News
Jan 11, 2012 -
HHS Releases 2012 Tribal Budget and Regional Tribal Consultation Dates
On January 11th, the Department of Health and Human Services released a “Dear Tribal Leader Letter” inviting Tribes to the 14th Annual U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Tribal Budget Consultation (ATBC) which will take place from March 7- 9, 2012, in the Great Hall of the Hubert H. Humphrey Building at 200 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC as well as to its 2012 Annual Regional Tribal Consultations held across the country.
Jan 9, 2012 -
NIHB Submits Comments on FACA to IHS
The National Indian Health Board has submitted comments to the Indian Health Service (IHS) in response to a November 9th “Dear Tribal Leader Letter” regarding the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and IHS Advisory Groups.
Click here to read NIHB’s comments.
Click here to read the “Dear Tribal Leader Letter”
Jan 6, 2012 -
OPM Releases Dear Tribal Leader Letter on FEHB
Read More
Dec 20, 2011 -
This weekend, Congress approved a $1 trillion omnibus appropriations package containing a 6% increase in funding to the Indian Health Service (IHS).
Please click here for details.
Update on Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 Appropriations
Although Fiscal Year (FY) 2012 officially began on October 1st, Congress has yet to pass nine of the twelve appropriations bills for this year. This includes the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, which contains funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS)...
On December 2, 2011, the White House will host its third annual Tribal Nations Conference. NIHB has created fact sheets on current issues in Indian Health for the use of Tribal Leaders and others at this event.
The Indian Health Services Budget and Sequestration (PDF)
Affordable Care Act and Indian Health Care improvement Act Implementation (PDF)
The Special Diabetes Program for Indians (PDF)
Suicide and Substance Abuse Prevention (PDF)
Supercommittee Fails
On November 21st, the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction aka Supercommittee officially admitted defeat in the quest to find $1.2 trillion in federal deficit reduction over the next 10 years.
Click here for more information on what this means for federal spending and the Indian Health Service.
Supreme Court to hear Health Reform Cases
On November 14th, the Supreme Court announced announced that it will hear arguments regarding the constitutionality of various provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), including the controversial individual mandate, this March.
Click here for an NIHB update.
NIHB, NCAI, NCUIH Release Health Reform Survey
The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), and the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) have been jointly awarded a grant from the Indian Health Service (IHS) to collaborate on the National Indian Health Education and Outreach initiative.
Through this partnership, our organizations are working together to develop the necessary tools and resources to assist Tribal nations and their communities in making more informed decisions about their new health care options under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).
In order to have a better understanding of what resources and tools Tribal nations and their communities might need regarding health care delivery and options, we are encouraging Tribal leaders, American Indian and Alaska Native community members, Tribal employers, and health directors to complete a survey on the ACA.
Click here to take the survey!
NIHB Comments on Proposed Rules Related to ACA
The National Indian Health Board commented on six proposed federal rules related to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act on October 31st. Five of the proposed rules were issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), regarding eligibility for federal health coverage and the establishment of new state-run health insurance exchanges (online marketplaces where consumers can compare pricing and services to choose the best health insurance option for themselves and their families):
HHS Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee: Current Vacancies, Nomination Request
In 2010, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) created a Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) and has successfully been meeting for nearly a year. The STAC was one of the first Cabinet Level Tribal Advisory Committee to any Secretary in the Administration...
U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) Releases Report on IHS and Forensic Data Collection in Sexual Assault, Domestic Violence Cases
On October 26th, 2011, the United States Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report entitled, "Indian Health Service: Continued Efforts Needed to Help Strengthen Response to Sexual Assaults and Domestic Violence."...
NIHB Board Member Sally Smith Testifies at Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Field Hearing
On October 22, 2011, NIHB Board Member and Alaska Area Representative, H. Sally Smith, testified at a Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Oversight Field Hearing at the Dena’ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska. Entitled, “H.O.P.E. for the Future: Helping Our People Engage to Protect Our Youth,” the hearing centered on root causes of the youth suicide epidemic currently plaguing Indian Country and featured witnesses from the federal government, as well as Alaska Native witnesses. Ms. Smith’s testimony on behalf of NIHB focused on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) as a major cause of suicide and called for greater funding for the Indian Health Service, mental health studies, and suicide prevention grant programs.
Click here to read the testimony
Senators Urge Improvements to IHS Contract Health Services
On September 27th, seven senators from the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs sent a letter to HHS Secretary Sebelius and IHS Director, Dr. Yvette Roubideaux, urging the Secretary and other top administration officials to act quickly to improve health care delivery to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The Senators pointed to a U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) report issued September 23rd that highlights billing and other problems in the IHS system that make it difficult for American Indians and Alaska Natives to receive care from health providers and makes it difficult for health care providers offering the services to get reimbursed.
