NCUIH Newsletter | May 6, 2019
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Washington Summit and Hill Day Wrap Up
Thank you for helping to make our 2019 Washington Summit and Hill Day a major success. With widespread participation from federal agencies, UIHPs, and over 120 people in attendance, we had a very productive and meaningful week learning about urban Indian health policy in keeping with our theme of One Voice Acting Strategically to improve our Health through Policy and Partnership. View an archive of presentations here.
Survey
We welcome all feedback on the Summit and Hill Day so we can improve for future conferences. Please submit online evaluations here by May 8.
Shutdown Preliminary Report
The 2018 - 2019 federal government shutdown report survey brief and key findings can be found here.
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National Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup’s Recommendations include Increase for Urban Indian Health
Last month Tribal sovereign leaders on the National Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup (TBFWG) met to provide input regarding the Indian Health Service (IHS) budget request for FY 2021 (FY). After a thorough discussion of healthcare needs, their recommendations include $2.7 billion in program increases for the most critical health issues, including $50.9 Million for Urban Indian Health. The National Council of Urban Indian Health provided testimony concerning the status of the Urban Indian Health Programs (UIHPs). The TBFWG recommendations are an approximate 46% increase above the Fiscal Year 2019 funding, highlighting the crucial need for funding of the Indian healthcare system. Additionally, a recommendation was made to fund the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, increasing funding to $200 million per year, to include inflation. 105(l) leases were also a subject of importance, and while IHS does have an obligation towards fulfilling its 105(l) leases, adequate steps have been encouraged to protect other IHS programs for FY2021. The TBFWG understands that before significant steps are taken to address the healthcare concerns in Indian country, the fundamentals such as the I/T/U system, must have precedence.
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First Ever Medicare for All Hearing
Medicare for All had the first ever hearing this Tuesday in the House Rules Committee. Representatives’ Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI) helped lobby for the historic opportunity. The hearing consisted of professionals as well as individuals giving testimony regarding the need for a Medicare for all system. This is the first of similar hearings to come, as the Budget Committee will be holding its own hearing in May, despite lacking jurisdiction to shape health policy. A copy of the proposed bill can be found here.
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Bipartisan Plan for Drug Pricing
A bipartisan effort to address the rising cost of drug pricing in America has been at the center of Congress’ agenda in 2019. The Senate Committee on Finance held three hearings over the last few months to discuss the rising cost of prescription drugs. The Committee, led by Ranking Member Senator Wyden (D-OR) and Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), illustrated the bipartisan approach to solving the decades long issue. However, some Democrats are skeptical about the White House’s pledge to work with them on drug pricing. Some Democrats are reportedly concerned about the President’s past lack of urgency with regards to bipartisan efforts, but others are optimistic. Senator Wyden stated he’s hopeful a bipartisan drug pricing bill will get through the Senate. As healthcare remains one of the top priorities of the 116th congress, the matter of rising drug prices continues to be of great importance to both parties and their constituents.
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New Legislation: Fostering Intergovernmental Health Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act
Last month, Representative Max Rose (D-NY) introduced H.R. 2340, the Fostering Intergovernmental Health Transparency in Veteran Suicides Act. The bill looks to address death by suicide within Veteran Affairs (VA) campuses, and on VA grounds, which is a growing concern for the veteran community. The bill provides vital transparency and communication between the VA and Congress, to better understand the magnitude of the suicide crisis, and work together in finding better ways to serve the veterans in need. The bill would require VA to provide notice to Congress of a suicide or attempted suicide, and the name of the facility and location where the suicide or attempted suicide occurred, no later than seven days after the incident. Statistics such as this provide valuable information to Congress, so they may work to make the necessary legislative changes. When VA is not forthcoming with timely information around this public health issue, it stalls potential solutions that are very time sensitive with a matter as serious as suicide. The bill has found bipartisan support, as members of both parties have signed on as cosponsors.
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Upcoming Events Highlights
- Telephone Town Hall: Brain Health with AARP, National Indian Council on Aging and Global Council on Brain Health (May 7, 2019)
- Free Tribal Grant Writers Workshop (May 15 - 17, Sacramento, CA)
- Public Health Improvement Training (June 12-13, 2019, New Orleans, LA)
- Diabetes in Indian Country Conference (August 6-9, 2019, Oklahoma City, OK)
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Telephone Town Hall: Brain Health with AARP, National Indian Council on Aging and Global Council on Brain Health
Participate in a special Telephone Town Hall on Brain Health with the National Indian Council on Aging (NICOA) and The Global Council on Brain Health, a collaborative with AARP. Find out how you and your loved ones can maintain your brain health as you age. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions during this live event on Tuesday, May 7 at 11:00 am Central Time (9:00 am PST, 10:00 am MT, 12:00 pm EST). Sign up here to be called when this event starts!
