News
Posted: June 22, 2017
Senate Republicans Release ACA Repeal Bill
Vote Expected Next Week--Call Your Senators!
On June 22, Senate Republican leadership released a discussion draft of the "Better Care Reconciliation Act" (BCRA) a bill which repeals large parts of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and reforms Medicaid.
Under the proposed legislation, starting in 2020, Medicaid would be put under a per capita spending limit. States would have the option of switching the program to a solely state-run block grant. Providing states with decision making authority fundamentally shifts the trust responsibility to Tribes from the federal government to the states and means that services under the state-operated Medicaid will likely be cut. However, the bill does retain 100% federal matching under Medicaid for Indian Country which is critical...
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Posted: June 20, 2017
NIHB Seeking 2017 Outstanding Awards Nominations
NIHB is now accepting nominations for outstanding individuals, organizations and programs in Indian health until July 28, 2017.
Click here for more information.
Posted: June 7, 2017
NIHB -NCAI Letter on Senate Healthcare Reform Legislation
Read Letter Here
Posted: June 6, 2017
National Indian Health Board Resolution 17-09
OPPOSING THE PRESIDENT’S FY 2018 BUDGET REQUEST
WHEREAS, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), established in 1972, serves all Federally
recognized American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) Tribal governments by advocating for the
improvement of health care delivery to AI/ANs, as well as upholding the Federal government’s trust
responsibility to AI/AN Tribal governments; and
WHEREAS, the unmet health needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives are severe and
the health status of American Indians and Alaska Natives is far below that of the general population
of the United States, resulting in an average life expectancy for American Indians and Alaska Natives
4.5 years less than that for the U.S. all races population; and...
Read More (PDF)
Posted: May 31, 2017
Legislation Introduced to Reform Indian Health Service
Today, May 25, members of the House of Representatives and the Senate introduced legislation that would make reforms to the Indian Health Service (IHS). The legislation is called the "Restoring Accountability in the IHS Act." It is sponsored by Representatives Kristi Noem, Rob Bishop (R-UT), Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), Cathy McMorris-Rodgers (R-WA), and Tom Cole (R-OK) in the U.S. House of Representatives and by Senators John Barrasso (R-WY), John Thune (R-SD) and John Hoeven (R-ND) in the U.S. Senate...
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Posted: May 24, 2017
President Trump’s First Budget Released | Major Cuts to Health Spending Including IHS
On May 23, 2017 the Trump Administration released its FY 2018 budget request to Congress. The budget calls for cutting funding for all federal departments besides the Departments of Defense, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security. It would decrease non-defense spending by $57 billion in FY 2018. This budget is a proposal of what the Administration thinks that funding priorities should be for next fiscal year. The final funding decisions will be made by Congress, and key leaders in Congress have made public statements emphasizing that.
For the Indian Health Service (IHS), the Administration proposes that IHS spending would be $4.7 billion in FY 2018. This is a shocking $300 million less than the FY 2017 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 115-31) which was enacted earlier this month. While full details of the budget are not yet available at the time of this writing, the budget achieves most of its cuts through major reductions to the facilities funding at IHS. You can read more details about the IHS budget proposal below…
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Posted: May 9, 2017
Congress Releases FY 2017 Spending Plan- Increase for Indian Health Service and Other Tribal Health Priorities
On Sunday, April 30, 2017, Congressional leaders unveiled the final FY 2017 Omnibus appropriations measure (H.R. 244). The current continuing resolution keeping the federal government open expires on Friday, May 5, 2017. Overall, the legislation does not make dramatic cuts in the federal discretionary budget as proposed by President Donald Trump. Instead, the legislation represents a compromise between Republicans and Democrats and funds the federal government through September 30, 2017. The legislation is expected to be enacted by the end of the week.
This legislation contains annual discretionary appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and other federal programs at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for Indian Health. Many of the health-related programs are unfortunately flat-funded or have nominal increases for FY 2017...
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Posted: May 7, 2017
House of Representatives Passes the American Health Care Act, NIHB Remains Engaged
Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act (AHCA), by a vote of 217-213. The legislation had been previously considered in March 2017. The bill, with amendments from Congressmen Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) and Fred Upton (R-MI), repeals portions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) and reforms the nation's healthcare insurance system. It will now head to the U.S. Senate for further consideration before it can become law.
