In This Issue

With Congress out of Washington until after Labor Day, many budget analysts are predicting that the government will rely on a continuing resolution, or "CR", to keep the government funded past the end of the fiscal year on September 30. This means, Congress will pass a spending measure that will fund programs for a few months until they can agree on a full-year budget. The larger budget, also called an "omnibus" is likely to be considered following the November elections. Both the Senate and the House Appropriations Committees have released their drafts for Indian Health Service (IHS) spending in FY 2015. 

• House funds IHS at $4.6 billion ($208 million more than FY 2014)
• Senate funds IHS at $4.5 billion ($111 million more than FY 2014)

You will note the House has included a higher spending number because they reduced funding for the Environmental Protection Agency (which receives funding in the same piece of legislation) by 9 percent. Before the full-year appropriation can be made, the House and Senate will have to come to an agreement on a final number for the IHS. Stay tuned to NIHB for more FY 2015 budget updates in the coming weeks.  

While we do not expect another shutdown of the government as happened at the start of FY 2014, the short term measure will negatively impact many Tribal health programs as they look to plan ahead for the next fiscal year. Instead of seamlessly being able to provide health care, they will be forced to make long-term spending decisions, such as hiring, outside contracts, and other programmatic decisions with only short-term funding guaranteed.

This is why NIHB and Tribes are urging Congress to enact Advance Appropriations for the Indian Health Service (IHS). Advance appropriations would mean Tribal and IHS facilities would receive their funding levels one year in advance, though the money could not be spent until the year in which it was allocated. We are currently collecting information from Tribes on how short-term or delayed funding affects health delivery in your area. Please click here for more information on how you can be involved in sharing your story.  

The Special Diabetes Program for Indians expires on September 30, 2015. This means that we must lay important groundwork now if we want to see this critical program renewed! SDPI has become the nation's most strategic, successful and comprehensive effort to combat diabetes. SDPI is transforming lives and changing the diabetes landscape in America.

This year, NIHB and Tribes are requesting that Congress renew this critical program for $200 million for 5 years. SDPI has not received a funding increase since 2002. By having multi-year funding, SDPI programs will have a better ability to recruit and retain staff, and they will be able to strategically plan programmatic activity so that the funding has be best long-term impact on the health of the community.

The National Indian Health Board is encouraging SDPI Grantees to host a site visit for their Member of Congress through NIHB's "Schedule, Host, Organize and Witness" (SHOW) campaign. NIHB asks that SDPI grantees contact their Member of Congress immediately to visit their program. By doing this, you will be able to demonstrate the excellent outcomes of the program and give congressional representatives first-hand information on the importance of SDPI to their constituents. This is a great opportunity to "tell your story" on why SDPI is saving lives and saving taxpayer dollars. Click here  for an SDPI site visit guide.