American Rescue Plan Act Passes with Historic Investment in Urban Indian Health

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The plan includes $84 million for urban Indian health and two years of 100% Federal Medical Assistance Coverage for Urban Indian Organizations.

Washington, D.C. (March 10, 2021) – Today, the House passed H.R.1319 American Rescue Plan Act, the COVID-19 relief package. On March 6, the Senate passed the plan with a 50-49 vote. The bill includes $6.1 billion for Indian health programs with $84 million for urban Indian health and two years of 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage coverage (FMAP) to Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) for Medicaid services for IHS-beneficiaries. The bill is set to be signed into law by President Biden no later than March 14.

“We are encouraged by the work of Congress to pass the American Rescue Plan Act with robust funding towards urban Indian health and expanded opportunities for Medicaid-IHS beneficiaries. As our frontline health heroes at urban Indian organizations are leading the way, along with the rest of the Indian health system, in vaccinating our populations, we hope to see better outcomes for our relatives,” said National Council of Urban Indian Health CEO Francys Crevier (Algonquin). “This pandemic is far from over as Native lives are still being lost at twice the rate of non-Hispanic whites, so these critical resources will help honor trust and treaty obligations while improving outcomes for all Native communities.”

The Indian health provisions in the American Rescue Plan Act reflect many recommendations in the tribal inter-organization letter sent on February 2. These investments for Indian health will be critical for shoring up necessary resources to combat COVID-19 as January “was the deadliest so far in the US, with 958 recorded Native deaths – a 35% increase since December, a bigger rise than for any other group.”

“Native communities need relief. We listened, and we took action. With more than $31 billion for Tribal governments and Native programs, the American Rescue Plan delivers the largest one-time investment to Native communities in history,” said Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee. “This historic funding is a down payment on the federal government’s trust responsibility to Native communities and will empower American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians to tackle COVID-19’s impacts on their communities.”

NCUIH has worked closely with Representative Raul Ruiz (D-CA) and key Congressional leaders to push for 100% FMAP for UIOs. Last week, Representative Ruiz introduced H.R. 1373, the Urban Indian Health Parity Act, bipartisan legislation, with 12 original cosponsors to extend the 100% FMAP provision permanently to expand resources for  American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage Native communities.

Final Bill Text

Next Steps

NCUIH is grateful for the inclusion of urban Indians into H.R.1319 and commends those Congressional leaders for their continuous support. NCUIH will continue to push for long-term 100% FMAP for UIOs with H.R. 1373.

Overview of Indian Health Provisions

  • $6.094 billion in funding for Indian health programs
  • $2 billion for lost revenue
  • $500 million for Purchased/Referred Care
  • $140 million for information technologies, telehealth, and electronic health records infrastructure
  • $84 million for urban Indian health programs
  • $600 million for vaccine-related activities
  • $1.5 billion for testing, tracing, and mitigating COVID-19
  • $240 million for public health workforce
  • $420 million for mental and behavioral health prevention and treatment services among Indian tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations
  • $600 million for funding support of tribal health care facilities and infrastructure
  • $10 million for potable water delivery

All funds appropriated in this section will be made available to Tribes through IHS to avoid any further disbursement delays similar to those experienced in previous COVID-19 relief efforts.

STATEMENT: Capitol Hill Attack

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Press Contact: Sara Williams, swilliams@NCUIH.org

“We will continue to demand justice…”

 

Washington, D.C. (January 13, 2021) –  Today, the National Council of Urban Indian Health Chief Executive Officer Francys Crevier (Algonquin) released the following statement:

“Last week, we bore witness to a terror at the United States Capitol, an institution which has long carried the original transgressions of this country dating back to 1492. The Capitol is located on the stolen land of the Nacotchtank, Piscataway, and Pamunkey peoples and was built through the stolen labor of our Black brothers and sisters.

Despite the dark history of its creation, this preventable attack was a disgrace to the democratic institution and to the people of color who made its existence possible.

