These sessions are an opportunity for UIO leaders and their staff to discuss your vital priorities that shape our advocacy efforts in 2025. We will host 5 individual sessions to allow UIO leaders and their staff from each UIO type to have unique discussions with NCUIH staff:

September 3 

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST – Full Ambulatory
• 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST – Outpatient and Residential

September 4   

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST – Limited Ambulatory
• 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST – Outreach and Referral

September 5   

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST – Makeup Session

If you are unable to attend any of these dates, please email Policy@NCUIH.org to set up an individual session. We would love to hear from you!

NCUIH’s Infographic “Analysis of Traditional Food Programs” complements NCUIH’s recently released report on Traditional Foods at UIOs and highlights:

• Importance of traditional foods in Native communities.
• Impact of colonization on traditional food practices.
• Overview of common programs at UIOs that can incorporate traditional foods: Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI), Nutritional Counseling, Food Prescriptions, and Community Gardens.
• Access the Infographic here.

NCUIH’s report “Medicaid Reimbursement Rates at Urban Indian Organizations During the COVID-19 Pandemic” focuses on the impact of Medicaid reimbursement rates at UIOs during COVID-19. Despite UIOs providing additional services and growing programs to serve the urban Native community during COVID-19 pandemic, reimbursement rates did not significantly rise.

• Access the report here.

Senate Advances Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill: 

On August 1, 2024, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced their FY 2025 Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS) appropriations bill which proposes increased or maintained funding for key Indian Country programs.

• By the numbers: Includes $8 million for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes, which would create an Initiative for Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes to be located at a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center demonstrating strong partnerships with Tribes, Tribal Organizations, and UIOs;$24 million for the Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country program; and $23.67 million for Tribal Behavioral Health Grants.
• What’s Ahead: FY 2024 funding is set to end on September 30, 2024. If Congress cannot come to a funding agreement by that deadline, a Continuing Resolution will be needed to maintain funding levels at FY24 levels until an agreement is reached.
• Go deeper: Read NCUIH’s analysis of the bill.

Take Action to Support Mandatory Funding for IHS CSCs and 105(l) leases: 

NCUIH sent out an action alert urging advocates to contact Congress to support mandatory funding for IHS Contract Support Costs (CSCs) and 105(l) lease funding.

• Ways to advocate: Call or email your Representative, and post on social media using the template language provided in the action alert. Contact Congress.

On July 31, NCUIH CEO Francys Crevier attended the White House Convening on Native American Voting Rights. Ensuring every Native vote is heard is essential to our democracy & the well-being of our people. UIOs are at the forefront of this mission, promoting civic engagement & health equity.

What else?: The election is coming up, and NCUIH has created special resources for UIOs. Download Posters and Flyers

Two potential pathways for the Truth and Healing Commission on Indian Boarding School Policies Act of 2023 (S. 1723/H.R. 7227) bill to be passed:

• On July 8, 2024, the Senate bill was placed on the legislative calendar. The expectation is that the bill will pass the Senate.
• Additionally, Senators Brian Schatz (Hawaii- Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska – Vice-Chair) filed a bipartisan amendment attaching the bill to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), providing the bill with two potential pathways to be passed.
• The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score for the House bill was released with $90 million authorized over FY24-FY2034, funded from unobligated ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) IHS funding.
• The House bill is awaiting a committee report before being scheduled for a floor vote.
• Why it matters: the bill would establish a formal commission to investigate, document, and acknowledge past injustices of the federal government’s Indian Boarding School Policies.

On August 2, Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-NM-3) introduced the NCUIH-endorsed IHS Audio-Only Telehealth Bill, which would make permanent a COVID-19 Public Health Emergency temporary provision allowing audio-only telehealth services for Medicare beneficiaries receiving care through Indian health programs or UIOs.

• Why it matters: IHS, tribally operated facilities, and UIOs would benefit from continued reimbursement from Medicare for audio-only telehealth services as program budgets heavily depend upon third-party reimbursements.
• Go Deeper: Read more on NCUIH’s blog.

Recent update on 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for UIO Medicaid Services: 

NCUIH is working to advance legislation by the end of 2024 for 100% FMAP for UIO Medicaid services.

