PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Urges Congress to Include Urban Indians in any Efforts to Address Coronavirus

/0 Comments/in /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Meredith Raimondi, 202-417-7781, mraimondi@ncuih.org

Urban Indian Organizations must be explicitly included in emergency funding.

Washington, DC (March 2, 2020) – The National Council of Urban Indian Health has requested that Congress honor the United States trust responsibility to urban Indians by passing emergency funding that includes Urban Indian Organizations for the prevention and treatment of the Coronavirus -Covid 19 risk. In its letter, NCUIH requested:

  • At the very least $94 million for emergency funding and health education/promotion for UIOs.
  • Include the term “Urban Indian Organization” in legislation to ensure the funding goes to those programs because often times if Urban Indian Organizations are not explicitly mentioned, they are forgotten. Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) are one of the three components of the Indian Health Service health care delivery system, Indian Health/Tribal/Urban Organizations (I/T/U) – yet UIOs have received no support for other potential epidemics, like Zika virus.

“As Congress moves forward on its consideration of funding for the Coronavirus-Covid 19, NCUIH would like to ensure that funds are available to our 41 urban Indian organizations. The U.S. government cannot allow UIO patients to die during a Covid 19 outbreak due to unavailability of critical services. UIOs operate on such low funding margins that interruptions in daily operations (including those leading to funding shortfalls) have dire effects and have been forced to close entirely,” said Francys Crevier, Executive Director of NCUIH.

According to the World Health Organization, the coronavirus has reached more than 30 countries and is expected to cause major strain upon the United States medical health care delivery system.  More than 70% of American Indian and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) reside in urban or suburban areas (i.e. urban Indians). Data has shown that AI/AN people already have a disproportionate burden of infectious disease morbidity compared with the general U.S. population – including influenza.

UIOs provide culturally-competent healthcare to AI/AN patients, however they are forced to operate on such low funding margins that interruptions in daily operations  have dire effects, even leading to death of AI/AN patients. In order to effectively prevent the spread of the Coronavirus – Covid 19, test and treat AI/AN patients, UIOs must be included in the emergency or supplemental budget.

###

PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Releases 2018-2019 Urban Indian Organization Shutdown Report

/0 Comments/in , /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Meredith Raimondi
202-417-7781
mraimondi@ncuih.org

Report Shows Devastating Impacts of Shutdown and Highlights Urgency for Advance Appropriations and 100% FMAP

WASHINGTON, DC (February 14, 2020) – The National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) has released the 2018 – 2019 Urban Indian Organization Shutdown Report. The report summarizes and presents the results of a survey NCUIH circulated during the 2018-2019 shutdown to capture important metrics and narratives regarding its impacts. The United States federal government shutdown of 2018-2019 occurred from midnight Eastern Standard Time on December 22, 2018 until January 25, 2019. Nineteen out of forty-one Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) reported. The responses from this survey were used in NCUIH’s policy and legislative advocacy initiatives during and after the shutdown. Although the Indian health care delivery system consists of three prongs — Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribal Health Programs, and UIOs — the report focuses on UIOs.

“The 2018-2019 Urban Indian Organization Shutdown Report demonstrates that the longest U.S. government shutdown in history had instant, longstanding, and severe negative impacts on UIOs and the American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) they serve across the country. The federal trust responsibility to provide for the healthcare of all AI/ANs mandates that federal funding problems be fixed so that the impacts of any future shutdowns are minimized, and the lives of AI/ANs are not put at risk. Because UIOs operate on very low margins, every aspect of their abilities to deliver essential healthcare was affected by the 2018-2019 shutdown, including their abilities to hire and retain staff, to provide direct services, and, in some cases, even to remain open and available for their patients. IHS funding at the level of need, an increase in the Urban Indian Health budget line item, advance appropriations, and 100% FMAP for UIOs are all necessary fixes to protect the delivery of healthcare to AI/ANs,” said Francys Crevier, Executive Director of NCUIH.

The interruption in funding precipitated by the shutdown had dire consequences for UIOs and, consequently, on American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) across the country. The impact on AI/ANs, many of whom depend on UIOs for their healthcare needs, ranged from patients unable to get vital medication for chronic conditions to fatal overdoses. UIOs had to make difficult decisions regarding cancellation of certain services, reduction in practitioner hours, staff retention, facility operation, and whether to use savings earmarked for other purposes to shield staff and patients from the impact of the shutdown.

