This Blog is a space for the NCUIH Policy and Legislation Department to communicate with NCUIH's stakeholders. The blog includes announcements, news and organizational accomplishments among others
The bills include a $5 million increase for urban Indian health, FTCA, VA-IHS reimbursements, SDPI extension and COVID-19 renovation funds for UIOs.
On December 3rd, the House passed the Health Care Access for Urban Native Veterans Act (H.R. 4153) which would amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) to enable the VA to reimburse Urban Indian Organizations (UIOs) for services to VA beneficiaries at urban Indian health centers.
Today, Congress released the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021” (H.R. 133) consisting of a $900 billion COVID-19 pandemic relief bill and a $1.4 trillion omnibus spending bill. The package includes funding for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 and provides COVID-19 vaccine funding along with other pandemic relief measures. The package includes $6.236 billion for Indian Health Service (IHS) in FY21 and extends the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) until 2023.
“We applaud the House, especially Rep. Ruben Gallego and Rep. Markwayne Mullin, for their steadfast efforts to help urban Indian health workers get coverage like their other IHS and Tribal counterparts. We urge the Senate to move quickly to pass this law before the end of this Congress. As we battle this pandemic that is devastating Indian County, this will be critical to save Native lives and will increase available health care services,” said Francys Crevier (Algonquin), NCUIH CEO.