Next Steps: Congress is currently in recess until September 9 and will only have three weeks of work before the session ends on September 27. During this short session, the focus is expected to be on addressing the government funding that expires on September 30, making it unlikely that other legislation will advance before the election. However, the lame-duck session—the period between the November election and the start of the new Congress—will be crucial for passing key legislation. Reports suggest that Congress could move on an end-of-year package that includes health extenders. NCUIH will continue to advocate for the inclusion of 100% FMAP in any legislation Congress considers during this time.

What UIOs Can Do:

• If UIOs would like to write a letter or meet with their Member of Congress to support this legislation, NCUIH is available to assist. Email policy@ncuih.org.
• Reminder: UIOs can still work with their states to improve Medicaid reimbursement rates even without 100% FMAP.

On August 9, NCUIH submitted comments to the White House regarding Executive Order (EO) 14112 Section 4(a): Assessing Additional Funding to Better Live up to the Trust Responsibility.

 Go deeper: NCUIH recommended that forthcoming White House guidance to agencies working to calculate the unmet scope of the trust responsibility direct them to: capture the full level of federal funding need to meet the trust obligation for health to all of Indian Country and engage with UIOs through urban confer and continue to seek tribal feedback.

September 5: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) – Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Outbreak 

OASH seeks information from Indian Country about possible HHS actions that may support efforts to reduce the number of syphilis and congenital syphilis cases among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Specifically, they seek comments on the following questions:

• What are your top three priorities for addressing the syphilis and congenital syphilis epidemic in Indian country?
• What are the top three changes that HHS could implement to reduce the cases of syphilis and congenital syphilis in your communities?
• What successful models or innovations have you implemented that could be adapted and scaled by other communities?

What’s next: The deadline for written comments is September 5, 2024, and can be submitted to STI@hhs.gov, using the following subject line: “Tribal Consultation.”

September 6: IHS – Health IT Modernization Multi-Tenant Domain Considerations. 

IHS seeks to better understand how to enhance the benefits and address challenges with the new Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, now called PATH (Patients at the Heart). IHS specifically seeks comments on the following questions:

• What can IHS do to increase the value proposition for urban partners to participate in PATH EHR (Electronic Health Record)?
• What challenges and risks might your facilities face when transitioning to PATH EHR?
• What should IHS consider when preparing end users to operate within a shared EHR environment with a single patient record?

What’s Next: The deadline for written comments is September 6, 2024, and can be submitted to consultation@ihs.gov or urbanconfer@ihs.gov, using the following subject line: ” Health IT Modernization.”

There will also be a joint IHS Tribal Consultation/Urban Confer session on November 7, 2024, 1:30-3 PM ET, on HIT Modernization Site Readiness and Training. This will be a hybrid event at IHS Headquarters in Rockville, MD. Register here.

September 9: CMS – Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Proposed Rule

• CMS hosted an All Tribes Consultation Webinar on August 8, 2024.
• CMS is requesting information related to a Tribal Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) request to apply the IHS Medicare encounter rate to all outpatient Tribal clinics for Medicare services.
• CMS also proposes to establish a permanent exception to the Medicaid clinic services benefit four walls requirement for IHS and Tribal clinics, and, at state option, for behavioral health clinics and clinics located in rural areas.

What’s Next: The deadline for written comments is September 9, 2024, and can be submitted electronically at https://www.regulations.gov (follow the “Submit a comment” instructions), or by mail to the following address: Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services, Attention: CMS-1809-P, P.O. Box 8010, Baltimore, MD 21244-8010.

October 1 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for America   

• USDA is seeking public comment as the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee conducts its scientific review process. Learn more here.

What’s next: Written comments are due October 1, 2024, and can be submitted online (preferred method) at the Federal eRulemaking Portal, or by mail to Janet M. de Jesus, MS, RD, HHS/OASH Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20852. All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket OASH-2022-0021.

Sept. 5: Association of American Indian Physicians (AAIP) Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. NCUIH will be presenting its reports on Traditional Healing. Register here.