Tribes are pleased that the bill leaves the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) intact. IHCIA has led to important gains in Tribal healthcare and public health systems. Additionally, the AHCA's effective repeal of the employer mandate alleviates what had become a significant economic burden on Tribal employers...
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Posted: May 7, 2017
IHS Releases Dear Tribal Leader Letter Addressing Opioid Crisis
The Indian Health Service (IHS) released Dear Tribal Leader letter on May 2, 2017, outlining their new efforts to combat the opioid epidemic in Tribal communities. The letter outlines initiatives taken by the Federal agency to improve coordination and responsiveness to the growing epidemic, while highlighting recent advancements such as the establishment of the IHS National Committee on Heroin, Opioid, and Pain Efforts (HOPE) Committee through official charter. To learn more, access the announcement HERE.
Posted: May 4, 2017
Federal Tribal Trauma Training Workshop
May 16, 2017 - 9:30
The White House Council on Native American Affairs’ (WHCNAA) Health Subgroup developed a Trauma Initiative in response to input from tribal leaders over time. The Trauma Initiative builds on the historical and intergenerational element of the National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda and is intended to increase awareness of federal staff as they work to support tribal efforts. Ultimately, the intent is to ensure that cross-federal efforts support healing and emotional well-being of tribal communities.
In support of the trauma initiative, the WHCNAA Health Subgroup in partnership with the Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Indian Health Service, and the National Indian Health Board will host a two hour federal tribal trauma training workshop on May 16, 2017 beginning at 9:30 am at the Hubert H. Humphrey Auditorium in Washington, DC. The workshop features an impressive speaker panel which includes Dr. Dolores Subia Bigfoot, Dr. Maria Yellow Horse Brave Heart, Dr. Ann Bullock, Dr. Karina Walters, Dr. Kori Novak, and Chief Marilynn “Lynn” Malerba of the Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut. This is an open event, however federal employees are encouraged to attend. The deadline to register is May 16, 2017 at 9:00am.
Registration link: http://www.cvent.com/d/k5qw3z
Live stream link: www.hhs.gov/live
Posted: May 1, 2017
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration Extends Comment Period
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is initiating consultation with federally-recognized Indian tribes on the proposed rule, Tobacco Product Standard for N-nitrosonornicotine Level in Finished Smokeless Tobacco Products. On January 23, 2017, the proposed rule was published in the Federal Register, (82 Fr 8004); a notice extending the comment period to July 10, 2017, and noting a correction in a certain formula was published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2017 (82 FR 14647). To view the proposed rule, click here.
Posted: April 5, 2017
NIHB Conducting National Story Banking Campaign—Online Form Now Live
In the past, the focus has been around success stories for AI/ANs Natives on the Health Insurance Marketplace. However, with potential changes in the current health care environment, highlighting the importance of other health insurance coverages such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is vital to the role that NIHB plays in advocating for the health and wellness of AI/ANs.
The National Indian Health Board needs your help to collect cases that have occurred to you personally, a family member, friends, or other members of your community where an AI/AN individual or individuals were positively affected with having health care coverage.
To facilitate these efforts NIHB now has an online google form to submit stories for this campaign. VIEW FORM HERE.
The stories can be short and do not have to include the actual name of the participant or other sensitive details. NIHB staff wants to work with you to record your stories, for more information, please contact Chawin 'Win' Reilly at [email protected].
#HealthyTribalCommunities #GetCoveredIndianCountry
Posted: April 4, 2017
The National Indian Health Board Celebrates National Public Health Week April 3rd through 9th with #ThisIsTribalPublicHealth
Join NIHB in celebrating National Public Health Week April 3rd -9th. Events include: a #ThisIsPublicHealth social media campaign raising awareness of public health in Indian Country; a webinar on Tuesday, April 4th to learn more about public health; an interview with a public health leader in Indian Country on Wednesday, April 5th; Traditional American Indian and Alaska Native Foods Pot Luck on Friday, April 7th.
Don’t forget to share your pictures and tweets!
For more information, visit #ThisIsTribalPublicHealth
Posted: April 4, 2017
Tribes Respond to Zika Threat to Ensure They Remain #HealthyCommunities
NIHB is leading a project, in collaboration with Centers for Disease Control, dedicated to capacity building and emergency preparedness and planning for the detrimental threat of the Zika virus, a unique mosquito borne disease. NIHB aims to build the capacity of Tribal health systems, Tribal leaders, and other public health stakeholders to adequately prepare for this disease, as the potential impacts of Zika are severe for developing fetuses and infants. Zika is a known cause of brain defects, including microcephaly, as well as congenital Zika syndrome (defects of the eyes, hearing deficits, and impaired growth).
