Today, Senate Republicans released the draft of the Coronavirus Response Additional Supplemental Appropriations Act as part of the latest COVID-19 emergency response efforts. The Senate bill is the Republicans proposal in response to the House HEROES Act, which passed in May. Future drafts with new additions are expected this week as conversations between the House and Senate begin.
The Senate bill includes $1.605 billion to Indian Health Service, with $605 million to the Indian Health Services account and $1 billion to the IHS facilities budget line item to prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus. This proposal has $15 million for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) with inclusion of UIOs. The bill also includes $125 million for CDC for tribes, tribal organizations, and UIOs. There is another $25 billion for Medicare and Medicaid providers.
In the current draft, there are no UIO priorities included, such as 100% FMAP for UIOs, VA-IHS parity for UIOs or the FTCA parity fix for UIOs.
Next Steps
Republicans and Democrats in leadership, along with the White House, will be continuing the negotiations process in the week ahead. NCUIH will continue to advocate for our priorities along with access to facilities funding. We will monitor developments and provide updates as available.
About the Bill
The bill includes:
| Indian Health Service |
- $605 million to tribes and tribal organizations under the ISDEAA through contracts or grants with Urban Indian Organizations under title V of IHCIA
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| IHS Facilities |
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Note: UIOs are eligible for $0 of this funding |
| CDC |
- $3.4 billion
- not less than $1.5 billion for States, localities, territories, tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes
- Not less than $125 million for Tribes, tribal organizations, UIOs
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To carry out surveillance, epidemiology, laboratory capacity, infection control, immunization activity, mitigation, communications, and other preparedness and response activities |
Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
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- Not less than $15 billion
- Not less than $500 million in Coordination with the Director of IHS for tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health service providers to tribes
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For testing, contact tracing, surveillance, containment, and mitigation, including support for workforce, epidemiology, use by employers, elementary and secondary schools, child care facilities, institutions of higher education, long-term care facilities, or in other settings, scale up of testing by public health, academic, commercial, and hospital laboratories, and community-based testing sites, health care facilities, and other entities engaged in COVID–19 testing |
| Medicaid and Medicare Providers |
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To reimburse eligible health care providers for health care-related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus.
(See details here.) |
| Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) |
- Not less than $15 million for tribes, tribal organizations, urban Indian health organizations, or health or behavioral health service providers to tribes
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Public Health and Social Services Emergency Fund
The bill includes $25 billion to reimburse eligible health care providers for health care-related expenses or lost revenues that are attributable to coronavirus
- ‘‘Eligible health care providers’
- include Medicare or Medicaid enrolled providers, as well as not-for-profit entities, that provide diagnoses, testing, or care for individuals with possible or actual cases of COVID–19
- must comply with reporting requirements after payment is received
- must submit an application to the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) that includes a statement justifying their need; the Secretary shall review applications and make payments on a rolling basis
- Funds shall be available for:
- building or construction of temporary structures
- leasing of properties
- medical supplies and equipment
- includes personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing supplies
- increased workforce and trainings
- emergency operation centers
- retrofitting facilities
- surge capacity
- Payment:
- may be prospective, retrospective, or pre-payment
- shall be made in consideration of the most efficient payment systems practicable to provide emergency payment, through grants or other mechanisms
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