April 18, 2016 |  Issue 16-14
 UPCOMING EVENTS 


All Tribes Call on PRC Final Rule
April 21, 3-4pm EDT
Call in: 888-323-9705
Passcode: 8647683
 
Tribal Self-Governance Consultation Conference
April 24-28, 2016
Orlando, FL

Nurse Leaders in Native Care Conference
May 17-19, 2016
Glendale, AZ

Direct Service Tribal Advisory Committee Quarterly Meeting
May 18-19, 2016
Rockville, MD
 
HHS Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting
June 7-8, 2016
Washington, DC


Medicare, Medicaid, and Health Reform Policy Committee Annual Spring Retreat
June 14-15, 2016
Nashville, TN

NIHB Annual Tribal Youth Health Summit
August 1-5, 2016
Location: TBD

National AI/AN Behavioral Health Conference
August 9-11, 2016
Portland, OR

Direct Service Tribes Annual Meeting 
August 30 - September 1, 2016
Rapid City, SD

HHS Secretary's Tribal Advisory Committee Meeting
September 13-14, 2016
Washington, DC


33rd NIHB Annual Consumer Conference
September 19-22, 2016
Phoenix, AZ

 
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@NIHB1
 
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NIHB Updates
F
SAVE the DATE:  NIHB Annual Consumer Conference
The National Indian Health Board's 33rd Annual Consumer Conference will be held from September 19-22, 2016 at the Talking Stick Resort in Scottsdale, Arizona. 
                    
The Conference will provide the most up-to-date and important information Tribal leaders, health directors and consumers will need as they work toward reducing American Indian and Alaska Native health disparities through continued advancement of the Tribal health care system. In addition to an in-depth, special focus on federal policy, conference attendees will have an opportunity to learn about best practices and share their community's concerns with key federal decision-makers. 
 
Information on registration, award nominations and workshop proposals will be available in the coming weeks. 
 
To reserve your room call (866) 877-9897 and reference NIHB Group Number 10677.

Capitol Hill Updates
Legislation Introduced to Address Drug Epidemic in Indian Country and Expand Tribal Jurisdiction
On April 13, 2016, Senators John Tester (D-MT) and Al Franken (D-MN) introduced S. 2785- the Tribal Youth and Community Protection Act.  This legislation would restore criminal prosecution jurisdiction to Tribes for drug related crimes, domestic violence against children, and crimes committed against Tribal law enforcement officers. Currently, offenses committed on reservations for drug-related crimes or those relating to children must be prosecuted by state or federal authorities, which often choose not to do so.
 
This is the first legislation to expand Tribal jurisdiction since the passage of the Violence Against Women Act three years ago.  That law restored the rights of Tribes to prosecute all offenders of domestic violence.  But, it does not apply to children who are victims of domestic violence or other crimes.  Many Tribal communities have declared States of Emergency because the prevalence of drugs and accompanying health and social issues on reservations.  This legislation would allow Tribal governments a greater opportunity to directly enforce these crimes on Tribal land.
 
For more information on the legislation click here. 
Administration and Organizational Updates
A
IHS Releases Draft Contract Support Costs Policy - Initiates 60-Day Tribal Consultation
The Indian Health Service Principal Deputy Director issued a letter to Tribal leaders on April 11 to open a 60-day Tribal Consultation with Tribes and Tribal Organizations to consult on the IHS Contract Support Costs (CSC) Policy.

You can read the Dear Tribal Leader letter here. 
You can read the draft CSC policy here.
D
IHS Announces Tribal Management Grants
The Indian Health Service (IHS) has announced the availability of $2.4 million in expected FY 2016 funds for Tribal Management Grants (TMG).   Click here for the full notice. 

The TMG program provides funding to federally-recognized Tribes and Tribal organizations to assume all or part of existing IHS programs, services, and functions and activities under the authority of the Indian Self-Determination Act. Grants may also be used for technical assistance and planning. The deadline for receipt of applications is June 8, 2016.
 
Applications must be for one of the following four projects: 1) feasibility studies (maximum funding $70,000; 12-month period); 2) planning (maximum funding $50,000, 12-month period); 3) evaluation studies (maximum funding $50,000, 12-month period); or 4) health management structure (average funding $100,000 for 12 months; maximum funding $300,000 for 36 months). The IHS expects to make 16-18 new and continuation awards. A signed resolution must accompany the application.
 
The TMG application package can be found here.

Upcoming Events, Calls and Webinars
C
IHS All Tribes Call: Final Rule on PRC Rates - April 21
Please join Ms. Elizabeth Fowler, Deputy Director of Management Operations for the Indian Health Service (IHS) on Thursday, April 21 at 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Eastern Time) for an All Tribes Call on the Final Rule on Payment for Physician and Other Health Care Professional Services Purchased by Indian Health Programs and Medical Charges Associated with Non-Hospital-Based Care (Purchased/Referred Care Rates).  IHS will provide an overview of the Final Rule, and there will be time for questions and answers.
 
DIAL-IN NUMBER: 888-323-9705
 
PASSCODE: 8647683

G
IHS to Hold a Call on LGBT2S Health Issues - May 5, 2016
The Indian Health Service will hold a public teleconference call on May 5, 2016 from 3:00 to 5:00pm ET to seek broad input on efforts to advance and promote the health needs of the American Indian and Alaska Native Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Two-Spirit communities. This is the first of a series of public teleconferences that will take place this year.  Themes that resulted from previous discussions included service and eligibility; clinical services; behavioral health; suicide; youth services; confidentiality and organization strategies.

Join the meeting by calling the toll free phone number at 800-857-9744, followed by the participant passcode number, 3618057. Please call at least 15 minutes prior to the meeting.
 
B
IHS to Hold Nurse Leaders in Native Care Conference
Last week, IHS announced the 2016 Indian Health Service, Nurse Leaders in Native Care Conference, Nurse Leadership: Promoting Quality Care, Ethical Practice and Patient Safety, May 17 - 19, 2016, in Glendale, Arizona to all Tribal and Urban Indian Health Systems on behalf of Headquarters (HQ), Division of Nursing Services (DNS).
 
HQ DNS welcomes and invites all Tribal and Urban nurses and nurse leaders to attend the conference.  There is no registration fee. 
 
Click here for more information.
 
For any questions, please contact: 
Celissa G. Stephens, MSN, BSN, RN
CAPT U.S. Public Health Service
Chief Nurse/Director, Division of Nursing Services
Tel.  301-443-5070
 
910 Pennsylvania Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20003
Main Phone: 202-507-4070
Fax: 202-507-4071
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