Sept. 10-12: IHS Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee (DSTAC) 4th Quarter Meeting. Location TBD. Visit IHS website for more information.

Sept. 10-12: HHS Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Committee (STAC) – Northwest Portland Area

Sept. 10: Medicare, Medicaid and Health Reform Policy Committee (MMPC) Monthly Meeting

Sept, 17-18: Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committee (TLDC) Quarterly Meeting in Washington, D.C (hybrid). Link to join meeting on September 17. Link to join meeting on September 18.

Recent Dear Tribal and Urban Leader Letters (DTLL/DULL) 

August 12: IHS writes to Tribal and UIO leaders to share tools to address climate change, associated health risks, and strategies to address environmental justice (EJ).

IHS wrote to share tools to address climate change, associated health risks, and strategies to address environmental justice:

• U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
• CDC’s Heat & Health Tracker
• Federal Flood Standard Support Tool
• FEMA’s National Risk Index
• EPA’s EJ Screen: Environmental Justice Screening and Mapping Tool

Important Events:

July 22-23: IHS Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee (TSGAC) Meeting

• IHS representatives reported that reclassifying CSC and 105 (l) leases to mandatory funding would protect the entire IHS budget.

TSGAC’s recommendations for improving the IHS strategic plan:

• Develop a public strategic plan scorecard
• Develop evaluation or monitoring mechanism
• Tribal consultation requirements in the plan’s objectives/activities

July 25: IHS FY 2026-2027 Tribal Budget Formulation Planning and Evaluation Meeting

• The FY25 President’s Budget provides an additional $1 billion annually in FY26 and FY27 to fully address the 2023 estimated backlog of essential maintenance, alteration, and repair (BMAR) for IHS and tribal facilities, and to account for anticipated growth in the BMAR through FY 2026.
• IHS staff stated that the FY 2025 House Bill includes a $115 million decrease to the Electronic Health Record (EHR) Modernization Project. This decrease is likely due to the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA).

One last thing, check out this upcoming funding opportunity:

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) New Access Points (NAPs)

• HRSA announces that applications to establish NAPs are now open to expand access to affordable, high-quality primary health care, including mental health and substance use disorder services, for underserved communities and populations. HRSA will only be able to make awards for this Notice of Funding Opportunity if Congress appropriates additional funds for the Health Center Program in FY 2025. HRSA-funded health centers operate more than 15,000 service sites nationwide. If Congress appropriates additional funding in FY 2025, these NAPs will expand the number of health centers in the HRSA Health Center Program and help HRSA-funded health centers open new locations. NAP applicants may be currently funded health centers, look-alikes, or new organizations (those not yet part of the Health Center Program).
• Applications are due in Grants.gov on August 30, 2024, and in HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks on September 30, 2024 (Apply).

House and Senate FY 2025 Interior Bills:

On July 25, the House of Representatives passed their bill, by a vote of 210-205, with a 23% increase for the Indian Health Service (IHS) at $8.56 billion, and $99.99 million for Urban Indian health, which is $9.5 million above FY 2024 enacted levels. On July 25, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed their bill, by a vote of 28-1, with a 22% increase for IHS at $8.5 billion, and $94.57 million for Urban Indian health, which is $4.17 million above FY 2024 enacted levels. Both bills maintained advance appropriations for IHS in FY 2026.

Next Steps: The Senate bill will now advance to the floor for a vote. Should the bill pass the Senate, both House and Senate leadership will work together to negotiate a final bill text for passage in both chambers. FY 2024 funding is set to end on September 30, 2024. If Congress cannot come to a funding agreement by that deadline, they will need to pass a Continuing Resolution to keep the funding levels at the FY24 level until they can reach an agreement. Should political disagreements lead to a government shutdown, UIOs and parts of IHS will be protected by Advance Appropriations.

Go deeper: For a more detailed analysis of Indian Country provisions, read our House blog and Senate blog.

House Passes Labor-HHS Appropriations Bill: 

On July 10, 2024, the House Appropriations Full Committee passed a FY 2025 Labor, Health, and Human Services (LHHS) appropriations bill with increases for Indian Country Programs.

