Indian Health Service Releases its Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years 2025-2029, Urban Indian Organizations Included in Key Health Care Goals

/in /by

On December 5, 2025, the Indian Health Service (IHS) published a Dear Tribal Leader and Urban Indian Organization (UIO) Leader letter (DTLL/DULL), regarding the release of the final IHS Strategic Plan for Fiscal Years (FYs) 2025-2029 (Strategic Plan).  Prior to this release, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) submitted comments to IHS on June 28, 2024, regarding the Draft Strategic Plan. While IHS did not incorporate NCUIH’s suggestions, IHS does include Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) in the Strategic Plan in sections concerning ensuring comprehensive, culturally respectful health care services; advancing data-driven/evidence-based decision-making; promoting proactive intergovernmental and external relationships; and respecting self-determination.

Background

The Strategic Plan will establish IHS’ direction for FY 2025-2029. It is developed based on feedback received from Headquarters Offices, the Strategic Plan Workgroup, and other stakeholders, and builds on the work of Headquarters Offices to determine appropriate measures. IHS hosted a virtual Tribal Consultation on May 29, 2024, regarding the Draft Strategic Plan following a May 2, 2024, DTLL. IHS did not host an Urban Confer as it developed the Strategic Plan. The Strategic Plan includes four Goals with corresponding Strategic Objectives:

  • Strategic Goal 1: Be a leading health care organization
  • Strategic Goal 2: Ensure comprehensive, culturally respectful health care services
  • Strategic Goal 3: Optimize operations through effective stewardship
  • Strategic Goal 4: Promote proactive intergovernmental and external relationships

NCUIH believes that the Plan is an important vehicle to articulate leadership priorities, provide direction for program management functions, engage external partners and entities, and measure IHS’ progress towards meeting the goals and objectives contained in the Strategic Plan. NCUIH will continue to participate in the implementation and exercise of the Strategic Plan and inform UIOs of upcoming opportunities related to implementation of the Strategic Plan.

image_pdfPDFimage_printPrint

Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee Discusses Importance of Foods and Beverages Integral to American Indian and Alaska Native People

/in /by

On December 11, 2024, the Scientific Report of the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (Scientific Report) was officially submitted to the Secretaries of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The Report includes NCUIH’s September 30, 2024, recommendation to incorporate research on Traditional Foods into the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines by conducting a simulation that analyzed expert-identified foods and beverages integral to and consumed by American Indian and Alaska Native people with positive results.

  • Read the full report here.

The DGAC is accepting written comments on the Scientific Report until Saturday, February 8, 2025. DGAC will also accept oral comments via virtual format on January 16, 2025, at 1 PM ET. Click here for more information on the comment opportunities on this Scientific Report.

Background

Under section 301 of Public Law 101-445 (7 U.S.C. 5341, the National Nutrition Monitoring and Related Research Act of 1990, title III), the Secretaries of HHS and USDA are directed to publish the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (Dietary Guidelines) jointly at least every five years. The law instructs that this publication shall contain nutritional and dietary information and guidelines for the general public; shall be based on the preponderance of scientific and medical knowledge current at the time of publication; and shall be promoted by each Federal agency in carrying out any Federal food, nutrition, or health program. The current edition of the Dietary Guidelines (2020-2025) provides guidance on the entire lifespan, from birth to older adulthood, including pregnancy and lactation. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025-2030 will continue to provide food-based dietary guidance across the entire lifespan to help meet nutrient needs, promote health, and reduce the risk of chronic disease. HHS and USDA appointed the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (2025 DGAC) to conduct an independent scientific review that will help inform the Departments’ development of the next edition of the Dietary Guidelines.

Discussion of American Indian and Alaska Native Diets and Traditional Foods

The report conducted analyses for overall U.S. diets. The simulations considered foods and beverages that the CDC’s National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reported as consumed. To be responsive to public comments that called for the Dietary Guidelines to be inclusive of American Indian and Alaska Native populations by considering American Indian and Alaska Native Traditional Foods, a separate simulation was conducted to simulate food and beverages identified by experts as included in select American Indian and Alaska Native diets.

The simulations “confirmed that nutrient requirements could be met using the foods identified as integral and included in those diets with limited exceptions; that finding was consistent across the U.S. population, not just the select American Indian and Alaska Native diets.” This positive news allows for the “inclusion of foods and beverages identified by experts as integral to and consumed by select American Indian and Alaska Native groups, who continue to experience significant health disparities.” The finding also advances the DGAC’s goals for health equity and “ensuring that the Dietary Guidelines are relevant and actionable across all segments of the U.S. population.” The Scientific Report states that more research is needed on the dietary patterns and preferences of American Indian and Alaska Native populations to address knowledge gaps regarding American Indian and Alaska Native diets.

