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
Letter to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders on IHS CARES Act Funding (April 3, 2020)
The Indian Health Service announces the availability of, and distribution decisions for, $600 million in new resources appropriated in the recently enacted Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), Pub. L. No. 116-136, to address coronavirus (COVID-19) prevention, preparedness, and response in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities.
Washington, DC (March 27, 2020) – Today, the President signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which is the third phase of legislation in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The CARES Act passed the House of Representatives today and cleared the Senate earlier this week. The bill provides $1.032 billion to the Indian Health Service (IHS) in critically needed resources to support the Indian Health System during the pandemic, including expanded support for medical services, equipment, supplies and public health education for IHS direct service, tribally operated and Urban Indian Organizations; expanded funding for purchased/referred care; and new investments for telehealth services, electronic health records improvement, and expanded disease surveillance by tribal epidemiology centers.
Yesterday, the House of Representatives released their latest piece of legislation in response to the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), entitled the Take Responsibility for Workers and Families Act. This bill includes major policy changes NCUIH and UIOs have been working towards, such as 100% FMAP and a fix for the Medicaid clinic “four walls” issue.NCUIH supports this bill and asks that you please contact your Senators to support the inclusion of UIO-specific authorizing language and emergency supplemental appropriations provisions in the Senate's coronavirus relief legislation. The Senate is currently working on its next draft of the third coronavirus bill and past drafts have not included authorizing language for 100% FMAP applicability to UIOs.
On March 18, 2020, H.R. 6201 The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Act) was signed into law. The legislation allocates $64 million to the Indian Health Service to cover the costs of COVID-19 diagnostic testing for Indians receiving care through the Indian Health Service or through an Urban Indian Health Organization. The Act also guarantees coverage of testing for COVID-19 at no cost sharing for Indians receiving contract health services. In addition, the legislation includes $250 million for the Senior Nutrition program in the Administration for Community Living (ACL). This will provide approximately 25 million additional home-delivered and pre-packaged meals to low-income seniors who depend on the Senior Nutrition programs in their communities.
Washington, D.C. -- United States Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Senate Committee on Indian Affairs (SCIA) Vice Chairman Tom Udall (D-N.M.) today unveiled the Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act, legislation that would guarantee that the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribal health authorities, and urban Indian organizations have access to the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), a federal repository of drugs and medical supplies that can be tapped if a public health emergency could exhaust local supplies.
