NCUIH Advocacy Leads to Additional CARES ACT Funding for UIOs

On September 17, 2021, the Indian Health Service (IHS) announced additional Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act and urban Indian health inflation funding for Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs).

There is to be distributed $650,000 in CARES Act funding to support UIOs, which must be obligated before September 30, 2021. According to IHS, each UIO will receive a one-time, equal payment amount, and an additional one-time payment, based on each UIO’s total number of urban Indian users. UIOs receiving CARES Act funding must submit a scope of work, budget, and budget narrative to their Area Chief Contracting Officer and Area Contracting Officer Representative.

This funding decision comes after extensive NCUIH advocacy for COVID-19 funding for UIOs:

• NCUIH Letters on COVID-19 Response
• Letter from NCUIH and other Tribal organizations to Senate Leadership on COVID-19 Stimulus Package (March 20, 2020)
• Letter from NCUIH and other Tribal organizations to House Leadership on COVID-19 Stimulus Package (March 20, 2020)
• PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Urges Congress to Take Immediate Action to Provide Covid-19 Resources for Indian Country at Hearing (September 30, 2021)

IHS will also distribute $782,000 in Fiscal Year 2020 urban Indian health inflation funding to UIOs. A Dear Urban Leader Letter from IHS with information regarding this funding is forthcoming.

NCUIH continues to advocate to ensure that UIOs receive adequate funding to provide healthcare for urban Indians.