In This Issue

National Indian Health Outreach and Education (NIHOE) partners, National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), will offer a session on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) on Sunday, October 26 at the NCAI Annual Convention and Marketplace in Atlanta, GA.  The first half of this session will provide information to American Indians and Alaska Natives(AI/AN) on what they need to know about the Affordable Care Act. Information will be presented on the AI/AN special protections and benefits, Marketplace enrollment and deadlines, and will include step-by-step instruction on how to claim the exemption from the individual shared responsibility payment in 2014.  

The second half of this session will provide information to tribal leaders and tribes as employers and include specific information on the employer shared responsibility mandate which goes into effect in 2015.

What: The Affordable Care Act- What You Need to Know 

When: October 26, 2014, 1pm-5pm

Where: NCAI Annual Convention and Marketplace, Atlanta, GA

For more information contact Dawn Coley ([email protected]) or April Hale ([email protected]).  Or click here for more information.

Congress is out of session until the November elections, and the future of FY 2015 appropriations is still not known.  The federal government is currently funded through December 11, 2014 under a Continuing Resolution or "CR. "   What happens when Congress returns in November will largely depend on which party controls the Senate after the election.  Congress could 1) enact a full FY 2015 omnibus appropriations bill; 2) enact a short term CR which would keep the government funded through January or early February; or 3) enact a CR for all of FY 2015, meaning that FY 2015 appropriations would be equal to the FY 2014 level. 

 The Hill newspaper recently reported that if Republicans take control of the Senate, Minority Leader McConnell (R-KY) would want to have the FY 2015 settled before the end of December.  However, other Congressional Republicans might push back on this strategy so that they can shape the FY 2015 appropriations legislation. 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Tribal Affairs will host a webinar about the Oneida Nation Elder Services Home & Community Base Long Term Services & Support on Wednesday, October 22, 2014 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m., EDT.

Objectives

Home & Community Base Services vs Long Term Services & Support - What are the differences?

Tina R Pospychala, Assistant Director, Oneida Elder Service 

Conference number: 1-888-757-2790 

Passcode: 177695

The Office of Infrastructure Protection will host a national webinar entitled "Sea Level Rise and its Cascading Effects" on Friday, November 14, 2014 1:30 - 3:00 pm EST. This joint partnership webinar will feature speakers from NOAA and the USACE.  Pre-registration is not required.

The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated, or medically vulnerable.  HRSA has announced a number of funding opportunities for Tribes and Tribal organizations.  HRSA Funding Opportunity Announcements can be submitted through http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/home.html.

HRSA Main Web Page:  http://www.hrsa.gov/index.html

Funding Opportunity in Grants.gov:  http://www.grants.gov/view-opportunity.html?oppId=268854

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requesting nominations for voting members to serve on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee, Office of Science, Center for Tobacco Products.  FDA seeks to include the views of women and men, members of all racial and ethnic groups, and individuals with and without disabilities on its advisory committees and, therefore encourages nominations of appropriately qualified candidates from these groups.  The Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee advises the Commissioner of Food and Drugs in discharging responsibilities related to the regulation of tobacco products.  The Committee reviews and evaluates safety, dependence, and health issues relating to tobacco products and provides appropriate advice, information, and recommendations to the Commissioner.There is currently no representation for the Tribes on this advisory committee. 

 Nominations received on or before December 8, 2014 will be given first consideration for membership on the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee. Nominations received after December 8, 2014 will be considered for nomination as later vacancies occur.

To submit a nomination for membership, please log into the FDA Advisory Committee Membership Nomination Portal: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/FACTRSPortal/FACTRS/index.cfm, or by mail to Advisory Committee Oversight and Management Staff, Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 32, rm. 5103, Silver Spring, MD 20993-0002, or by FAC to 301-847-8640. 

More information about the duties and criteria for becoming a member of the Tobacco Products Scientific Advisory Committee can be found here.