By the numbers:

• Improving Native American Cancer Outcomes Program – $15 million (+9 million from FY 2024)
• Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country – $30 million (+6 million from FY 2024)
• Minority HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Program: $45 million (-15 million from FY 2024) and $6 million Tribal set-aside
• Tribes and Tribal Organizations for Medication-Assisted Treatment for Prescription Drug and Opioid Addiction – (+$16.5 million from FY 2024)

Go deeper: Read NCUIH’s analysis of the bill.

Next Steps: Facing challenges to passing their other appropriations bills, House Republican Leadership have cancelled votes and will be headed into recess a week earlier than planned. There currently is no planned schedule for votes on the House LHHS appropriations bill.  However, the Senate will be holding a full committee markup on their LHHS bill on August 1.

On July 16, NCUIH represented UIOs on the Medicare, Medicaid and Health Reform Policy Committee (MMPC), a standing committee of the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), ahead of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Tribal Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) Face-to-Face Meeting. The primary purpose of MMPC is to provide technical support to TTAG.

On July 17-18, NCUIH served as Technical Advisors at the CMS TTAG Face-to-Face Meeting with NCUIH President, Walter Murillo (Choctaw), and NCUIH Board Member, Todd Wilson (Crow) who serve as the NCUIH representatives on the advisory group.

Go Deeper: Mr. Murillo spoke on the issue of Medicaid fraud in Arizona impacting Native people and urged CMS to take action.

NCUIH VP of Policy and Communications, Meredith Raimondi, NCUIH Board Member, Todd Wilson (Crow), NCUIH Research Associate, Nahla Holland (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation), NCUIH Federal Relations Manager, Alexandra Payan, JD, at CMS TTAG.

NCUIH Research Associate, Nahla Holland (Eastern Pequot Tribal Nation) and NCUIH Federal Relations Manager, Alexandra Payan, JD presenting at CMS TTAG.

NCUIH also presented its reports on Traditional Food at UIOs and Medicaid Reimbursement During COVID-19 at UIOs to the CMS TTAG.

Becerra v. San Carlos Apache (consolidated with Becerra v. Northern Arapaho Tribe) 

• What has happened since the June 6 Supreme Court ruling in favor of Tribes?
• In the FY 2025 Interior Appropriations Bill Passed by the House Committee on July 9, Chairman Cole and Republican leadership shifted money from the Labor-HHS-Education bill to the Interior-Environment bill to accommodate the increases required by the result of the Supreme Court decision on contract support costs (CSCs).
• The bill provided an estimated indefinite appropriation of $2.036 billion for CSCs, a $985 million increase above Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 levels.
• What’s Next: NCUIH is closely monitoring budget conversations and advocacy on transferring CSCs to mandatory spending.
• Resource: NCUIH created an FAQ to address any questions or concerns.

Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo 

On June 28, the Supreme Court issued a 6-2 ruling. Read more on NCUIH’s blog.

• The bottom line: The Court held that the Administrative Procedure Act requires courts to exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority, and courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous. Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council is overruled.
• Relation to UIOs: Now that agency interpretation is not required deference by courts, it could change how federal agencies operate. The decision puts federal executive agency regulations and policy determinations at risk of legal challenge.
• What they are saying: On July 11, Senate Republicans sent a letter to HHS Secretary Becerra, requesting information on how he expects to account for the Loper decision, and how he has prepared for it.

Corner Post, Inc. v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System

On July 1, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling.

• The bottom line: An Administrative Procedures Act claim does not accrue for purposes of 28 U.S.C. § 2401(a) — the default 6-year statute of limitations applicable to suits against the United States — until the plaintiff is injured by final agency action.
• Relation to UIOs: No direct relation but now allows for challenges to agency action to be brought based on when a party is injured by the action, rather than when the final agency action occurred. This ruling, along with Loper Bright, increases the chance of legal challenge to federal agency regulation or policies and could create a backlog in the courts of challenges to agency action.

 Grants Pass v. Johnson  

On June 28, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 ruling.

