National Council of Urban Indian Health
1 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Suite 800-D
Washington, DC 20001
Phone: 202.544.0344
Bipartisan Group of 52 Congressional Leaders Request Full Funding for Indian Health Service and Increased Resources for Urban Indian Health
On May 1, 2024, 50 Congressional leaders joined Representatives Gallego and Grijalva in their letter to Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree of the House Interior Appropriations Committee requesting up to $53.85 billion for the Indian Health Service and $965.3 million for Urban Indian Health in FY25 and maintaining advance appropriations for IHS until authorizers move IHS to mandatory funding. The letter emphasizes that the federal government has a trust responsibility to provide federal health services to maintain and improve the health of American Indian and Alaska Natives.
The bipartisan group of 52 Congressional leaders reiterated their support for the Appropriations Committee’s work on the historic inclusion of advance appropriations in the FY23 and FY24 omnibus. Previously, IHS was the only federal health care provider funded through annual appropriations. Without advance appropriations, IHS is subject to the negative impacts of government shutdowns and continuing resolutions that can lead to serious disruptions in UIO’s ability to provide critical patient services. The inclusion of advance appropriations is a crucial step toward ensuring long-term stable funding for IHS.
This letter sends a powerful message to Chairman Simpson and Ranking Member Pingree, and members of Congress that in order to fulfill the federal government’s trust responsibility to all Natives to provide safe and quality healthcare, funding for the Indian Health Service must be significantly increased.
NCUIH is grateful for the support of the following Representatives:
- Ruben Gallego
- Raul M. Grijalva
- Dusty Johnson
- Sharice Davids
- Mary Sattler Peltola
- Teresa Leger Fernandez
- Raul Ruiz, M.D.
- Melanie Stansbury
- Gwen S. Moore
- Salud Carbajal
- Doris Matsui
- Shontel Brown
- Steven Horsford
- Greg Casar
- Grace F. Napolitano
- Nanette Diaz Barragan
- Pramila Jayapal
- Gabe Vasquez
- Katie Porter
- Adam Schiff
- Andrea Salinas
- Brittany Pettersen
- Earl Blumenauer
- Jared Huffman
- Mark Takano
- Jasmine Crockett
- Ro Khanna
- Jonathan L Jackson
- Julia Brownley
- Mike Levin
- Jimmy Panetta
- Ilhan Omar
- Lisa Blunt Rochester
- Jared Golden
- Chris Deluzio
- Jamaal Bowman
- Veronica Escobar
- Adam Smith
- Haley M. Stevens
- Cori Bush
- Val Hoyle
- Zoe Lofgren
- Jahana Hayes
- Steve Cohen
- Andre Carson
- Diana DeGette
- Kim Schrier
- Greg Stanton
- Jared Moskowitz
- Stephen F. Lynch
- Darren Soto
- Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia
NCUIH Recommends NIH Collaboration with Urban Indian Organizations for Future HIV Research Initiatives
On March 28, 2024, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) submitted a response to a request for information (RFI) from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of AIDS Research (OAR) to inform the development of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2026-2030 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research (“Strategic Plan”). As part of its response, NCUIH urged NIH to prioritize research efforts that address the specific needs and challenges faced by American Indian and Alaska Native communities and requested that NIH partner with urban Indian organizations (UIOs) to improve research implementation.
Background
NIH OAR oversees and coordinates all HIV research activities across NIH, including both extramural and intramural research, research training, program evaluation, and HIV research infrastructure and capacity development. NIH supports a comprehensive portfolio of research representing a broad range of basic, clinical, behavioral, social, translational, and implementation science on HIV and associated coinfections and comorbidities. The Strategic Plan provides a framework for developing the NIH HIV research budget, articulates HIV research priorities, and provides information about NIH HIV research priorities to the scientific community, Congress, HIV-affected communities, and the public at large. The current strategic Plan is for FY 2021-2025.
The RFI requested responses to the FY 2026-2030 Strategic Plan’s four goals:
- Goal 1: Enhance discovery and advance HIV science through fundamental research.