In a nation where the legacy of systemic racism lives on through statues and artwork within these buildings, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have shown resiliency and stood up against injustice.

For this, our communities have too often been harshly punished and senselessly murdered. The legacy of systemic racism has directly affected the health and well-being of BIPOC communities as recently evidenced by the two very different responses from law enforcement towards BIPOC individuals peacefully demanding justice and equality, versus the white domestic terrorists who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021. To heal this country, the U.S. must invest in true equality, justice, health, and education reform.

We condemn discrimination in all forms and we ask the U.S. government to commit to eliminating the structures of racism that embolden these terrorists: Take down the artwork celebrating the genocide of our people in the Capitol Rotunda and remove the statues of slave-owning confederates. We can only begin to heal as a nation once we take down the monuments that pay tribute to the greatest sins of this country within the home for our democracy.

Thank you to those who put their lives on the line to protect us. You are true warriors. We will continue to demand justice from a system designed to oppress our people.

“We are still here, and we are resilient.”

PRESS RELEASE: First-Ever Standalone NCUIH Bill Passes Congress to Shore Up Resources for Urban Indians

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Policy Contact: Meredith Raimondi, mraimondi@NCUIH.org

Press Contact: Sara Williams, swilliams@NCUIH.org

December 20, 2020 (Washington, DC) – On December 20, the Senate voted to pass to H.R. 6535 by unanimous consent to pass H.R. 6535 to extend Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage to urban Indian organizations (UIOs) instead of having to divert scarce resources away from health care to foot exorbitant insurance costs. On December 17, the United States House of Representatives passed by unanimous consent under suspension of the rules. The passage of this non-controversial bill is a step forward in creating parity within the Indian Health System to ensure that the trust and treaty responsibility is upheld by the US government.

“We applaud Congress and the Administration for their steadfast efforts to help urban Indian health workers get coverage like their other IHS and Tribal counterparts as we are in the midst of a pandemic. As our frontline workers risk their lives in this pandemic that is devastating Indian Country, this will be critical to saving Native lives and will increase available health care services. We are thankful to Senators Smith, Lankford, Udall, Hoeven and Schumer along with our House leaders, Representatives Gallego, Mullin, Grijalva, Pallone, Young, and Cole” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO.

In August, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that across 23 states, cumulative incidence rates of lab-confirmed COVID-19 among AI/ANs are 3.5 times higher than for non-Hispanic Whites. Also, according to CDC, COVID-19 hospitalization among AI/ANs were 4.7 times higher than for non-Hispanic Whites. As this pandemic devastates Indian Country, UIOs have been forced to make extremely difficult choices – facing competing priorities and expenses, like increased PPE and renovation costs, in addition to very costly malpractice insurance. As of November, “the Oklahoma City IHS Area now has the highest total number of cases” and the Oklahoma City Indian Clinic is one of the UIOs that pays the highest annual rate for medical malpractice insurance. If provided insurance parity with IHS and Tribal facilities, this UIO alone could direct up to an additional $250,000 to patient care at a time when increased access to care is needed most.

This legislation has broad bipartisan support in both chambers and is endorsed by IHS. NCAI also has a standing resolution supporting this legislation, Resolution #PDX-20-038, “Supporting Extension of Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Coverage to Urban Indian Organizations.”

Next Steps

H.R. 6535 will now go to the President for his signature.

PRESS RELEASE: Indian Health Service Allocates Vaccines for Urban Indian Organizations

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Policy Contact: Meredith Raimondi, mraimondi@NCUIH.org

Press Contact: Sara Williams, swilliams@NCUIH.org

After being excluded in previous pandemics, this is a step in the right direction for urban Indians.

Washington, D.C. (December 16, 2020) – The Indian Health Service (IHS) began the allocation process for the COVID-19 vaccine to IHS facilities, Tribal-facilities and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). As part of the 1A distribution process, initial doses from IHS are for Indian Health Care Providers and residents of long-term health centers. Since the start of the pandemic, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) has advocated for the vaccine distribution to include all of Indian Country, including urban Indian populations.