• The bottom line: The enforcement of generally applicable laws regulating camping on public property does not constitute “cruel and unusual punishment” prohibited by the Eighth Amendment.”
• Relation to UIOs: There is a high population of urban American Indian and Alaska Native people that are homeless. The decision could result in arrests or fines for many of them if similar laws are passed in other cities or states.

United States v. Rahimi 

On June 21, the Supreme Court issued an 8-1 ruling.

• The bottom line: When an individual has been found by a court to pose a credible threat to the physical safety of another, that individual may be temporarily disarmed consistent with the Second Amendment.”
• Relation to UIOs: Related to domestic violence and MMIP, the ruling ensures that domestic violence restraining orders that restrict firearm possession are enforceable.

NCUIH has endorsed Senator Brian Schatz’s (D-HI) bill, Protecting Communities Through Vaccination Act, which would create a much-needed safety net by establishing a complementary vaccine program to Vaccines for Children to provide a mechanism for uninsured adults to have access to recommended vaccines and protection from a range of vaccine-preventable-conditions.

• Why it matters: It would create a mechanism for UIOs and Native Hawaiian Healthcare Organizations to directly request vaccines from States.

NCUIH has endorsed Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez’s (D-NM-3) IHS Audio-Only Telehealth Bill, which would allow for audio-only telehealth for IHS tribal health programs and tribally operated facilities to support beneficiaries in areas with low broadband access and for individuals without camera technology.

• Why it matters: IHS and tribally operated facilities, and UIOs would benefit from continued reimbursement from Medicare for audio-only telehealth services as program budgets heavily depend upon third party reimbursements.

Recent update on FMAP: NCUIH is working to secure additional Republican Cosponsors to the bipartisan Urban Indian Health Parity Act bill.

On July 22, NCUIH submitted comments to IHS regarding the Division of Behavioral Health (DBH) Funding Initiatives.  

Background: IHS held an urban confer on June 20, 2024.

• In FY 2024, the IHS administered more than $59 million in funding for behavioral health initiatives.

Did You Know?: DBH is evaluating Agency-wide processes for distributing appropriated funding for 7 behavioral health initiatives: Substance Abuse Prevention, Treatment and Aftercare (SASP); Suicide Prevention, Intervention and Postvention (SPIP); Domestic Violence Prevention; Forensic Healthcare Services; Behavioral Health Integration Initiative (BH2I); Zero Suicide Initiative (ZSI); and Youth Regional Treatment Centers Aftercare (YRTC).

Go deeper: NCUIH recommended that IHS ensure noncompetitive program awards across the IHS/Tribal/UIO system, support whole family treatment, support youth residential treatment centers at UIOs, ensure funding reform for these programs does not create additional reporting requirements, and continue to engage with UIOs.

August 9 – White House Domestic Policy Council, the White House Office of Management and Budget, and the White House Council on Native American Affairs (WHCNAA) Tribal Consultation on Executive Order 14112 on Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination.

• WHCNAA hosted a Tribal Consultation on July 8, 2024
• What’s next: Deadline for written comments is August 9, 2024, and can be submitted via email to  whcnaa@bia.gov

September 5– HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH) on Syphilis and Congenital Syphilis Outbreak

• OASH will hold Tribal Consultation on August 5, 2024, from 1pm-2:30pm ET to discuss the syphilis and congenital syphilis outbreak impacting Indian country. Register here.
• What’s next: Deadline for written comments is September 5, 2024, and can be submitted to STI@hhs.gov, using the following subject line: “Tribal Consultation.”

October 1 – United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Dietary Guidelines for America

• USDA is seeking public comment as the 2025 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee conducts its scientific review process. Learn more here.
• What’s next: Written comments are due October 1, 2024, and can be submitted online (preferred method) at the Federal eRulemaking Portal, or by mail to Janet M. de Jesus, MS, RD, HHS/OASH Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), 1101 Wootton Parkway, Suite 420, Rockville, MD 20852. All submissions received must include the agency name and Docket OASH-2022-0021.

NCUIH’s report “Thematic Analysis of Traditional Food Programs at Urban Indian Organizations and Research on Traditional Healing” includes interviews that NCUIH conducted with 7 UIOs about their Traditional Food programs and their ability or inability to bill Medicaid. UIOs expressed the need for additional support and funding to sustain their Traditional Food programming.