NIHB is committed to sharing information, resources, and CDC guidance with Tribes to ensure all AI/AN nations can best equip their communities for this health threat. Because Zika is directly threatening Tribal nations in the southern regions of the country, NIHB hosted two Tribal Zika Summits in February of 2017 in Florida and Arizona, respectively. These summits provided a prime opportunity for regional Tribes and public health allies to gather for integral discussions about best practices for Zika and other public health emergencies. NIHB has also created an online Zika Hub where Tribes can go to receive tools, information, and resources about the virus. Further, NIHB intends to continue building on the work completed thus far in an effort to support Tribal nations with public health emergency preparedness and education and outreach for Zika.
Posted: April 4, 2017
Special Diabetes Program for Indians Helps Tribes Be #HealthyCommunities
American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) youth, children, and families face many adverse experiences and health outcomes compared to the general U.S. population. One of the most prominent health disparities in Tribal communities is the high rate of type 2 diabetes. AI/ANs of all ages are disproportionately impacted by type 2 diabetes and its many chronic complications– whether through their own individual diagnosis or the diagnosis of a loved one. As such, Tribal communities must have the resources and support they need to access fresh and nutritious foods, safe places for physical activity, and quality diabetes treatment and intervention programs. Given this, it is more important than ever that Tribal communities work to prevent diabetes and its complications in young American Indians and Alaska Natives. One program in particular, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), has been especially successful in establishing and sustaining effective diabetes treatment and prevention programs in Indian Country...
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Posted: April 4, 2017
National Indian Health Board Launches Tribal Oral Health Initiative to Build #HealthyCommunities in Indian Country
Tribal communities nationwide, like many underserved populations, suffer from a variety of dental afflictions. Over 80% of American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children suffer from dental caries by the age of eight, compared with 50 percent for the same age for the rest of the population. Our children ages 2 to 5 have an average of six decayed teeth, when children in the U.S. all races population have only one. Poor oral health in children can result in missed school or work and decreased ability to eat healthy foods. Poor oral health also puts individuals at greater risk for cardiovascular disease, respiratory infections, dementia and diabetes...
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Posted: April 4, 2017
NIHB’s Collaborative Efforts Help Put First Kids 1st
The National Indian Health Board believes that every child is sacred. That’s why we partnered with the National Congress of American Indians, the National Indian Child Welfare Association, and the National Indian Education Association to create First Kids 1st.
First Kids 1st, or FKF, seeks to cultivate and nurture strategies and policies that build and strengthen equitable and local supports for vulnerable Native children in their communities. As Indian Country continues to transform its public health systems to meet the needs of American Indians and Alaska Natives, it is vital that youth be included in that process. As part of a youth engagement model, developing advocacy and policy that is youth-driven and youth-informed, NIHB inaugurated our first Youth Advisory Board in March 2017!
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Posted: March 30, 2017
New Report on the Impact of ACA Repeal in Indian Country
Washington, DC--The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) and North Dakota State University (NDSU) released a report today outlining the impact a full repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act would have on Tribes and American Indians/Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) across the country.
You can read the full report HERE
Posted: March 26, 2017
House Leadership Pulls Modified American Health Care Act
Today, Congressional Republican leadership pulled the American Health Care Act (AHCA), meaning the legislation will not receive a vote. Leadership had struggled over the past few days to get the required majority from their own caucus, as all Democrats were opposed. Some Republicans opposing AHCA were frustrated that the bill did not more thoroughly repeal the ACA, while others were concerned that the bill would lead to loss of coverage and higher premiums.
The bill would have greatly impacted the Indian healthcare delivery system as a whole, and NIHB had outlined our concerns with the AHCA in a letter to Speaker Ryan.
The President said last night that if the House were to reject the AHCA, his preferred alternative would be to leave the ACA in place and move on to other legislative priorities. It is unclear at this time how much political will exists to revisit reforms to the ACA. NIHB will continue to advocate for healthcare improvements in Indian Country and for the federal government to uphold the trust responsibility for healthcare to our people.