“As the data continues to show, this pandemic is killing our people at devastating rates as Indian Country bears the brunt of this crisis,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO. “With the approval of the vaccine, there is a glimmer of hope. As urban Indians were left out of the H1N1 vaccine discussions, we are encouraged to see that Urban Indian Organizations and their staff who are providing life-saving care to our communities were among the first wave to receive vaccines.”

The Gerald Ignace Center in Wisconsin was one of the first UIOs to receive the vaccine for their health care workers. (See the video here.)

Next Steps

  • A full schedule of the organizations receiving the vaccine is not publicly available from the Administration.
  • NCUIH will provide updates as more information becomes available.

Background

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About the National Council of Urban Indian Health The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is the national organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in urban settings. NCUIH envisions a nation where comprehensive, culturally competent personal and public health services are available and accessible to AI/ANs living in urban communities throughout the United States.  NCUIH is the only organization that represents all 41 Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) federally funded by the Indian Health Service.

PRESS RELEASE: NCAI Supports HHS Urban Confer Policy and Extending Medical Care Protections for UIOs

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Contact: Sara Williams, swilliams@NCUIH.org

NCAI passed several resolutions in support of expanding access to health care for urban Indians.

Washington, D.C. (November 16, 2020) – On Friday, November 13, 2020, the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) passed several resolutions aimed at improving the health and welfare of American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas.  Two resolutions support the extension of coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) to urban Indian organizations (UIOs) and the development of an urban confer policy with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). NCAI also reiterated their support for IHS-VA parity for UIOs in a resolution through the Veterans Committee (a resolution on IHS-VA parity for UIOs was passed in 2019). The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) has long-advocated for parity for health services for urban Indians including FTCA for UIOs, IHS-VA parity for UIOs, and an urban confer policy. The support from NCAI is critical to continuing to advance these priorities that will improve health outcomes for all of Indian Country as we face COVID-19.

“We appreciate our partnership with NCAI and their commitment to bolstering urban Indian health to ensure that urban Natives have access to health care amid a pandemic that knows no borders,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO. “Families in our urban areas depend on the life-saving resources offered by our programs more than ever and this will allow their dollars to go further at a critical time. Congress and the Administration must take immediate steps to uphold the trust and treaty obligations to urban Indians by acting swiftly on these policies.”

Currently, UIOs must divert scarce dollars that could go towards health care delivery to pay for expensive malpractice insurance; this insurance can cost up to $250,000 per year for a UIO. The other components of the IHS system and even Community Health Centers receive medical malpractice coverage under the FTCA and thus do not have to divert these resources. Legislation providing FTCA coverage for UIOs enjoyed widespread and bipartisan support in the last Congressional session, including within the President’s FY 2021 proposed budget and with the endorsement of Rear Admiral Michael Weahkee.

In addition, the Indian Health Service (IHS) is currently the only federal agency that has an urban confer policy and thus must engage with UIOs regarding policy actions likely to significantly impact them. As urban Indians often have no representation outside of the Indian Health Service, they are excluded such as inclusion in the H1N1 vaccine distribution process. That means that the over 70% American Indians and Alaska Natives living in urban areas are left out of decision-making conversations that affect health outcomes.

In the most recent instance of exclusion, HHS gave IHS a deadline to choose a distribution plan for an eventual COVID-19 vaccine, either through their state or from IHS directly. This correspondence was only addressed to tribal leaders, leaving UIO leaders out of the discussion. Urban Indian organization leaders did not receive notice of the deadline, sufficient information to make a decision or a platform to ask questions and discuss concerns. The overall confusion and delay further demonstrates the real need for HHS to develop an urban confer policy. The Resolution PDX-20-021 calls for the Secretary of HHS to implement its urban confer policy across the Department and its divisions.

The IHS-VA parity for UIOs is a priority that has received broad support across Indian Country including from last year’s resolution at NCAI. Allowing urban Native veterans to have improved access to critical health services upholds the US government’s obligations to these heroes as Natives and as veterans.