Telephone Town Hall: May 7, 2019 at 12pm EST
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Free Tribal Grant Writers Workshop
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is hosting a 2 ½ day FREE hands-on grant writing workshop for tribal organizations May 15 - May 17, 2019 at the Indian Health Service, California Area Office in Sacramento, CA. The workshop’s goal is to develop, support, and increase the competence of technical writers to submit successful grant applications. For more information, contact Valerie Gallo at 415.437.8095 or vgallo@hrsa.gov.
Registration Deadline: May 7, 2019
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Public Health Improvement Training (June 12-13, 2019)
Join your peers and national experts at the 19th annual Public Health Improvement Training (PHIT) on June 12-13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. At PHIT, health department leaders and professionals participate in a series of skill-building workshops and networking opportunities designed to elevate practice to the next level. This year's theme for PHIT is: Applying Systems Thinking for Progress.
Registration Deadline: May 19, 2019
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Diabetes in Indian Country Conference (August 6-9, 2019)
The IHS Diabetes in Indian Country Conference will host 1,500 IHS, Tribal and Urban Indian (I/T/U) providers, clinicians, Tribal leaders, community members, and Special Diabetes Program for Indians grantees. There is no cost to attend this conference in-person or via streaming, including CME/CE credits. The event will also be live-streamed. It takes place on August 6-9 in Oklahoma City, OK.
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Technical Assistance & Research Highlights
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NCUIH’s National Youth Advisory Council Presented at NCUIH’s Washington Summit Conference on “Using Social Media Campaigns to Raise Awareness: Suicide and Substance Misuse Prevention”
NCUIH’s National Youth Advisory Council (“Youth Council”) members presented at NCUIH’s Washington Summit Conference. Youth Council members presented to federal agency and UIHP leaders on their social media campaign aimed at raising awareness of urban Indian suicide and substance misuse. Youth Council members had meaningful conversations with summit attendees that drew interest on future joint efforts between UHIPs and the Youth Council, and encouraged applications for next year’s Council. When inaugural member Shoshanna Johnson was asked by a UIHP leader during the presentation about why urban Indian youth should apply, she replied, “I came in thinking they’re going to have all the answers… throughout the process you learn you are the answer”. We congratulate all members on their growth and work they put in to making this presentation a success.
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Today: May 6th is National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day
SAMHSA created National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (Awareness Day) more than a decade ago to shine a national spotlight on the importance of caring for every child’s mental health and to reinforce the message that positive mental health is essential to a child’s healthy development. Awareness Day May 6, 2019 will focus on the impact that suicide has on children, youth, young adults, families, and communities. Click here https://bit.ly/2ZHYruN for resources for suicide prevention among children, youth, and young adults.
The purpose of Awareness Day is to increase public awareness about the needs of children with serious mental illness (SMI) and severe emotional disturbance (SED) and their families, provide information on evidence-based practices, and encourage those who need help to seek treatment.
More than 1,100 communities and 170 national collaborating organizations and federal programs across the country participate in community events, youth educational programs, health fairs, art exhibits, and social networking campaigns in observance of Awareness Day.
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Funding: Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released its cooperative agreement: Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country. This funding supports efforts by American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities to implement holistic and culturally-adapted approaches to reduce tobacco use, improve physical activity and nutrition, and increase health literacy.
Deadline: May 15, 2019
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Funding: HRSA Announces new Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) initiative called RCORP MAT Expansion
The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) released a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) for a new Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) initiative called RCORP-Medication-Assisted Treatment Expansion (HRSA-19-102). HRSA plans to invest approximately $8 million in rural communities as part of this funding opportunity. Successful RCORP-Medication-Assisted Treatment Expansion (MAT Expansion) award recipients will receive up to $725,000 for a three-year period of performance to establish or expand medication-assisted treatment (MAT) in eligible hospitals, health clinics, or tribal organizations located in high-risk rural communities.
Deadline: June 10, 2019
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Funding: Preventing HIV Infection in Women through Expanded Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention, Screening, and Response Services
This Office on Women's Health/ HHS funding opportunity announcement (FOA) on 'Preventing HIV Infection in Women through Expanded Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Prevention, Screening, and Response Services' seeks applicants capable of providing a community-level focus to the prevention, screening, and response to intimate partner violence (IPV) and its intersection with the risk of HIV infection. Successful approaches will work across different systems and/or sectors of service provision to incorporate relevant stakeholders and health and human service providers in their comprehensive approaches. It is anticipated that 2-5 awards will be awards from over $3,000,000 over two years.
Deadline: June 12, 2019
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