NCUIH TESTIFIES BEFORE CONGRESS ON “NATIVE VETERANS’ ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE”

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On October 30, 2019, the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health conducted an oversight hearing entitled “Native Veterans’ Access To Healthcare”. NCUIH Board Vice President and CEO of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley Sonya Tetnowski (Makah) testified before the Subcommittee with Rep. Brownley presiding.

“While we know Native Americans serve at higher rates than anyone else they also endure the lowest health status of anyone else. This is a national shame, and a terrible violation of the trust responsibility the United States government is obligated to uphold. We must do better,” said House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Chairman Mark Takano.

“We serve, we protect and yet we struggle to have parity in the system. I’m sad to report that American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest poverty rate and the highest uninsured rate of any veterans. Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) provide high-quality, culturally competent care to urban Indians, which consists of 75% of all American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). We ask that the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) fully implement the VA and Indian Health Services’ Memorandum of Understanding (VA-IHS MOU) and Reimbursement Agreement for Direct Health Care Services. This action would allow UIOs to be reimbursed for providing healthcare to AIAN Veterans. Most AI/AN veterans live in urban areas and would benefit from the culturally competent care provided at UIOs,” said Sonya Tetnowski in her testimony.

More Information

https://veterans.house.gov/events/hearings/subcommittee-on-health-oversight-hearing-native-veterans-access-to-healthcare

Panel One

  • Andrew C. Joseph Jr., Chairman of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
  • President, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
  • Chief William Smith, Vice Chairperson, Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB)
  • Sonya M. Tetnowski, Vice-President, National Council on Urban Indian Health (NCUIH)
  • Chief Marilynn Malerba, Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, Indian Health Service Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (IHS TSGAC)

Panel Two

  • Dr. Kameron Matthews, Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Community Care, Veterans Health Administration

Accompanied by

  • Dr. Thomas Klobuchar, Executive Director, Office of Rural Health, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Benjamin Smith, Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs, Indian Health Service

Video

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President Trump Announces Intent to Nominate Michael D. Weahkee for IHS Director, Other Nomination Updates

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On Tuesday, October 22, the White House announced on its website the President’s intent to nominate Michael D. Weahkee to the post of Director of the Indian Health Service (IHS).  Rear Admiral Weahkee has served as Principal Deputy Director and Acting Director of IHS and also as Assistant Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Services at the Department of Health and Human Services.  RADM Weahkee previously served as the chief executive officer at the Phoenix Medical Center.

In addition, on Wednesday, October 23, sources including Politico and Bloomberg Government reported that President Trump plans to nominate Stephen M. Hahn to the post of Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, pending clearance of a background check.  Hahn currently serves as a radiation oncologist at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas.

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NCUIH to Testify before Congress on “Native Veterans’ Access to Healthcare”

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The hearing hosted by the House Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health will take place on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 at 10:00 AM EST.

On Wednesday, October 30, 2019, the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing entitled “Native Veterans’ Access to Healthcare.” This oversight hearing will examine the unique barriers American Indian and Alaska Native veterans continue to face when seeking access to quality, culturally competent care from VA and tribal health systems. NCUIH Board Vice President and CEO of the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley Sonya Tetnowski (Makah) will be testifying before the Subcommittee. With Rep. Brownley presiding, the hearing will take place in House Visitors Center 210 at 10:00 AM EST.

More Information

https://veterans.house.gov/events/hearings/subcommittee-on-health-oversight-hearing-native-veterans-access-to-healthcare

Panel One

  • Andrew C. Joseph Jr., Chairman of the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board, National Indian Health Board (NIHB)
  • President, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI)
  • Chief William Smith, Vice Chairperson, Alaska Native Health Board (ANHB)
  • Sonya M. Tetnowski, Vice-President, National Council on Urban Indian Health (NCUIH)
  • Chief Marilynn Malerba, Mohegan Tribe of Connecticut, Indian Health Service Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (IHS TSGAC)

Panel Two

  • Dr. Kameron Matthews, Deputy Under Secretary for Health for Community Care, Veterans Health Administration

Accompanied by

  • Dr. Thomas Klobuchar, Executive Director, Office of Rural Health, Department of Veterans Affairs
  • Benjamin Smith, Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs, Indian Health Service
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NCUIH’s Inaugural Youth Council Complete National Indigi-Wellness Champion Campaign Social Media Contest

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Members of NCUIH’s National Inaugural Youth Council (YC) and the 2019 YC participated in the Annual National American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Hope for Life (Suicide Prevention Awareness) Day, and also completed their National Indigi-Wellness Champion Campaign on September 30th. NCUIH Youth Council with support from the United Indian Tribal Youth Inc. (UNITY), the Center for Native American Youth (CNAY), and National Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) led social media marketing efforts (from July 2019 to September 9th, 2019).

Through these efforts, NCUIH’s youth councils were able to reach over 7,626 people via social media, server lists, and other platforms, got over 1,000 people to engage in outreach efforts, received 208 social marketing Facebook likes, 306 Social Marketing YouTube views and got 445 Snap Chat views from Native Youth during various Youth Council UNITY Snapchat Take-overs.

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Update: Plaintiffs in ICWA Litigation Petition Court for Rehearing

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On October 1, Plaintiffs in Brackeen v. Bernhardt, the case centering on the constitutionality of the Indian Child Welfare Act (ICWA), filed petitions for rehearing of the case en banc. Essentially, the Plaintiffs are asking the entire 17-member U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit to rehear the case, in effect setting aside the decision a panel of three Fifth Circuit judges issued in August.

As previously reported, in its August decision the court overturned a District Court finding that held ICWA unconstitutional declaring it creates a separate set of practices for a racial group. In doing so, the Fifth Circuit affirmed that ICWA and its implementing regulations are constitutional, recognizing the unique political status of tribes, American Indians, and Alaska Natives. On October 2, the court ordered the U.S. and Intervenor Tribes (Cherokee Nation, Morongo Band of Mission Indians, Oneida Nation, Quinault Indian Nation, and Navajo Nation) to respond to the petitions by Tuesday, October 15.

During the 2018 litigation, NCUIH joined an amicus brief with nearly 400 Indian organizations and tribes in support of ICWA. Typically, courts deny petitions for rehearing and leave the court’s prior decision to stand. However, there is no guarantee. The court could choose to rehear aspects of the case, the mechanics of which (timing, extent of new briefing, etc.) the court would subsequently determine, or it could change parts of its decision without even granting the petition.

NCUIH will continue to monitor progress in the case, along with other amici curiae, and will provide updates as we receive them. It is important to note that although the Fifth Circuit will first have to act on the petition for rehearing, Plaintiffs will still be able to petition the ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court.

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