Urban Indian Health Policy Updates: House Proposes $8.1 Billion for IHS in FY23
Happy Summer Solstice!
Here’s a preview of what’s coming up this week:
Tuesday, June 21
- 4pm EST – House Interior Appropriations meet to discuss the FY23 Indian Health Service budget. The draft bill is here and includes $8.1 billion for the Indian Health Service, an increase of $1.5 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level. Watch live here.
- End of Day – Comments are due today for improving the Urban Indian Health Program policy, procedures, and effectiveness. The current Indian Health Service (IHS) Urban Indian Health Program Policy is available online in the Indian Health Manual (IHM), Chapter 19, “Urban Indian Health Program” and the Dear Urban Leader Letter is located here. (Note: The DULL says comments were due yesterday, however, due to the holiday, they are allowing comments to be submitted through today.) NCUIH’s template is here.
Wednesday, June 22 at 2:30 p.m. ET
- Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Hearing on Federal Indian Boarding Schools – The Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, will lead a hearing titled “Oversight Hearing on Volume 1 of the Department of the Interior’s Federal Indian Boarding School Initiative Investigative Report & Legislative Hearing on S. 2907, Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act.” Witness testimony and live video of the hearing will be available here.
Thursday, June 23
- 2 – 3pm ET – NCUIH Prep Session for Urban Confer on Infrastructure Study. Join here.
- 3 – 4:30pm ET – Urban Confer on the Indian Health Service (IHS) Urban Indian Organization Infrastructure Study. Read the Dear Urban Leader Letter released on Friday here. Register here.
1 Big Thing: House Releases FY23 Appropriations Bill with $8.1 billion Proposed for the Indian Health Service
Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released the draft fiscal year 2023 Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies funding bill, which will be considered in subcommittee today. The legislation includes funding for programs for the Indian Health Service (IHS).
What’s next: The urban Indian health line item amount is expected to be released next week.
Advance Appropriations: Despite robust advocacy from Native organizations and over 2 dozen Members of the House of Representatives, the bill does not include advance appropriations for IHS. Unfortunately, the House budget resolution did not include language to allow for advance appropriations.
- NCUIH has secured support from House and Senate leaders for advance appropriations until mandatory funding is enacted and will continue to advocate for this as discussions continue.
By the numbers:
- $8.1 billion for the Indian Health Service, an increase of $1.5 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level.$5.7 billion for Health Services, an increase of $1 billion above the FY 2022 enacted level.
- $1.3 billion for Health Facilities, an increase of $367 million above the FY 2022 enacted level.
- Fully funds Contract Support Costs and Payments for Tribal Leases.
The bottom line: The final fiscal 2022 omnibus spending law (PL 117-103) wasn’t signed into law until nearly half of the fiscal year was over.
- Top Senate and House appropriators have met a few times in recent weeks in hopes of negotiating a bipartisan agreement on spending levels, a deal that would unlock the door to a speedier legislative process. But the longer the talks drag on, the more likely there will be no agreement until after the midterm elections and a continuing resolution becomes more likely.
- The impasse has put markups on ice in the Senate Appropriations Committee, where bipartisan support is needed because of the dynamics of a 50-50 Senate. But in the House, where the Democratic majority can pass bills on party-line votes, appropriators are racing ahead.
Go deeper: The draft bill is here. Watch live here.
2. NCUIH Makes Recommendations to Improve Urban Indian Health Program Policies at IHS
Comments are due today for improving the Urban Indian Health Program policy, procedures, and effectiveness.
Go deeper: The current Indian Health Service (IHS) Urban Indian Health Program Policy is available online in the Indian Health Manual (IHM), Chapter 19, “Urban Indian Health Program” and the Dear Urban Leader Letter is located here.
Please e-mail your comments to: urbanconfer@ihs.gov and cc Policy@NCUIH.org. (SUBJECT LINE: IHS Urban Indian Health Program Policy) NCUIH’s template is here.
NCUIH recommended the following improvement and additions to the Policy:
- Improve the Policy’s consistency concerning oversight and management
- Incorporate improved communication and annual training for Area Offices
- Provide more transparent communication regarding supplemental funding
- Include an appeals process for UIO Annual Reviews
- Clarify and update reporting requirements
- Provide general assistance to other federal agencies
NCUIH also requested that IHS develop additional sections, including:
- Health Information Technology (HIT) Systems
- Data Collection
- Use of Federal Government Facilities and Sources of Supply
3. On our radar: Historic Appointment of Chief Lynn Malerba as First Native U.S. Treasurer
From USET SPF:
- Today, President Biden announced the appointment of Mohegan Chief Mutáwi Mutáhash (Many Hearts), Marilynn “Lynn” Malerba, and USET Sovereignty Protection Fund Secretary, to be the next Treasurer of the United States.
- She is the first Native person to hold this position and the highest-ranking Native Treasury official in U.S. history.
- The Treasurer has direct oversight over the U.S. Mint, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and Fort Knox and is a key liaison with the Federal Reserve.
- In addition, the Treasurer serves as a senior advisor to the Secretary in the areas of community development and public engagement.
- For the very first time, the signature of a Native person, as well as those of two women, Chief Malerba and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, will appear on U.S. currency.
4. From the blog: NCUIH Urges Support for Carcieri Fix, Senators Support Urban Indian Health
NCUIH Joins Tribal Partner Organizations Letter Urging Carcieri Fix
- The United South and Eastern Tribes Sovereignty Protection Fund submitted a letter to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) calling on the Senate to pass a legislative fix addressing the Supreme Court’s decision in Carcieri v. Salazar, 222 US 379 (2009).
- The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) joined in this letter, along with the National Congress of American Indians, the National American Rights Fund, the National Indian Gaming Association, and the National Indian Health Board, among other Native advocacy organizations.
- The full text of this letter is available here.
Next week:
- Monday, June 27 at 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET – NCUIH Prep Session for Confers: Inter-Agency Workgroup and OUIHP Strategic Plan (Zoom Link)
- Tuesday, June 28 at 1pm-2pm ET – NCUIH UIO FMAP Check-In (Zoom link.)
- Wednesday, June 29 at 10am ET – House Markup of IHS Budget Bill
- Wednesday, June 29 at 2:30 – 4pm ET – Urban Confer on Urban Indian Interagency Workgroup (Register here.)
- Thursday, June 30 at 2:30 – 4:00pm ET – Urban Confer on OUIHP Strategic Plan (Register here.)
