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Tribal Leader Letters

October 24, 2024

The IHS Deputy Director writes to Tribal Leaders to request your comments and recommendations on the enclosed combined Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021 Report to Congress on the Administration of the Indian Health Service Tribal Self-Governance Program. Comments are requested by December 23, 2024. [PDF - 199 KB]

October 10, 2024

The IHS Director writes to initiate Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer to seek your comments and recommendations on the proposed reorganization of the Indian Health Service Headquarters Office of the Director, specifically the structure of offices under the Deputy Director for Intergovernmental Affairs. [PDF - 242 KB]

October 9, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to invite you to provide updated Facility Master Plans and other identified health care facility needs to be considered for inclusion in the 2026 IHS and Tribal Health Care Facilities' Needs Assessment Report to Congress. [PDF - 137 KB]

October 8, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to announce the new solicitation for the Fiscal Year 2025 IHS Joint Venture Construction Program (JVCP). The letter includes a link to the application package. The IHS JVCP Phase 1 Application deadline is December 22, 2024. [PDF - 52 KB]

October 4, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share the Director's Year 2 Accomplishments Report--2024, which details the progress and shared achievements over the past year. [PDF - 197 KB]

October 1, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share information regarding the current status of fiscal year 2025 appropriations for the Indian Health Service. [PDF - 850 KB]

September 10, 2024

The IHS Director is pleased to join with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary to seek your input and recommendations on how HUD and IHS programs can better address the housing-related water and sewer infrastructure needs of Tribal communities. This joint letter furthers the goals of Executive Order 14112, "Reforming Federal Funding and Support for Tribal Nations to Better Embrace Our Trust Responsibilities and Promote the Next Era of Tribal Self-Determination." [PDF - 306 KB]

September 10, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to initiate Tribal Consultation to seek your recommendations on funding methodologies for the payment of eligible Contract Support Costs incurred by Tribes and Tribal Organizations (T/TOs) related to expenditures of program income (also known as third-party reimbursements) to further the purposes of the T/TOs respective Indian Self Determination and Education Assistance Act contracts and compacts. The letter also provides an update on the Agency's ongoing efforts that the IHS has taken to implement the United States Supreme Court's decision in Becerra v. San Carlos Apache Tribe (Becerra). [PDF - 256 KB]

September 9, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to update you on a change for the Indian Health Service 105(l) Lease Program. On May 22, 2024, the administration of the 105(l) Lease Program transitioned from the IHS Office of Environmental Health and Engineering and the Alaska Area IHS to the IHS Office of Direct Service and Contracting Tribes. [PDF - 217 KB]

September 3, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to share important information for our Tribal and Federal workgroup members on the relevant rules pertaining to the Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and FACA's Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (UMRA) exemption. The letter includes a summary of the FACA and UMRA requirements. [PDF - 246 KB]

September 3, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to announce the publication of the final rule in the Federal Register implementing regulations governing the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund (CHEF).  In addition, the IHS Director welcomes you to attend one of the IHS virtual training sessions offered on September 18, October 10, and October 22, to inform Federal and Tribal Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) program staff of the new requirements. [PDF - 223 KB]

August 12, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to share information to help support your efforts to address climate change, assess associated health risks, and develop strategies to advance environmental justice. [PDF - 197 KB]

July 31, 2024

The IHS Director writes to Tribal Leaders to make you aware that the IHS will begin accepting applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 Small Ambulatory Program beginning on August 1, 2024. [PDF - 210 KB]

July 29, 2024

The IHS Director invites Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to join us at the Health Information Technology Modernization Summit, which will be held on Friday, August 16, 2024, at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Arizona. This half-day, in-person event will be held in conjunction with the 2024 IHS Partnership Conference. We anticipate a robust and meaningful dialogue with you on important Health Information Technology modernization issues. We will also convene a caucus to enable Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to exchange viewpoints and share information. [PDF - 172 KB]

July 1, 2024

The IHS Deputy Director for Management Operations writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to seek your recommendations on health professions priorities eligible for the IHS Scholarship Program in academic year 2024-2025 and the IHS Loan Repayment Program in fiscal year 2025. [PDF - 193 KB]