Next Steps

NCUIH will continue to advocate to Congress to enact legislation to provide FTCA for UIOs (H.R. 6535 / S. 3650). Earlier this year, H.R. 6535 passed out of the House Committee on Natural Resources and S. 3650 passed the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Parity for urban Native veterans through the Coverage for Urban Indian Health Providers Act (H.R. 4153/ S. 2365) has also passed the House Natural Resources Committee. NCUIH is working with Congress to see if these provisions can be passed before the start of 2021 so that UIOs can start the new year with expanded resources. NCUIH will also work with Congress to develop legislation on an urban confer policy and coordinate with the Administration.

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The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is the 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 (AI/ANs) living in urban areas. NCUIH is the only national representative of the 41 Title V Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) under the Indian Health Service (IHS) in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA). NCUIH strives to improve the health of the over 70% of the AI/AN population that lives in urban areas, supported by quality, accessible health care centers.

Press Release: NCUIH Honors Senator Tom Udall with Lifetime Champion Award

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Policy Contact: Meredith Raimondi, mraimondi@NCUIH.org

Press Contact: Sara Williams, swilliams@NCUIH.org,

This award is presented to a Member of Congress who advocates for quality health care legislation for American Indians and Alaska Natives in urban areas.

Washington, D.C. (November 12, 2020) – The National Council of Urban Indian Health is pleased to award Senator Tom Udall with the first Urban Indian Health Congressional Lifetime Champion Award.

“We are proud to award Senator Tom Udall of New Mexico with the first Urban Indian Health Congressional Lifetime Champion Award,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO. “Senator Udall’s commitment and tireless efforts championing for quality health care legislation has and will create a lasting difference in the health outcomes of American Indians and Alaska Natives who live in urban areas.”

The Urban Indian Health Congressional Lifetime Champion is awarded to a Member of Congress who has made a lasting impact through championing health legislation to benefit urban American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN).

“The federal government’s trust and treaty responsibilities to Native Americans do not stop at reservation boundaries,” said Sen. Tom Udall (D-NM). “Nearly 70 percent of American Indians and Alaska Natives live in urban areas and Congress must ensure they have access to quality health care — especially during this public health crisis. It has been an honor to work with the National Council of Urban Indian Health to ensure better access to health care for Native Americans no matter where they live. We must continue the work to build a stronger, better Indian Health Service system for generations to come.”

Throughout his career, Sen. Tom Udall, Vice-Chairman of Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, has prioritized the trust and treaty responsibility to Indian Country, including urban Indians. Because of his leadership, the health outcomes for urban Indians have considerably improved through the expansion of services at Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs). Earlier this year, Sen. Udall introduced a bipartisan bill to expand health care resources for UIOs amid the COVID-19 pandemic. This is just one example of how Sen. Udall springs into action to ensure tribal members living in urban areas are not left behind.

“We truly are grateful for Senator Udall,” Crevier said. “Not only has he made tremendous efforts for our UIOs, but he has left a lasting impact on Indian Country as a whole.”

PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Announces Partnership with CDC’s Project Firstline

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Contact: Meredith Raimondi, mraimondi@NCUIH.org, 202-932-6615

Project Firstline aims to provide health workers foundations for infection control; trainings to equip with skills and best practices in fight against COVID-19.

Washington, D.C. (October 28, 2020) – The National Council of Urban Indian Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are collaborating on an infection control training initiative for frontline healthcare personnel, including Urban Indian Organization health workers.

“We are thrilled that CDC’s Project Firstline is inclusive of the frontline health heroes serving American Indians and Alaska Natives since day one of the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO. “The trainings offered through Project Firstline will be beneficial for urban Indian health workers to enhance their skills and practices as they continue the fight against COVID-19 that is ravaging our communities.”

CDC’s Project Firstline is a collaborative of diverse healthcare and public health partners that will provide infection control training for millions of healthcare workers in the United States, as well as members of the public health workforce.