The senators requested that IHS submit a comprehensive corrective action plan to address each of the problems and recommendations made in the GAO report, including a timeline for (1) corrective actions, (2) a date when each action will be commenced, (3) a date when each action is expected to be completed, and (4) identifiable goals that will lead to completion of each corrective action.
To view the letter, please visit: http://bingaman.senate.gov/policy/gao_ihs.pdf
The Government Accountability Office (GAO) released its report on Contract Health Services today.
The report is available at http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d11767.pdf
Purpose of the Study: The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act requires GAO to study the adequacy of federal funding for IHS’s CHS program. To examine program funding needs, IHS collects data on unfunded services—services for which funding was not available—from the federal and tribal CHS programs. GAO examined (1) the extent to which IHS ensures the data it collects on unfunded services are accurate to determine a reliable estimate of CHS program need, (2) the extent to which federal and tribal CHS programs report having funds available to pay for contract health services, and (3) the experiences of external providers in obtaining payment from the CHS program. GAO surveyed 66 federal and 177 tribal CHS programs and spoke to IHS officials and 23 providers.
What GAO Recommends: GAO recommends that HHS direct IHS to ensure unfunded services data are accurately recorded, CHS program funds management is improved, and provider communication is enhanced. HHS noted how IHS would address the recommendations; describing the proposed new method to estimate need. IHS’s steps will address some recommendations, but immediate steps are needed to improve the collection of unfunded services data to determine program need.
Presidential Proclamation -- National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Since the 1970s, the rate of childhood obesity in our country has tripled, and today a third of American children are overweight or obese. This dramatic rise threatens to have far‑reaching, long-term effects on our children's health, livelihoods, and futures. Without major changes, a third of children born in the year 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes during their lifetimes, and many others will face obesity‑related problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma...Read Full Article
Living Within Our Means and Investing in Our Future: The President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficient Reduction
The President’s Plan for Economic Growth and Deficit Reduction lives up to a simple idea: as a Nation, we can live within our means while still making the investments we need to prosper – from a jobs bill that is needed right now to long-term investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure. It follows a balanced approach: asking everyone to do their part, so no one has to bear a disproportionate share of the burden. And it says that everyone – including millionaires and billionaires – must pay their fair share. Pursuing a balanced approach to deficit reduction is critical to being able to keep our promises made to all Americans...Read Full Article
Events
February 2012 is
American Heart Month
This February, HHS celebrates activities focused around heart health.
- The Million Hearts campaign to prevent one million heart attacks over five years.
- The Heart Truth campaign to increase awareness of heart disease among women.
- The Let’s Move! campaign to prevent childhood obesity by helping kids stay active
Center for Disease Control (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting
January 31, 2012 and February 1, 2012
Atlanta Marriott Century Center2000 Century Boulevard NE
Atlanta, GA 30345
&
Center for Disease Control (CDC) Tribal Consultation
February 2, 2012
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention1600 Clifton Rd
Atlanta, GA 30345
Please contact Kimberly Cantrell, 404-498-0411 or Delight Satter, Associate Director for Tribal Support, 404-498-0440 with questions.
For the CDC TCAC Logistics Sheet, click here (.doc).
The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) Tribal Consultation
March 5-6, 2012
Renaissance Hotel999 Ninth Street NW
Washington, DC
&
ACF Tribal Training and Technical Assistance Session
March 5, 2012
Renaissance Hotel999 Ninth Street NW
Washington, DC
Please contact Kimberly Romine at Kimberly.romine@acf.hhs.gov for more details.
2012 American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Long Term Services and Supports Conference
March 21-23, 2012
The Curtis Denver Doubletree by Hilton Hotel1405 Curtis Street
Denver, CO 80202
Click here for the save the date
Click here to find more information about the conference and to register.
HHS Regional and Annual Consultation Calls
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) will be conducting their 14th Annual HHS Tribal Budget Consultation (ATBC) and its 2012 series of regional consultation in Washington, DC at the Hubert H. Humphrey Building March 7-9, 2012. To assist in the development of the agenda, HHS is hosting regular conference planning calls. Dates and call in information for the planning calls are listed below.
Planning Conference Call Schedule
Thursday February 2, 2012 @ 3:00 PM EST
Thursday February 9, 2012 @ 3:00 PM EST
Thursday February 16, 2012 @ 3:00 PM EST
Conference Call Number (for every call)
Call in #: 866-421-8841
Pass Code: 6999396
For additional information, please contact Stacey Ecoffey, Principal Advisor for Tribal Affairs, HHS at stacey.ecoffey@hhs.gov or (202) 690-7410.
MMPC Face to Face Meeting
February 21-22, 2012
1331 G Street Conference1331 G Street NW
Washington, DC
TTAG Face to Face Meeting
February 23-24, 2012
National Museum of American IndiansFourth Street & Independence Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20560
NIHB Focus Areas
Click links above