Posted: March 26, 2017
Call for Nominations for the Native Public Health Innovation Award
In an effort to honor individuals, Tribes, organizations, and programs that have enriched and improved American Indian and Alaska Native public health, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) invites nominations for the Native Public Health Innovation Award. NIHB created this award to recognize excellence, achievement, and innovations that are above and beyond the call of service. NIHB recognizes that public health is a Native traditional value, and that Tribes have led the way in creating and implementing public health programming and services that align not only with contemporary needs, but with cultural beliefs as well. This award will highlight the work and vision of a Tribe, individual, organization or program that has worked to improve health status, implement new programming, address long standing health disparities, and/or increase the visibility of public health concerns.
NIHB will present the award at the 8th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit in Anchorage, Alaska during a plenary session. All nominations should be received by 11:59 p.m. ET on Friday, April 14, 2017. The winner will be notified within two weeks upon close of the nominations.
When submitting a nomination, please consider the following:
- Contributions must be in the field of public health.
- Contributions should have helped to advance the state of Tribal public health policy or programming, or improved the nature of public health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives at the Tribal, Area, or national level.
Click here to nominate someone today!
Questions? Please contact Win Reilly at [email protected]
Posted: March 23, 2017
NIHB Health Care Reform Reference Guide
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) has created a Health Care Reform Reference Guide comparing the American Health Care Act (AHCA) with the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to assist in understanding the various impacts of the proposed legislation on access to health insurance and health care services for American Indians and Alaska Natives.
The U.S. House of Representatives has scheduled a full floor vote this evening, therefore it is crucial for Tribal members to voice their concerns to their Congressional delegation about the impact the legislation will have on health care for American Indians and Alaska Natives. In addition, NIHB and the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) sent a joint letter to House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) highlighting Tribal concerns in the American Health Care Act (AHCA) requesting the legislation be amended.
NIHB Health Care Reform Reference Guide
NIHB and NCAI Letter to Speaker Paul Ryan
NIHB and NCAI Joint Statement on American Health Care Act
Posted: March 7, 2017
Indian Health Care Improvement Act Not Targeted in House Health Reform Plan
On Monday night, House Republican leadership of two key committees, Energy & Commerce and Ways & Means, each released legislation to reform the nation's healthcare systems and change many aspects of the Affordable Care Act.
Crucially, neither committee's draft legislation included repeal of the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act (IHCIA), which was passed in 2010 as part of the ACA but remains unrelated to the main structure of the law's healthcare reforms. Other Indian-specific pieces of the ACA are also left intact...
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Posted: February 13, 2017
NIHB and Tribes Celebrate Partial Relief from Memorandum on Federal Hiring Freeze
On February 6, 2017, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Acting Deputy Secretary Colleen Barros issued a 2017 HHS Hiring Freeze Exemptions memorandum to provide implementation guidance for exemptions from the presidential memorandum directing a freeze on federal hiring. Certain Indian Health Service (IHS) positions are included among these exemptions...
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Posted: February 8, 2017
NIHB Heads to Capitol Hill to Advocate for SDPI
NIHB led a group of diabetes prevention and treatment advocates to Capitol Hill on February 7 to educate lawmakers and their staff about the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). A vital public health program, SDPI has helped cut the rate of End-Stage Renal Disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives by 54% since 1996. Even going without a funding increase since 2004, the program has helped over 300 Tribes and Urban Indian programs develop public health programs to combat diabetes. The SDPI Day Outreach teams met with 18 Congressional and committee offices to stress the importance of the program and the success stories it has caused.
The authorization for SDPI will expire on September 30th of this year, so
Congress must pass legislation renewing the program or the progress made in combating diabetes in Indian Country will be at risk. You can learn more about the program here.
Posted: February 5, 2017
NIHB 8th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit
Together We Rise: Sustaining Tribal Public Health as a National Priority
June 6 - 8, 2017 | Anchorage, AK
Call for Proposals
Now Open!
Public health practitioners, researchers, and community-based service providers are invited to submit abstracts for 90 minute workshops and 60 minute roundtables.
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) encourages presentations highlighting evidenced-based, best, wise, or promising practices developed in and for Tribal communities.
Conference Tracks
- Health Promotion and Disease Prevention
- Public Health Policy, Infrastructure and Capacity
- Substance Misuse and Behavioral Health
- Climate Change and Environmental Health
- Empowering Youth Wellness
Click HERE for additional information or to submit your proposal today!
