NCUIH Releases 2024 Annual Policy Assessment
The Policy Assessment informs Urban Indian Organizations policy priorities for 2025, identifies barriers to closing funding gaps, opportunities to strengthen the workforce, and building community resources for Urban Native communities.
The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is pleased to announce the release of its 2024 Policy Assessment. NCUIH hosted five focus groups to identify Urban Indian Organization (UIO) policy priorities for 2025, as they relate to the Indian Health Service (IHS) designated facility types (full ambulatory, limited ambulatory, outreach and referral, and outpatient and residential). The focus groups were held on September 3, 4, and 5, 2024.
Together these focus groups allow NCUIH to work with UIOs to identify policy priorities in 2025 and identify barriers that impact delivery of care to Native patients and their communities. Of the 41 UIOs, 18 attended the focus groups and/or participated in a survey. This is the fifth year that NCUIH has conducted the assessment via focus groups sessions.
Overview of the Policy Assessment
During the focus group sessions, UIO leaders had the opportunity to share their opinions on the successes and challenges they experienced in 2024. UIO leaders also provided input on the policy areas they would like to see the greatest policy support from NCUIH. Some of the key policy priority areas identified included increasing funding for IHS and urban Indian health line items, securing 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for UIOs, receiving Medicaid reimbursement for traditional healing services, and addressing cancer disparities in their communities.
Key Findings from the Policy Assessment are as follows:
- Enhancing Infrastructure to Support Urban Indian Organizations
- Achieving Parity: Extending 100% FMAP to Urban Indian Organizations
- Supporting Traditional Healing Services at UIOs through Medicaid Reimbursement
- Strengthening the Workforce to Support Urban Indian Organizations
- Expanding Housing Support: Addressing Affordable Housing needs in Urban American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) Communities
- Alleviating Food Insecurity in Urban AI/AN Communities
- Combating Cancer Disparities: Improving Prevention, Screening, and Treatment for Urban AI/AN Communities
Next Steps
NCUIH will use this assessment to develop a comprehensive document of the 2024 Policy Priorities.