- Goal 2: Advance the development and assessment of novel interventions for HIV prevention, treatment, and cure.
- Goal 3: Optimize public health impact of HIV discoveries through translation, dissemination, and implementation of research findings.
- Goal 4: Build research workforce and infrastructure capacity to enhance sustainability of HIV scientific discovery.
NCUIH’s Recommendations
In its response to OAR’s RFI, NCUIH requested that NIH:
- Prioritize research efforts that address the specific needs and challenges faced by American Indian and Alaska Native communities in combating HIV.
- Partner with UIOs to reach urban American Indian and Alaska Native populations.
- Support the development of a diverse and inclusive HIV research workforce by recruiting and retaining American Indian and Alaska Native researchers.
- Host UIO listening sessions as it develops the Strategic Plan
NCUIH will continue to monitor the development of the FY 2026-2030 NIH Strategic Plan for HIV and HIV-Related Research.
NCUIH Urges Direct Engagement with Urban Indian Organizations in CMS Quality Improvement Program
On March 20, 2024, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) submitted comments to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Centers for Clinical Standards and Quality Deputy Director, Jean Moody Williams, regarding the American Indian Alaska Native CMS Quality Improvement (AIANHQI) Program 13th Scope of Work (2024-2029). In its comments, NCUIH requested that CMS engage directly with urban Indian organizations (UIOs) as CMS considers UIO inclusion in the AIANHQI Program.
Background
CMS’ Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program is one of the largest federal programs dedicated to improving the quality of health care at the community level. AIANHQI is a strategic partner of the QIO Program that advances this mission through partnerships with tribal communities and Medicare-certified Indian Health Service (IHS)-managed hospitals, including rural and critical access hospitals. AIANHQI initiatives complement IHS strategic priorities and goals. The QIO Program and the AIANHQI collaborate with IHS and tribal nations to help solve the most pressing AIAN health care challenges.
Click here to learn more about the AIANHQI.
NCUIH’s Recommendations
In its comments, NCUIH recommended that CMS:
- Host Urban Confers or UIO Listening Sessions to engage directly with UIOs.
- Ensure the Quality Improvement Organization has expertise in working with UIOs.
NCUIH will continue to monitor the possible UIO inclusion in the AIANHQI and provide updates on developments.
PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Honors Representatives Raul Ruiz, M.D. and Don Bacon, Senators Markwayne Mullin and Ben Ray Luján
NCUIH recognized the Members of Congress for their work in advancing the health of Native people.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
WASHINGTON, D.C. (May 8, 2024) – The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) presented four Congressional Urban Indian Health Champion Awards to Members of Congress for their efforts to advance urban Indian health during its 2024 Annual Conference: Sustaining Traditions: Culture, Identity, Health.
Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA-25), Representative Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), and Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), were recognized as Members of Congress who have demonstrated outstanding commitment and leadership in advocating for the advancement and improvement of urban Native health and health care. These individuals have gone above and beyond in their efforts to champion legislation, policies, and initiatives that promote the health, welfare, and rights of urban Native peoples, and have a proven track record of collaboration, bipartisan cooperation, and effectiveness in advancing legislative agendas that address critical issues relating to urban Native health. NCUIH thanks the awardees for their dedication to upholding the federal trust and treaty obligation to provide healthcare services to all American Indian and Alaska Native people, regardless of where they reside.
Pictured: Representative Raul Ruiz, M.D. with NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier, and UIO Representatives from California.
Pictured: Homles Whalen, Senior Counsel for Senator Markwayne Mullin with NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier, CEO of the Indian Health Care Resource Center Carmelita Skeeter, and NCUIH President-Elect Robyn Sunday-Allen.
Pictured: Calli Shapiro, Senior Policy Counsel for Ben Ray Luján with NCUIH Board Member Dr. Linda Son-Stone, and NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier.
Pictured: Representative Don Bacon with Cheryl Carlberg, Omaha Clinic Director at the Nebraska Urban Indian Health Coalition, and NCUIH Staff.
