The Medicare and Medicaid Policy Committee (MMPC) is a standing committee of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB). The MMPC assists the NIHB in evaluating program and payment policies of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) programs and has developed significant recommendations to the CMS for the benefit of the I/T/U’s. Their involvement facilitated the exemption from the Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) in Indian Health facilities and encouraged CMS to continue to allow Indian health clinics that held “provider-based” status prior to the OPPS regulations to continue to be treated as provider base.
Recently, the MMPC has demonstrated its ability to affect legislation for expanded outreach, education and enrollment of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) into Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP programs for improved health care to tribal communities.
The MMPC serves as the CMS program research arm of the NIHB, and assists in the development of position and policy statements for the Tribal Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) to CMS, and keeping the NIHB, the Indian Health Service and tribes abreast of changing policies that affect AI/AN’s .