Tribal Leader Letters
August 1, 2018
The Acting Director notifies Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders that the deadline to submit comments on the funding mechanism to distribute behavioral health initiatives that are currently distributed through grants has been extended until August 17, 2018. [PDF - 115 KB]August 1, 2018
The Acting Director notifies Tribal Leaders that the deadline to submit comments on the IHS Sanitation Deficiency System (SDS) – A Guide for Reporting Sanitation Deficiencies for American Indian and Alaska Native Homes and Communities has been extended until September 14, 2018. [PDF - 187 KB]July 24, 2018
The Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to announce a 30-day comment period on the Draft IHS Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2018-2022. [PDF - 93 KB]July 23, 2018
The Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to provide an update on Indian Health Service regulatory reform activities. [PDF - 141 KB]July 12, 2018
The Acting Director updates Tribal Leaders with his decisions on the fiscal year 2019 funding distribution for the Indian Health Service Special Diabetes Program for Indians. [PDF - 91 KB]July 10, 2018
The Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders and Urban Indian Organization Leaders to initiate Tribal Consultation and Urban Confer on an impending funding decision that impacts a portion of the Agency’s inflation funding increases received in the IHS fiscal year 2018 appropriation to meet requirements of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, specifically at 25 U.S.C. § 5324(l), also referred to as “105(l).” [PDF - 190 KB]July 6, 2018
The Acting Director writes to notify Tribal Leaders that the deadline for submitting comments on the draft Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) Chapter has been extended until Monday, August 6, 2018. [PDF - 130 KB]July 2, 2018
The Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders to initiate Tribal Consultation on proposed updates to the Sanitation Deficiency System – A Guide for Reporting Sanitation Deficiencies for American Indian and Alaska Native Homes and Communities [PDF - 101 KB]- Enclosure: Key Updated SDS Guide Elements [PDF - 277 KB]
- Enclosure: Current SDS Scoring Factors [PDF - 191 KB]
- Enclosure: Sanitation Deficiency System Guide [PDF - 2 MB]
June 29, 2018
The Acting Director informs Tribal Leaders that the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Department of Veterans Affairs recently amended its agreement for reimbursement for direct health care services to eligible American Indian and Alaska Native Veterans at 77 IHS facilities. [PDF - 547 KB]- Enclosure: Amendment 3-Agreement between the VA/VHA and HHS/IHS for Reimbursement for Direct Health Care Services [PDF - 143 KB]
June 14, 2018
The Acting Director writes to invite Tribal Leaders to attend the 15th Annual Direct Service Tribes National Meeting. [PDF - 91 KB]June 8, 2018
The Acting Director writes to inform Tribal Leaders that there will be additional in-person Tribal Consultation sessions on the Indian Health Manual (IHM), Part 2 – “Services to Indians and Others,” Chapter 3 – "Purchased/Referred Care." [PDF - 94 KB]June 8, 2018
The Acting Director writes to initiate a Tribal Consultation on recommendations made by the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund (IHCIF) Workgroup to revise the formula used to allocate funding increases appropriated for the Indian Health Care Improvement Fund. [PDF - 214 KB]- IHCIF Workgroup Interim Report [PDF - 990 KB]
May 18, 2018
The Acting Director writes to initiate a Tribal Consultation and an Urban Confer on the funding mechanism to distribute behavioral health initiatives that are currently distributed through grants. [PDF - 144KB]- Enclosure: Schedule – Virtual Learning Series on Behavioral Health Initiative Funding [PDF - 436 KB]
The Acting Director writes to initiate Tribal Consultation on the Indian Health Service Indian Health Manual (IHM), Part 2 – “Services to Indians and Others, Chapter 3 – Purchased/Referred Care” at the request of Tribes. [PDF - 233 KB]
- Indian Health Manual Part 2 Chapter 3: Purchased/Referred Care
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-A: Sample Template for Re-designation of Purchased/Referred Care Delivery Area [PDF - 183 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-B: This will be available soon.
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-C: Use of Purchased/Referred Care Fund in Support of Direct Care [PDF - 259 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-D: Acceptable Documentation for Proof of Residency [PDF - 43 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-E: Purchased/Referred Care Eligibility for Persons Visiting a Foreign Country [PDF - 43 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-F: Notice to Purchased/Referred Care Providers [PDF - 56 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-G: This will be available soon
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-H: Procedure for Setting Up and Running Electronic Signature [PDF - 64 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-I: Sample Purchased/Referred Care Denial Letter [PDF - 310 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-J: This will be available soon.
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-K: Sample Purchased/Referred Care Spending Plan [PDF - 1419 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-L: Sample Letter to Provider Follow-Up on an Outstanding Purchased/Delivery Order [PDF - 60 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-M: Reconciliation Document [PDF - 81 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-N: Fiscal Year 2017 CHEF Guidance [PDF - 2829 KB]
- Manual Exhibit 2-3-O: Unmet Need Memo and Tables [PDF - 538 KB]
April 13, 2018
The Acting Director writes to Tribal Leaders to initiate Tribal Consultation on the Indian Health Service Indian Health Manual, Part 6 – Services to Tribal Governments and Organizations, Chapter 3 – Contract Support Costs, specifically, section 6-3.2E(3) – Alternative Methods for Calculating Indirect Costs Associated with Recurring Service Unit Shares (commonly known as the “97/3 Method or 97/3 Split”). [PDF - 110 KB]