About NCUIH
The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is a national representative advocating for the 41 Urban Indian Organizations contracting with the Indian Health Service under the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. NCUIH is devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally competent health and public health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas.
NCUIH respects and supports Tribal sovereignty and the unique government-to-government relationship between our Tribal Nations and the United States. NCUIH works to support those federal laws, policies, and procedures that respect and uplift Tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship. NCUIH does not support any federal law, policy, or procedure that infringes upon or in any way diminishes Tribal sovereignty or the government-to-government relationship.
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NCUIH Contact: Meredith Raimondi, Vice President of Policy and Communications, mraimondi@ncuih.org, 202-417-7781
NCUIH to Testify During American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Day
On Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 11:20 AM EST, Todd Wilson (Crow), Executive Director of the Helena Indian Alliance Leo-Pocha Clinic and National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) Board Member, will testify on behalf of NCUIH before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee hearing as part of American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Days (May 7 and 8, 2024).
Mr. Wilson’s testimony will advocate for full funding for the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Urban Indian Health line item at the amounts requested by the Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup for Fiscal Year 2026, maintaining advance appropriations for IHS until mandatory funding is authorized, and protecting IHS from sequestration.
Tune in!
PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Publishes Innovative Report on Traditional Healing at Urban Indian Organizations
Report details benefits of Traditional Healing for American Indians and Alaska Natives and the need for reimbursement for these services
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NCUIH Contact: Meredith Raimondi, Vice President of Policy and Communications, mraimondi@ncuih.org, 202-417-7781
WASHINGTON, D.C. (April 30, 2024) – The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is proud to announce the publication of its report entitled “Recent Trends in Third-Party Billing at Urban Indian Organizations: Thematic Analysis of Traditional Healing Programs at Urban Indian Organizations and Meta-Analysis of Health Outcomes.”
“This report is the result of a ground-breaking study focusing on how Urban Indian Organizations administer, evaluate, and fund traditional healing services. Our research shows that the ability to provide and be reimbursed for culturally relevant services will provide an even greater opportunity to provide whole-person care,” says NCUIH CEO Francys Creiver, J.D. (Algonquin).
The report explains how traditional healing services can have a demonstrably positive impact on the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives but that funding remains a significant impediment to expanding access to these services at UIOs.
Background
This report serves as an update to the National Council of Urban Indian Health’s previous reporting on recent trends in third-party billing at UIOs. This year’s focus on how UIOs administer, evaluate, and fund traditional healing services reflects UIOs’ commitment to expanding access to traditional healing for American Indians and Alaska Natives in urban areas. The report has a particular focus on Medicaid reimbursement for traditional healing because Medicaid is a significant source of health coverage for UIO patients, but many UIOs have reported difficulty receiving reimbursement for traditional healing services. NCUIH’s prior reports are publicly available at: https://ncuih.org/research/third-party-billing/.
Next Steps
Recognizing the importance of culturally appropriate care, four states have initiated efforts to expand reimbursement for these services at Indian Health Service facilities, Tribal Health Centers, and UIOs. Arizona, California, Oregon, and New Mexico have submitted traditional healing reimbursement proposals to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) using Section 1115(a) demonstration waivers. NCUIH continues to educate policymakers regarding the importance of traditional healing for American Indians and Alaska Natives in urban areas and the importance of developing reimbursement models that are culturally sensitive and appropriate.
About NCUIH
The National Council of Urban Indian Health is a national non-profit organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally competent health and public health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas. NCUIH is a national organization advocating for the 41 Title V Urban Indian Organizations under the Indian Health Service in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.
NCUIH respects and supports Tribal sovereignty and the unique government-to-government relationship between our Tribal Nations and the United States. NCUIH works to support those federal laws, policies, and procedures that respect and uplift Tribal sovereignty and the government-to-government relationship. NCUIH does not support any federal law, policy, or procedure that infringes upon or in any way diminishes Tribal sovereignty or the government-to-government relationship.
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NCUIH Contact: Meredith Raimondi, Vice President of Policy and Communications, mraimondi@ncuih.org, 202-417-7781