NCUIH’s Role

In the September 30, 2024, comment to HHS, NCUIH:

  • Recommended that the 2025 DGAC incorporate research on Traditional Foods into the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines.
  • Requested HHS and USDA engage with American Indian and Alaska Native communities through Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer.

NCUIH will continue to monitor the development of the 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines.

image_pdfPDFimage_printPrint

HHS Secretary Approves Final Data Access Policies for Tribes and Tribal Epidemiology Centers

/in /by

On December 6, 2024, the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) approved the final HHS data access policies for Tribes and Tribal Epidemiology Centers (TECs)– Tribal Data Access Policy (TDA) and Tribal Epidemiology Center Data Access Policy (TECDA), respectively. The policies are located on HHS’ Tribal Data Homepage along with information on how to request data from each HHS Division, a frequently-asked-questions on Tribal and TEC data access policies, and previous policy drafts. The policies establish HHS-wide data policies and cover the data under the custody and control of HHS which includes data collected from Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs).

Tribal Data Access Policy

The purpose of the TDA Policy is to establish an HHS wide policy for how HHS will provide Tribes with data (both in general and when acting in their capacities as public health agencies), including the scope of data available, the process to obtain data, and the expected timelines for processing Tribal requests for data. It also establishes an HHS-wide expectation for responding to requests from Tribes for data in the custody and control of HHS and its Staff and Operating Divisions (collectively referred to as “Divisions”).

Tribal Epidemiology Center Data Access Policy

The purpose of the TECDA Policy is to establish an HHS-wide policy governing data access for TECs, including the scope of data available, the process to obtain data, and the expected timelines for processing TECs’ requests for data. It establishes an HHS-wide expectation for responding to requests from TECs acting in their capacities as Public Health Authorities (PHAs) for data in the custody and control of HHS and its Staff and Divisions.

image_pdfPDFimage_printPrint

Health Resources and Services Administration Publishes List of Health Professional Shortage Areas as of October 15, 2024, Includes Urban Indian Organizations

/in /by

On November 5, 2024, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) published a notice informing the public of the availability of the complete lists of all geographic areas, population groups, and facilities designated as primary medical care, dental health, and mental health professional shortage areas (HPSAs) in a designated status as of October 15, 2024. These lists include Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). HRSA’s HPSA Find tool on the Health Workforce Shortage Areas webpage can be used to find data on the geographic, population, and facility HPSA designations throughout the United States.

For further information on the HPSA designations listed on the website or to request additional designation, withdrawal, or reapplication for designation, please contact Dr. Shelby Hockenberry, Branch Chief, Shortage Designation Branch, Division of Policy and Shortage Designation, Bureau of Health Workforce, HRSA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, Maryland 20857, sdb@hrsa.gov, (301) 443-1993.

Background

Section 332 of the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, 42 U.S.C. 254e, provides that the Secretary shall designate HPSAs based on criteria established by regulation. HPSAs are defined in section 332 to include (1) urban and rural geographic areas with shortages of health professionals, (2) population groups with such shortages, and (3) facilities with such shortages. Section 332 further requires that the Secretary annually publish lists of the designated geographic areas, population groups, and facilities. Using the statute and regulations, HRSA automatically designates UIOs as HPSAs.

HPSA designation offers access to potential federal assistance for healthcare facilities and providers. Public or private nonprofit entities are eligible to apply for assignment of National Health Service Corps personnel to provide primary medical care, mental health, or dental health services in or to these HPSAs. National Health Service Corps health professionals enter into service agreements to serve in federally designated HPSAs. Entities with clinical training sites located in HPSAs are eligible to receive priority for certain residency training program grants administered by HRSA’s BHW. Other federal programs also utilize HPSA designations.

NCUIH Advocacy

As part of its advocacy, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) engages with HRSA to ensure that UIOs receive HPSA scores that accurately reflect the level of provider shortage for UIO service. UIOs have particularly highlighted how they are negatively impacted by the way their HRSA HPSA scores affect their ability to hire and retain staff participating in various loan repayment programs. NCUIH continues to engage with HRSA regarding the need to develop HPSA scores which reflect the level of need in the Indian health care system, as opposed to general geographic data.

image_pdfPDFimage_printPrint