NCUIH shifted its policy and advocacy focus during the shutdown to limit the disruptions to the daily operations of the UIOs it represents and urged Congress and the administration to immediately end the shutdown and restore funding to IHS. Following the shutdown and restoration of funding, NCUIH remains dedicated to establishing safeguards for UIOs against potential shutdowns in the future. NCUIH is working with Congressional officials to raise awareness for bills that would provide the Indian Health Service (IHS) with advance appropriations (H.R. 1128, S. 229) and provide 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for UIOs (H.R. 2316, S. 1180).

Key Findings

UIOs operate on very low margins.

  • UIOs operate on very low margins such that even very minor changes to their funding structures lead to devastating impacts on the services they provide to AI/ANs and even affect their abilities to keep their facilities operational.

All aspects of the urban Indian healthcare delivery system were impacted by the shutdown, but the UIO workforce was the first to experience its disastrous effects.

  • The survey results point to a pattern which suggests that among the difficult decisions UIOs were forced to make during the 2013 and the 2018-2019 shutdowns, delaying hiring, reducing hours, and laying off staff were typically the first decisions made.

UIO services were greatly impacted.

  • Another pattern the survey highlighted is that UIOs were forced to cut back on services that were not as consequential as others, such as dental services, transportation, case management, and community outreach services. However, some UIOs were forced to cut even the essential services such as substance abuse services and purchase requests for diabetes and blood pressure medications.

UIOs were forced to use savings designated for other purposes to shield staff and patients from the impact of the last two government shutdowns.

  • Yet another pattern illustrated in the survey results suggests that UIO leaders made an effort to protect their staff and current services by using savings earmarked for program growth.

PRESS RELEASE: President Proposes $49.6 Million in FY 2021 Budget for Urban Indian Health

/0 Comments/in /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Meredith Raimondi
202-417-7781
mraimondi@NCUIH.org

Request for FY 2021 is $8 Million below FY 2020 Enacted

WASHINGTON, DC (February 11, 2020) – On February 10, 2020, the President released the annual budget proposal for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. The proposal includes a total of $96.2 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), which represents a nearly 10 percent cut to current enacted budget. Under the request, the Indian Health Service (IHS) would receive approximately $6.4 billion in FY 2021.  NCUIH, in conjunction with the Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup (TBFWG), had encouraged the Administration to fund IHS at $9.1 billion with an urban Indian health line item of $105.9 million for FY 2021. This is an increase of $48.2 million for urban Indian health over the enacted FY 2020 budget. The proposed IHS budget falls nearly $3 billion short of TBFWG’s overall IHS recommendation, and the proposed urban Indian health funding amount constitutes $56.3 million less than the TBFWG recommendation.

“NCUIH looks forward to working with the Administration and Congress to fully fund IHS and the urban Indian health care line item. NCUIH was encouraged by the enacted FY 2020 IHS budget of approximately $6.0 billion, an increase of 4% above the enacted FY 2019 level. The FY 2020 Enacted appropriation funded urban Indian health at approximately $57 million and provided over $115,000 in increases for 39 of the 41 Urban Indian Organizations. For FY 2021, NCUIH encourages Congress to meet the TBFWG recommendation of approximately $106 million for the urban Indian Health line item, which is $56.3 million above the President’s FY 2021 request,” said Francys Crevier, Executive Director of NCUIH.

Congress will consider the President’s request as it begins to draft appropriations bills for FY 2021. Please find below a summary of some of the proposed funding amounts that would impact urban Indian health.  A more in-depth analysis of the White House’s FY 2021 Budget is forthcoming.

Urban Indian Line Item

  • The spending proposal recommends a funding level for the urban Indian line item at $49,636,000. This is an approximately $8 million decrease from the FY 2020 Enacted amount, but it is $865,000 increase from the President’s FY 2020 budget request.

Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI)

  • The President’s budget also includes continued funding for the SDPI at the current funding levels of $150 million through FY 2021. It includes expected spending for the program over a 10-year period if Congress extends funding only through FY 2021 and does not include a long-term re-authorization.

Federal Tort Claims Act

  • The budget proposes to expand medical malpractice coverage under the Federal Tort Claims Act to Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs), which would protect UIO employees from malpractice lawsuits, saving some UIOs upwards of $250,000 annually in malpractice insurance costs. It also proposes an expansion of malpractice coverage for IHS volunteers.

