Yearly Archives: 2019

NIHB Testifies before Congress in Support of Advance Appropriations for Indian Programs

Washington, DC.–On Wednesday September 25, 2019, National Indian Health Board (NIHB) Chairwoman Victoria Kitcheyan of the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska testified before the House Natural Resources Subcommittee for Indigenous Peoples in support of advance appropriations for Indian programs. Securing advance appropriations has been a long-standing priority for Tribes and the National Indian Health Board to ensure

SDPI Renewed Through November 21, 2019

On Friday, September 27, 2019, President Trump signed a short term funding bill–known as a Continuing Resolution (CR)–to keep the government operating while Congress continues appropriations work for Fiscal Year 2020. Included in this CR was a short term renewal for several public health programs, including the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI). Congress now

Tool Boxes For Nation Building

Nation Building Toolboxes are online, mixed media, learning tools which can assist in meeting the needs of Indigenous leaders and decision makers. Assembled from the real-world experiences of hundreds of Native nations, the toolboxes serve as a central resource of information on how to implement and sustain best practices in community self-governance. They are hosted

Special Diabetes Program for Indians Generates Support on Capitol Hill

As NIHB reported previously, the Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) will expire on September 30, 2019, unless Congress renews the program. On May 10, 2019, Congressman Tom O’Halleran (D-AZ) introduced legislation renewing SDPI for 5 years at $200 million per year, which would be a $50 million annual increase over current funding. NIHB strongly

IHS Seeking Comments on NTAC Behavioral Health Initiative Funding Recommendations

IHS has opened a 60 day comment period to seek input on recommendations made by the National Tribal Advisory Committee on Behavioral Health (NTAC) to address the explanatory statement in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2018 (the Act). The Act encourages IHS to transfer behavioral health initiative funding through Indian Self-determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA) compacts

CMS Rejects Partial Medicaid Expansion in Utah’s 1115 Demonstration

On Friday, August 16, 2019, CMS rejected an element of Utah’s 1115 Demonstration that would have imposed enrollment caps on Medicaid in the state. In its letter, CMS stated that it would “only approv[e] section 1115 demonstrations under which the section 1905(y)(1) match rate is provided if the demonstration covers the entire adult expansion group.”

Tribal Consultation on Potential Future Tribal Set-Aside Funding

Attached please find an invitation from the United States Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs (OJP), Office for Victims of Crime (OVC) to participate in a Tribal Consultation regarding how potential future tribal set-aside funding from the federal Crime Victims Fund should be programmed. An informational framing paper is forthcoming and will provide relevant