Deadline: March 17, 2017
Posted: February 2, 2017
NIHB Board Heads to Capitol Hill to Advocate for Tribal Health
After their First Quarter Board Meeting, National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Members Chief Beverly Cook, Lisa Elgin, Andy Joseph, Jr., Sam Moose, Tori Kitcheyan, and Lester Secatero spent the day on Capitol Hill.The board advocated for the Indian Healthcare Improvement Act to be preserved as Congress considers healthcare reform; increased appropriations for the Indian Health Service; an exemption for IHS from the federal hiring freeze; long-term renewal of the Special Diabetes Program for Indians; and improvements to quality of care at IHS.
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Posted: January 10, 2017
The National Indian Health Board is launching a new Tribal Youth Health Advisory Board (TYHAB) initiative
The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is gearing up for the 2017 Native Youth Health Summit, "Youth Advocacy: Telling Your Story to Create Change" – but with an exciting new twist this year! The 2017 Summit will also serve as the inaugural meeting of the NIHB Tribal Youth Health Advisory Board on March 16-20, 2017 in Hanover, NH at the Dartmouth College.
For the very first time, the National Indian Health Board will be selecting an advisory board of 24 Native youth, ages 18-24, from around the country to engage throughout the year in Indian health policy and programming efforts. The inaugural meeting of the TYHAB will focus on developing the capacity of Native youth to engage in Indian health policy solutions, tell their personal story, and advocate for changes in the healthcare and public health systems important to Tribal communities. The TYHAB kickoff at the Native Youth Health Summit will provide youth with key opportunities for relationship- and skill-building that allows them to return home feeling empowered, connected to other Native youth and well equipped to be the next generation of advocates for Indian health...
Posted: January 10, 2017
CDC Vital Signs Report on Decreased Kidney Failure from Diabetes in Native Americans
Today, CDC released a report on the decrease in kidney failure from diabetes in Native Americans (American Indians and Alaska Natives) and how the Indian Health Service (IHS) used team-based and population health approaches to help accomplish this decline, which may be applied to all people with diabetes.
Native Americans have a greater chance of having diabetes than any other U.S. racial group. Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure (otherwise known as end-stage renal disease, or ESRD-D), a costly condition that requires dialysis or kidney transplant to survive. The remarkable findings documented in the January 10, 2017 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) reveal that among American Indian/Alaska Native adults (AI/AN), age-adjusted ESRD-D incidence decreased 54% during 1996–2013; by 2013, among adults with diabetes, the ESRD-D rate was the same in AI/AN as in whites...
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Posted: January 4, 2017
The Obama Administration Releases a Report Outlining Successes While Working with Tribes
The Obama Administration and Tribal Nations have made historic progress over the past eight years in improving the nation-to-nation relationship between the United States and federally recognized Tribes. On January 2, the White House released a progress report titled: A Renewed Era of Federal-Tribal Relations (https://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/docs/whncaa_report.pdf) outlining some of the successes of the Obama Administration while working on behalf of Tribes. The report sets a baseline of progress for Tribal Nations to reference in their ongoing work with the federal government, and outlines the priorities that the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) will continue to work on based on Tribal leaders’ recommendations.
During the Obama Administration, the federal government has sought to reinforce its treaty and trust obligations for healthcare to American Indian and Alaska Natives by securing permanent healthcare funding, striving to reduce chronic disease and childhood obesity, and focusing on behavioral health issues such as suicide and trauma. Historic gains in health and wellness for Indian Country were achieved in 2010 by the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) which includes permanent reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). The report highlights the following health and wellness achievements:
- Creation of the Commission on Native Children
- Responding to Behavioral Health Issues
- Addressing Suicidal Behavioral in Tribal communities
- Addressing Alcohol and Substance Abuse
- Launching of the National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda (TBHA)
- Improving Data Sharing Capability
- Creation of the Tiwahe Initiative
- Creation of IHS and Tribal Health Program Reimbursement Agreements
- Tribal HUD-VA Supported Housing Demonstration Program
- Supporting Traditional Foods in Indian Country
Posted: December 20, 2016
NIHB Hosts Native Health Presidential Transition Summit
Washington DC, December 9, 2016 - The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) convened over 170 Tribal leaders from across the nation to discuss strategy and the Indian health priorities for the new Congress and Administration during the Native Health Presidential Transition Summit on Thursday, December 8 in Washington, DC. Participants engaged with Members of Congress, including long-time Indian health advocate, Representative Tom Cole (R-OK), and recent Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, Senator Jon Tester (D-MT)...
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