105(l) Leases

  • The FY 2021 budget adds $101 million for 105(l) leases. In FY 2019, IHS was forced to reallocate $72 million in FY 2019 to pay for $101 million in leases under section 105(l) of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. In FYs 2018 and 2019, IHS reprogrammed approximately $782,000 each year from urban Indian health inflation funds to pay for 105(l) leases. The $101 million in 105(l) lease costs in FY 2019 represented a nearly fourfold increase to the amount requested in FY 2018 – if this trend continues, there is concern $101 million will be insufficient and IHS will again reprogram other funds.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes of Health

  • The budget request would trim funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by almost 16 percent. This is a funding loss that would affect the HHS core mission of preventing and controlling emerging public health issues, such as opioid and substance use disorders.
  • The proposal includes an approximately $38 billion budget for the National Institutes of Health in FY 2021, which is – about $3 billion less than the current funding level. This cut would affect priorities to include research on the opioid epidemic and stimulants such as methamphetamine, issues that are at critical to address in Indian Country.

National Health Service Corps

  • The proposal seeks to reauthorize the National Health Service Corps loan repayment program with $15 million. UIOs’ employees are eligible for participation in the loan repayment program.

HIV/AIDS at HRSA

  • New programs proposed include a focus on HIV/AIDS with $302 million allocated to the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) for HIV prevention providing the funding for diagnosis services expansion at Health Centers and expanded treatment through the Ryan White HIV/AIDS program.

Quick Glance

  • $6,232,568,000 – IHS budget authority total
  • $4,507,113,000 – IHS services budget
  • $49,636,000 – Urban Indian Health
  • $150,000,000 – Special Diabetes Program for Indians
  • $101,000,000 – Section 105(l) ISDEAA
  • $15,000,000 – The National Health Service Corps loan repayment program
  • $302,000,000 – HRSA for HIV prevention

###

PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH Testifies Before House Interior Appropriations American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Day

/0 Comments/in /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meredith Raimondi
202-417-7781
mraimondi@ncuih.org

President Rosette Requested Congress Meet the Urban Indian Health Line Item of $106 Million as Recommended by the Tribal Budget Formulation Work Group

WASHINGTON, DC (February 11, 2020) — National Council of Urban Indian Health President Maureen Rosette (Chippewa Cree Nation) testified before the House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee as part of American Indian and Alaska Native Public Witness Days (February 11 and 12, 2020). President Rosette was invited as an Honorable expert witness participating on the health care panel of the 1st day of tribal and urban leader hearings.

Each year, NCUIH provides in depth testimony addressing the needs of urban Indian health care. This is the second year in a row that President Rosette has spoken to the House Appropriations Subcommittee, thanking them for their continued work.

“NCUIH is appreciative for the Subcommittee’s strong leadership and continued bipartisan support for urban Indian health. For FY 2021, NCUIH requests that the Subcommittee meet the Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup recommendation of $106 million for the Indian Health Services (IHS) urban Indian health line item,” testified President Rosette.

While delivering testimony, President Rosette advocated for an increase in funding for FY 2021 to a minimum of $81 to $106 million for the Indian Health Services (IHS) urban Indian healthcare line item. The FY 2021 request from the President included $49.6 million, $8 million below current enacted levels. In FY 2020, the House included $81 million in FY 2020 for urban Indian health and the final bill included $57 million, a $6 million increase.

In her opening remarks today, Chair McCollum stated, “The United States government entered into treaties guaranteeing health care to Native Americans…centuries later the government, our government, the United States government, is still not meeting its responsibilities.”

NCUIH is grateful to be included in the Public Witness Days. NCUIH has been encouraged by the strong leadership of Chair McCollum and Ranking Member Joyce for urban Indian health in FY 2020 and looks forward to continuing these efforts for FY 2021.

###

PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH President-Elect Walter Murillo Recognized as Health Equity Health Advocate of the Year by Families USA

/0 Comments/in /by

The Native Health CEO was one of four awardees honored this year.

WASHINGTON, DC (February 7 , 2020) – Walter Murillo (Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma), Chief Executive Officer at Native Health in Phoenix, Arizona, has been recognized as Health Equity Health Advocate of the Year by Families USA. Murillo was selected for his exemplary work championing for better health care in Arizona in his over 21 years at Native Health. Under his leadership, Native Health has long provided quality, culturally-competent health care for urban Indians.

