Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup Releases FY22 IHS Funding Recommendations with $200.5 Million for UIOs

On February 13-14, 2020, the Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup (TBFWG) convened in Arlington, Virginia to develop the National Tribal Budget Recommendation for fiscal year (FY) 2022. On May 4, 2020, a summary of the TBFWG’s Budget Recommendation was released in a document called Reclaiming Tribal Health: A National Budget Plan to Rise Above Failed Policies and Fulfill Trust Obligations to Tribal Nations. The FY 2022 National Tribal Budget Recommendation is $12.759 billion, representing a 30% increase above the FY 2021 National Tribal Budget Recommendation.

The TBFWG recommended a $90.94 million increase for the urban Indian health line item, bringing the funding for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) to a total of $200.5 million.

Other UIO priorities the TBFWG included were:

100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for UIOs
Reimbursement from the Department of Veterans Affairs for services provided to dually eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) for UIOs
Eligibility for malpractice insurance through the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) for UIOs
Eligibility for UIOs to participate in more IHS grant programs.

In addition, the TBFWG highlighted § 105(l) leases by requesting mandatory funding for § 105(l) leases of $337 million, permanent reauthorization for the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) with an increase of funding to $200 million per year, advance appropriations for IHS, and renewal of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.