• Read the report at www.ncuih.org/traditionalfood.

August 7-8: 28th Bi-annual Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting. Register here.

August 8: IHS Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer: HIT Modernization Multi-Tenant Domain Considerations. Register here.

August 13-15: 2024 IHS Partnership Conference and Direct Service Tribes (DST) National Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Register here.

August 14-15: Region 4 – HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultation.

August 15: IHS Office of Urban Indian Health Programs (OUIHP)-Urban Program Executive Directors/Chief Executive Officers Monthly Conference Call.

August 14-16: Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) 2024 Grantee Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Register here.

August 16: IHS Health IT Modernization Tribal Summit in Phoenix, Arizona. Register here.

August 20-22: Region 6 – HHS Annual Regional Tribal Consultation.

Look out for NCUIH’s 2024 Focus Groups – Setting Policy Priorities for 2025:

September 3

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST – Full Ambulatory
• 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST – Outpatient and Residential

September 4

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST – Limited Ambulatory
• 3:00-4:30 p.m. EST – Outreach and Referral

September 5

• 1:00-2:30 p.m. EST – Makeup Session

Recent Dear Tribal Leader Letters (DTLLs) and Dear Urban Leader Letters (DULLs):

June 27 – USDA invites Tribes to participate in a Tribal Consultation and listening session regarding Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

• Tribal consultation and listening session to be held July 29, 2024, 2-4 PM Eastern.

July 1 – Department of Interior (DOI) writes to invite Tribes to a series of in-person and virtual Tribal Consultations regarding proposed rule

• The proposed rule amends regulations governing implementation of subchapter IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) and the Department’s Tribal Self-Gov program.

July 1 -Social Security Administration (SSA) Director writes to share an opportunity to provide feedback on SSA’s Equity Action Plan

• Next sessions will be Thursday, July 25, 2024, and Thursday, August 15, 2024. Register here by the Monday before your chosen session.

July 1- IHS requests assistance identifying priority health professions for education assistance programs

• IHS Division of Health Professions requests assistance in identifying priority health professions for inclusion into categories eligible for the IHS Scholarship Program (SP) in academic year 2025-2026 and the IHS Loan Repayment Program (LRP) in FY2025. Please email your priorities in spreadsheet form by August 1, 2024, to Mr. Jeremy Sheehan at jeremy.sheehan@ihs.gov.

July 29 – IHS invites Tribal leaders and UIO leaders to attend IHS’ Tribal Summit on Health Information Technology Modernization

• On July 29, 2024, IHS published a DTLL/DULL inviting Tribal leaders and UIO leaders to attend IHS’ Tribal Summit on Health Information Technology Modernization (Summit). The Summit will take place in person on Friday, August 16, 2024, from 8:30 AM to 12 PM Mountain Standard Time and held in conjunction with the 2024 IHS Partnership Conference. The purpose of the Summit is for Tribal leaders and UIO leaders to participate in face-to-face discussions with IHS leadership regarding the Health Information Technology Modernization Program. The IHS will also share updates with attendees on the Information Technology implementation planning process and enterprise build process. Space will be made available at the Summit for Tribal Leaders and UIO Leaders to caucus. To register, click here.

On July 11, 2024, the VA announced implementation of the revised VA-UIO Reimbursement Agreement Program (RAP) template.

• VA hosted an Urban Confer concerning revising the VA-UIO RAP template during NCUIH’s conference. NCUIH submitted comments in response to this Urban Confer on May 15, 2024.
• The agreement continues to explicitly include reimbursement for Durable Medical Equipment (DME), prosthetics/orthotics and supplies, and home health services. Reimbursement for residential treatment continues to not be explicitly excluded.
• Changes in the final RAP template compared to the draft: includes dental services under “Reimbursement Rates for Direct Care Services”; new subsection under “Claim Submission and Payment.”

One last thing, check out these upcoming funding opportunities: 

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Women’s Behavioral Health Technical Assistance Center:

• Application Deadline Date: August 20, 2024 (Apply)