“Walter truly understands what it means to be a health equity health advocate,” said Frederick Isasi, Families USA’s executive director. “He is working tirelessly in Arizona to ensure that his neighbors do not face barriers accessing quality health care because of who they are, where they live or how they identify.”

Murillo was honored on January 24, 2020 at an awards luncheon during the Families USA 2020 Health Action Conference in Washington, D.C. Each year during its Health Action Conference, Families USA honors the efforts of state and community leaders in advancing social justice through health care advocacy. Awards are presented in recognition of the organization’s four focus areas: Health Equity, Health Care Value, Coverage and Consumer Experience.

###

PRESS RELEASE: CMS Releases Guidance to States on Medicaid Block Grants

/0 Comments/in /by

Washington, DC (January 31, 2020) –  On January 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the Healthy Adult Opportunity Initiative (HAO), a guideline for states to convert Medicaid funding into block grants – effectively establishing a cap on federal funding on Medicaid.  The letter, sent to state Medicaid directors, provides guidance for states seeking to carry out demonstration projects under section 1115 of the Social Security Act to include either an aggregate or per-capita cap financing model in their state Medicaid programs – in contrast to the current open-ended financing system that provides for unlimited (i.e. does not cap) federal matching funds for all state spending under Medicaid’s federal rules.

“NCUIH is extremely concerned with the CMS guidance that is completely against the intent of Congress. This harmful guidance paves the way to restrict Medicaid in ways that would violate the United States trust obligation to provide health care services to American Indian and Alaska Natives.  Urban Indians face many barriers with chronic underfunding of the Indian health care system and we are disappointed to see yet another obstacle for Native people who need health care.  By establishing a cap on spending for essential services, this proposal will have negative impacts on our urban Indian organizations (UIOs) and could result in significantly reduced services.  We urge CMS to reconsider this guidance and follow the intent of Congress to ensure that Medicaid funds continue to flow into all Indian Health Care Providers, including UIOs,” said NCUIH Executive Director Francys Crevier.

By tying Medicaid spending to a set cap, states would be incentivized to limit Medicaid spending or assume risk for Medicaid costs that exceed the annual cap.  In addition, if a state imposes an aggregate cap, if the state’s spending on Medicaid falls below the limit, it could receive a portion of the “savings” – or the amount below the spending cap the state’s actual expenditures were.  Because services provided at UIOs are not reimbursed to the state by the federal government at 100% (the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage or FMAP), UIOs already receive lower Medicaid reimbursements than the other components of the I/T/U system.  Under CMS’s guidance proposed yesterday, Medicaid spending for services provided to AI/ANs at UIOs will be included in calculating spending caps.  It is essential that the Medicaid program continue to be a vital lifeline for AI/ANs.

Medicaid is a critically important resource for American Indians and Alaska Natives and Indian Health Care Providers.  Imposing barriers to access to health care, like reducing Medicaid covered individuals and services would impose a significant financial burden on an already severely underfunded Indian health system.  Any state plans that reduce the Medicaid funds that flow into the I/T/U system would further strain the Indian health care system.

UIOs depend on every dollar of limited federal funding, including third-party reimbursements from Medicaid, to provide high quality, culturally competent services to their AI/AN patients.  Restricting these funds would violate the U.S. obligation to provide health care to AI/ANs.  NCUIH calls on CMS to ensure states do not impose limitations on their Medicaid programs that would result in decreased funding available to UIOs and the I/T/U system.

NCUIH will continue to monitor updates and provide further information as it becomes available.

###

PRESS RELEASE: Congress Announces $6M Increase for Urban Indian Health and Renews SDPI, CHC Through May

/0 Comments/in /by

This is the highest increase for the urban Indian line item ever.

WASHINGTON, DC  (December 16, 2019)  – On Monday, December 16, 2019, the House announced a $1.4 trillion bipartisan, bicameral agreement to fund the federal government through fiscal year 2020. The House will begin the process imminently and a vote is expected later in the week.

The bill provides $6.047 billion for the Indian Health Service (IHS), $243 million more than fiscal year 2019 and $138 million more than the President’s budget request. The IHS will see a 4% increase over FY19. The agreement includes $6 million in additional funds for the Urban Indian Health Programs, a long-overdue increase.

