
Other legislative priorities NIHB is advocating for this fall include:
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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!
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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.
Please contact NIHB’s Congressional relations team for more information at wdavis@nihb.org and tbarrett@nihb.org. 

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Hearings Schedule:
Topic: Mission Transition: Evaluating Mental Health Support Programs for Separating Servicemembers
Committee: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity Oversight
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024, at 3:00 AM EST
Hearing Webpage Link
Topic: Legislative Hearing
Committee: House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 10:00 AM EST
Hearing Webpage Link
Topic: Joint Oversight Hearing on Severe Food Distribution Shortages in Tribal and Elderly Communities
Committee: House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 10:00 AM EST
Hearing Website Link
Topic: Pharmacy Benefit Manager Role
Committee: House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Administrative State, Regulatory Reform, and Antitrust
Date: Wednesday, September 11, 2024, at 2:00 PM EST
Hearing Webpage Link
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HHS September 4 DTLL: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Announces Tribal Consultation on Updated Draft Tribal and TEC Data Access Policies. Virtual consultation will take place on October 1, 2024 from 3-5PM EDT. Registration details are in the DTLL. Written comments are requested by October 31, 2024.
IHS September 3 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to announce the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register implementing regulations governing the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF). (See more information above)
IHS September 3 Letter: The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to share important information for our Tribal and Federal workgroup members on the relevant rules pertaining to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and FACA's Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) exemption. The letter includes a summary of the FACA and UMRA requirements.
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.
SSA July 29 Letter: The Director writes to share opportunities to attend upcoming events.
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Tribal Advisory Committee Meetings | |
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Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (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
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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
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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)
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Notice of Funding Opportunities | |
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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).
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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.
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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.
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