Project Firstline aims to provide every person working in a U.S. healthcare facility the foundation for infection control trainings to protect the nation from infectious disease threats, such as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

NCUIH is currently accepting applications for the Project Firstline IPC Champions Grant until October 30, 2020, and for UIO Staff Professional Development Scholarships on a rolling basis. Learn more about NCUIH’s commitment to CDC’s Project Firstline here.

PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Honored with 2020 Heroes in Health National Impact Award

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Contact: Meredith Raimondi, 202-932-6615, mraimondi@ncuih.org

Washington, D.C. (October 15, 2020) – On October 14, 2020, the National Indian Health Board honored and awarded the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) with an Outstanding Service Award for National Impact. The National Impact Award is given to individuals, programs and organizations who led health advocacy efforts across Indian Country to improve the lives and health of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

“The National Council of Urban Indian Health is honored to receive this award for our work on COVID-19,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO. “Since February, NCUIH has been fighting to ensure that all of Indian Country receives the necessary resources to combat this pandemic that is killing our people every single day. Due to our advocacy, resources for urban Indians were included in all legislation addressing COVID-19.  With our partners, we continue to apply pressure to Congress to ensure appropriate resources are included in every legislative packages on COVID-19.  We are working to ensure that frontline health heroes in Indian Country must receive access to PPE, supplies, and testing, as they risk their lives every day. We will continue to hold this Administration and Congress to their trust and treaty obligations.”

NCUIH commends urban Indian health leader Toni Lodge, CEO of the NATIVE Project in Spokane, Washington for being recognized for a 2020 Area and Regional Impact Award.

Other National Impact Awardees include Dr. Donald Warne, Dr. Winifred Booker, Indian Health Service, Division of Environmental Health Services, Strong Hearts Native Helpline, and Native American Research Internship in the Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah. The 2020 Heroes in Health Award Gala, which was held virtually this year, is an annual event as part of the National Tribal Health Conference.

PRESS RELEASE: First Presidential Candidate Platform to Include Urban Indians

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Contact: Meredith Raimondi, 202-932-6615, mraimondi@ncuih.org

Biden campaign announces plan to continue support of tribal rights and sovereignty, extend protections to urban Indians

Washington, D.C. (October 9, 2020) – On October 8, Democratic Presidential candidate former Vice-President Joe Biden, with running mate Sen. Kamala Harris, announced a Tribal policy plan that will build on efforts made by the Obama administration, “which were instrumental in rebuilding trust, good faith and respect for the tribal-federal relationship.” This is, the first plan from any US Presidential Candidate to prioritize resources for the over 70% of American Indians and Alaska Natives that live in cities.

“The United States of America was founded on the notion of equality for all,” the 15-page document starts. “We’ve always strived to meet that ideal, but never fully lived up to it. Throughout our history, this promise has been denied to Native Americans who have lived on this land since time immemorial.”   “This is an historic day for urban Indians,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), CEO of NCUIH. “There has never been a plan like this that included American Indians and Alaska Natives in urban areas. I’m glad presidential candidates are finally listening to us and I hope that all potential candidates take the trusty and treaty obligation seriously and include a platform dedicated to Indian Country.”

From the plan: “Meeting obligations to urban Native Americans. According to the 2010 Census, over half of Native Americans live off reservation. Biden will ensure that we don’t leave anyone behind by creating a strategy to support our country’s urban Indian populations, ensure that their voices are heard by the federal government, and to fight invisibility of urban Indians across the country. That means ensuring that urban Native American populations have the support they need to access quality health care, culturally relevant education, adequate and affordable housing, and other needed resources. This includes ensuring that Urban Indian Organizations receive 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentages (FMAP) for Medicaid, just as IHS tribal providers already receive.”

Other important points from the policy plan for Indian Country include:

  • Tackle the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
  • Provide reliable, affordable healthcare.
  • Invest in Native students.
  • Ensure Tribal nations will have a strong voice and role in federal government.
  • Immediately reinstate and make permanent the White House Council on Native American Affairs and the Annual White House Tribal Nations Conference.
  • Make Tribal self-governance and sovereignty cornerstones of federal policy.
  • Restore Tribal lands and safeguard natural and cultural resources.
  • Tackle climate change and pollution
  • Expand economic and community development in Indian Country
  • Fight for Native voting rights.