“The National Council of Urban Indian Health endorses the FY20 Minibus Appropriations Bill that includes the highest-ever increase for urban Indian health. Over 41 urban Indian health programs will be able to provide more essential resources to American Indians and Alaska Natives at a time when it is most critical. We are extremely encouraged by Congress coming together with help from countless advocates on both sides of the aisle and both chambers to reach this deal. We are especially grateful to House Interior Chairwoman Betty McCollum and Ranking Member David Joyce and Senators Tom Udall and Chuck Schumer and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell,” said Francys Crevier, Executive Director of NCUIH.

The bill includes increases of $125 million to meet court-ordered requirements for tribal lease operating costs owed to tribes. The bill includes Senate report language directing IHS to implement better budget procedures to address this in the future.

The health extenders including SDPI and CHC has been extended until May 22, 2020. This date provides additional time for negotiations on a longer-term reauthorization. NCUIH will continue to try to ensure the programs are extended for a longer-term, likely 5 years, and to fight for any increases we can for the programs that have not seen any.

NCUIH will continue to monitor the process and provide further updates.

###

Contact:
Meredith Raimondi
mraimondi@NCUIH.org
202-417-7781

PRESS RELEASE: NCUIH AND IHS HOST LISTENING SESSION ON ELIMINATING HEPATITIS C AND HIV IN INDIAN COUNTRY

/0 Comments/in /by

THE LISTENING SESSION FOCUSED ON URBAN INDIAN HEALTH SUCCESSES AND BARRIERS AND INCLUDED INFORMATION FROM A RECENT UIO SURVEY ON CAPACITY TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

Panelists: Walter Murillo, Kerry Hawk Lessard, Rick Haverkate, LCDR Danica Brown, Robyn Sunday-Allen, Francys Crevier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meredith Raimondi, mraimondi@ncuih.org, 202-417-7781

WASHINGTON, DC – (December 13, 2019) On Tuesday, December 10, 2019, the National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) hosted a Listening Session in partnership with the Indian Health Service (IHS) on “Eliminating Hepatitis C and HIV in Indian Country: A Focus on Urban Indian Health”. Over 15 federal agencies were represented with nearly 100 participants in person and online. This listening session was created in response to the announcement in March 2019 from IHS to create an “Eliminating Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS in Indian Country Initiative”.

“We are looking forward to a strong partnership between federal agencies and Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) in reducing the rates of Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS in Indian Country.  Although UIOs are successfully implementing innovative measures to combat HIV and viral hepatitis for their American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) patients, AI/ANs are ranked 4th in the nation for new HIV diagnoses and insufficient funding of programs directed at this crisis continues to be an issue.  NCUIH is excited to know that IHS has implemented this critical initiative, however it is important for IHS to hear directly from UIOs to truly understand the needs of the programs and AI/AN patients in urban areas.  As IHS and CDC apply for additional funding to reduce infections and provide resources, we urge them to consult and engage with UIOs – to ensure that urban Indian health care is able to provide the same quality of care as the other partners within the IHS I/T/U system,” said Executive Director Francys Crevier.

“Combating Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS in communities most impacted by these epidemics—including AI/ANs in urban centers—must be a top priority for lawmakers.  Methamphetamine and opioid use have been key drivers of rising Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS rates in Indian Country and across the United States.  That is why I introduced the Comprehensive Addiction Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, ambitious legislation to tackle the opioid and substance use epidemic head-on.  The CARE Act—which is modeled after the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program—would invest $100 billion over ten years to fight the epidemic, including over $800 million annually provided directly to tribal governments, tribal epidemiology centers, urban Indian health organizations, and other entities serving Native communities.  I appreciate NCUIH’s support for the CARE Act,” said Senator Elizabeth Warren in a statement.

“In a recent survey of UIOs, many report that the services they provide are making an impact upon the urban communities they serve – and although insufficient funding is an issue, UIOs are able to conduct ongoing activities to fight HIV/HCV while finding opportunities to increase access for AI/AN patients,” said Dr. Kimberly Fowler, Director of Technical Assistance and Research Center at NCUIH.

Rick Haverkate, National HIV/AIDS & Hep C Program Director for IHS provided an update from IHS on HIV/HCV Prevention and Treatment. Dr. Kimberly Fowler and Julia Dreyer, Director of Federal Relations of NCUIH moderated a session with UIOs who provided an overview of the current status of HIV/HCV prevention and treatment at Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs).

