February 3, 2023: IHS Updates for Tribes and Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations

This bi-weekly update provides up to date information on Indian Health Service and other federally-hosted meetings, conferences, deadlines and recognition from across the Indian health system. For more information or questions, email IHSPublicAffairsStaff@ihs.gov

IHS Leadership Tour Across Indian Country

Upon becoming appointed as the IHS director last fall, Roselyn Tso felt it was important to embark on an initial leadership tour. As an extension of this initiative, last week she visited sites throughout the IHS Albuquerque Area and California Area. Throughout 2023, IHS leadership will continue visits to each IHS area on a monthly basis.

Ms. Tso began the week meeting with the Hopi tribal council and staff in Phoenix, Arizona, before attending the “Road to Healing” event in Many Farms, Arizona. U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland launched this year-long tour across Indian Country to provide survivors and descendants of the federal Indian boarding school system an opportunity to share their experiences and provide input for future work. Along the journey, IHS has partnered with DOI to provide mental and behavioral health support to survivors and their families.

The remainder of the week was filled with site visits and facility tours. Ms. Tso visited the Indian Health Center of Santa Clara Valley in San Jose, California, the Santa Fe Service Unit in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Ute mountain Ute Service Unit, in Towaoc, Colorado. She also had the opportunity to meet with the Albuquerque Area Indian Health Board while visiting the Albuquerque Indian Health Center, before concluding the week with a tour of the Canoncito Band of Navajo Health Center Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  in Laguna, New Mexico.

IHS Awards $139 million for Special Diabetes Program for Indians

The U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the IHS, is investing $139 million in funding for the Fiscal Year 2023 Special Diabetes Program for Indians to provide diabetes prevention and treatment services for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Funding awards have been made to 302 tribal, urban and IHS sites in 35 states under the new, 5-year grant cycle that began on Jan. 1, 2023. Eleven organizations and tribes are being funded for the first time. To learn more about this announcement and SDPI, read the press release Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov .

Medicaid Unwinding

During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency, state Medicaid, CHIP, and Basic Health Programs adopted many flexibilities offered by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  to respond effectively to their local outbreaks. However, Medicaid Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  and the Children's Health Insurance Program Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  will soon return to normal operations. States could begin to send renewal letters in February, and beginning April 1, 2023, in some states, individuals will lose their coverage if they are no longer eligible. To avoid an interruption in coverage, Medicaid recipients should update their contact information with their state Medicaid or CHIP program. Medicaid recipients should also look out for a letter from their state about completing a renewal form. For more information, please visit the IHS Medicaid Unwinding webpage.

Registration is open for the National Nurse Leadership Council

The National Nurse Leadership Council is pleased to host the 2023 National Combined Councils Virtual Meeting on March 28-30, 2023. This three-day meeting is designed for NCC members and IHS, tribal and urban personnel throughout our health care delivery system. The theme of this year's meeting is “Strengthening Collaborations for Safe, Quality Healthcare Outcomes.” The meeting will be held daily from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET as a live webinar via Zoom.

2023 National Nurse Leadership Council Registration Links:

• Tuesday, March 28 - Register now Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Wednesday, March 29 - Register now Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
• Thursday, March 30 - Register now Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Office of Inspector General Indian Health and Human Services Trainings

The HHS Office of Inspector General Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov  currently offers the online training series “Improving Health and Well-Being in American Indian and Alaska Native Communities through Compliance,” which includes web-based trainings, job aids and videos for grantees and health care providers serving American Indian and Alaska Native communities. The trainings are free and provide information and tools you can apply to help ensure your organization provides quality services to your community and complies with applicable statutes, regulations and program requirements. Users can download a certification of completion for each training that is completed. Learn more about the trainings Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov .

IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Webinar

The IHS Division of Diabetes Treatment and Prevention: Advancements in Diabetes Webinar Series is hosting the following webinar for healthcare providers:

• "Current Perspectives in Managing Cardiometabolic Risk and Dyslipidemia" on February 8, 2023 at 3 pm ET. Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 

Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence

The Telebehavioral Health Center of Excellence Tele-Education Program is hosting the following trainings for healthcare providers over the next two weeks:

• "Trauma & Stress Disorders Webinar Series: PTSD & Elders" on Feb. 14, 2023 at 12:00 p.m. ET Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov .

Funding Opportunities

• Urban Indian 4-in-1 Grant Program Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov . More information is available on grants.gov under opportunity number HHS-2023-IHS-UIHP2-0001. Applications due Feb. 21.
• Tribal Management Grants Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov . More information is available on grants.gov under opportunity number HHS-2023-IHS-TMD-0001. Applications due March 6.

Save the Date

February 8: National Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup Preparatory Resource Day is an optional resource day to provide the workgroup with updates on the IHS Budget and Electronic Health Record System prior to the FY 2025 National Budget Formulation Work Session. This time will also be utilized to conduct a zoom connection test in preparation for the national work session. 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. EST

Zoom Link: https://ihs-gov.zoomgov.com/j/1600900710?pwd=MG1PbDBXN1ptQU5ENk9rNGY4VnNjZz09 Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov 
Meeting ID: 160 090 0710
Passcode: 905728

February 9: February Tribal and Urban Indian Organizations Call

February 14-15: The National Tribal Budget Formulation Workgroup Work Session will be held in Crystal City, VA, and via Zoom. This will be a hybrid meeting.

February 16-17: The Direct Service Tribes Advisory Committee 2nd Quarterly Meeting will provide leadership, advocacy and policy guidance. Advocating for Indian Health policies that advance DST objectives and priorities.

Other News

Road to Healing

On Jan. 19, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Deb Haaland visited the former Phoenix Indian School (1891-1990) as part of the Road to Healing tour. Sec. Haaland toured the school grounds, which is now Steele Indian School Park owned by the City of Phoenix, with former Phoenix Indian School student Patty Talahongva, Park Manager Tammy Parker, Native American Connections’ Phoenix Indian School Visitor Center Director Molita Yazzie, Elena Selestewa and Dede Yazzie Devine. To commemorate the students who fought during WWI, Sec. Haaland also photographed the names on the monument in front of the Memorial Hall building.

PISVC Director Molita Yazzie discussed current PISVC work that addresses historical traumas by providing cultural and art activities, teaching Indigenous cooking and foods, and training K-12 teachers to incorporate Native American boarding school policy, history and impact into school curriculum. The historic elementary school was renovated and reopened in 2017 by Native American Connections Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov , who contracts with the City of Phoenix to operate the Phoenix Indian School Visitors Center. Gallery tours are available by appointment.