For more information on the Biden policy plan for Indian Country, click here.

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About the National Council of Urban Indian Health The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) is the national organization devoted to the support and development of quality, accessible, and culturally-competent health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) living in urban settings. NCUIH envisions a nation where comprehensive, culturally competent personal and public health services are available and accessible to AI/ANs living in urban communities throughout the United States.  NCUIH is the only organization that represents all 41 Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) federally funded by the Indian Health Service.

PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH URGES CONGRESS TO TAKE IMMEDIATE ACTION TO PROVIDE COVID-19 RESOURCES FOR INDIAN COUNTRY AT HEARING TODAY

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THE LAST COVID-19 PACKAGE WAS SIX MONTHS AGO.

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Contact:
Meredith Raimondi
mraimondi@NCUIH.org
202-932-6615

Washington, DC (September 30, 2020) – On September 30, Francys Crevier (Algonquin), Chief Executive Officer of the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH), testified before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to provide updates on urban Indian health impacts of COVID-19. In addition to Ms. Crevier, the Subcommittee heard from Kevin J. Allis, CEO of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), and Carolyn Angus-Hornbuckle, COO and Director of Public Health Policy and Programs at the National Indian Health Board (NIHB). The hearing highlighted the non-partisan commitment of this subcommittee to upholding and honoring trust responsibilities to Indian Country.

“[I]t is my duty today to convey to you the severity of this crisis and how it is impacting the Indian Health System including our 41 [urban Indian organizations]. The last time a law was enacted was six months ago, the CARES Act of March 27, 2020, where Indian Country received a mere 0.5% of the total funding. The pandemic continues to wreak havoc on Indian Country as our people are disproportionately contracting and dying every single day from COVID-19. Since mid-July alone, when I last testified, IHS has seen a 51% increase in infections. Positive rates among Natives are 3.5 times higher than rates for non-Hispanic Whites and hospitalization rates are 4.7 times higher. Last week, CDC reported Native children were among the 78% of pediatric deaths. Black and brown children are dying and no one is paying attention,” stated Francys Crevier, CEO of NCUIH.

“The need to examine and address the ongoing situation in Indian Country is apparent. Congress needs to understand the full impact of the pandemic on Native Americans, and how to better meet the needs of the communities you are testifying on behalf of in future relief packages. Since the beginning of the pandemic, I’ve advocated for personal protective equipment, or PPE, complete test kits, and other supplies to be made available to Indian health facilities and to Tribal governments. Without these items, Native Americans are unable to ensure their safety while receiving essential government services, such as health care, welfare checks, law enforcement services, and domestic violence assistance,” stated House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Chair Betty McCollum.

“I recognize that COVID-19 has hit Indian Country disproportionately harder than the rest of the nation, that the situation is dire, and that additional funding is needed not only to keep tribal governments and communities functioning but to save lives. If there was ever a time for the Subcommittee to hold firm in its non-partisan commitment to tribes, this is it,” stated House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Ranking Member David Joyce.

Ms. Crevier’s testimony focused on the current status of UIOs, including:

  • The need for additional resources for testing and contact tracing with $2 billion for IHS and $64 million for UIOs;
  • Equitable distribution of a COVID-19 vaccine once approved, with a minimum 5% set-aside for the I/T/U system;
  • $80 million in facilities funding for UIOs;
  • $1 million for a UIO infrastructure study;
  • $7.3 million annually for 3 years in behavioral health funds for UIOs; and
  • $20 million in telehealth and health information technology funds for UIOs; and a spend-faster anomaly to insulate UIOs and the entire I/T/U system from the dire consequences of a potential government shutdown.

NEXT STEPS

The House released a new COVID-19 package this week. Discussions between the White House and Congressional leadership are ongoing, however, time is running out before Congress departs until after the election.