Representatives from Oklahoma City Indian Clinic, Robyn Sunday-Allen, CEO and LCDR Danica Brown, Clinical Pharmacist, gave a presentation on the clinical aspects of the current state of prevention and treatment. Kerry Hawk Lessard, Executive Director of Native American Lifelines, presented on the role of the community and support mechanisms in place currently. Finally, Walter Murillo, CEO, Native Health, initiated a discussion on the policy considerations of eliminating Hepatitis C and HIV in urban Indian communities.


Community Support by Kerry Hawk Lessard

In February 2019, the current Administration announced the Ending the HIV Epidemic: A Plan for America initiative with a primary goal to reduce new HIV infections in the United States by 75 percent in five years and by 90 percent by 2030. Additionally, in March 2019, IHS introduced and highlighted the Eliminating Hepatitis C and HIV/AIDS in Indian Country Initiative under the administration’s A Plan for America initiative. The president’s fiscal year 2020 budget proposed $25 million in new investments to expand partnerships between IHS and Native communities to end the HIV epidemic in Indian Country.

Additionally, it has been proven that reoccurring health problems are more acute for AI/ANs living in urban areas. Urban Indians have greater rates of mortality from chronic disease compared to all other races. Urban Indians are also less likely to receive preventive care compared with the non-Indian urban population and less likely to have health insurance. Survival rates for AI/AN peoples living with HIV/AIDS are lower than any other population. Additionally, Native peoples who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS most often suffer from related diseases, such as diabetes, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Mental health, substance abuse and addiction complicate primary care-seeking behaviors of Native people with HIV. Data have shown that HIV diagnoses have steadily increased in Indian Country over the last few years.

Across the country, UIOs provide culturally competent health care services and resources that are critical to addressing these health care challenges while struggling with constant underfunding.  This listening session served as a platform for UIOs to express their community’s circumstances, needs, identify gaps, and to share their perspectives and interests with others who are diligently working to support the “Eliminating Hepatitis C and HIV in Indian Country Initiative”.

PRESS RELEASE: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Advances “Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act” and Nomination of RADM Weahkee

/0 Comments/in /by

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Meredith Raimondi, 202-417-7781, mraimondi@NCUIH.org

The National Council of Urban Indian Health was one of 88 organizations providing letters of support for RADM Weahkee.

NCUIH Representatives at the Hearings Today: Carla Lott, Francys Crevier, Kerry Hawk Lessard, Maureen Rosette, Walter Murillo, Jamie Ishcomer-Aazami

Washington, DC (December 11, 2019)— Today, December 11, 2019, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a markup on S. 2365, the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act and a Nomination Hearing to consider RADM Michael D. Weahkee, of New Mexico, to be Director of the Indian Health Service, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. S. 2365 was ordered to be reported favorably by voice vote by the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

“Passing the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act through the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs is a monumental step in ensuring the health and wellness of urban Native Veterans,” said Francys Crevier, Executive Director of the National Council of Urban Indian Health, “Native people serve in the military at a higher rate than any other population and when they come home from serving our country, Native Veterans deserve the right to access culturally competent health care at an Urban Indian Health program. We thank Chairman Hoeven and the Committee for their outstanding leadership on moving this legislation forward to help our Native Veterans.”

“We write to express our support of the nomination of Rear Admiral (RADM) Michael D. Weahkee. Despite comprising over two-thirds of AI/ANs, urban Indians are too often excluded from federal policies and programs designed to carry out the trust responsibility. While serving in his post, RADM Weahkee has repeatedly established his understanding that UIOs are an integral part of the Indian health system, which is comprised of the Indian Health Service (IHS), Tribes, and tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations (collectively, I/T/Us),” wrote NCUIH Board President Maureen Rosette in the nominating letter.

“In partnership with Tribes and Urban Indian Organizations, we have developed a comprehensive and aggressive five-year strategic plan for the IHS, focused on expanding access to care, improving the quality of care that we provide, and improving the management and operations of the Agency,” said Rear Admiral Michael D. Weahkee, Nominee for Director of the Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services in his opening statement.

The IHS is an agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services responsible for providing federal health care to approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives. In 37 states, there are over 605 hospitals, clinics, and health stations located on or near tribal communities under the purview of the IHS and 41 urban Indian health programs. The Director of the IHS oversees the administration of health care programs and services within the agency, including management of the budget of approximately $6.9 billion and employment of more than 15,000 professionals.

More Information