The National Indian Health Board’s mission to serve as the one voice and advocate of all 567 Federally Recognized Tribes on behalf of their health and wellness issues has been very busy with the work of Health Care Reform proposed under the current administration.
In an effort to keep those in Indian Country, especially individuals working in Tribal Health Care Reform, the NIHB staff has worked diligently to produce a variety of Legislative, Policy, and Educative materials for use by Tribal Leaders, Administrators, and Indian Country at large.
Most recently, NIHB released a joint letter with the National Congress of American Indians, National Council on Urban Indian Health, and the Tribal Self Governance Tribes to the Majority Leader Mitch McConnell expressing the Tribal stance on the recently proposed Senate Health Care Bill the “Better Care Reconciliation Act” or informally “BCRA.”
The letter can be view HERE and outlines these priorities for moving forward on healthcare reform:
1)Maintain Medicaid funding based on need, rather than capping it according to a complicated per capita allocation formula or through capped block grants.
2) Continue Medicaid Expansion, and at the very least, continue Medicaid Expansion for AI/ANs
3) Protect AI/ANs from barriers to care that are inconsistent with the federal trust responsibility, such as work requirements under Medicaid
4) Retain cost-sharing protections at Section 1402 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA); and
5) Maintain funding for preventative services, including the Prevention and Public Health Fund and women’s health services.
See the 2017 Tribal Health Reform Priorities and Resources Page with additional information and materials can be found HERE