On Tuesday July 27, the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) sent joint a letter to Congress firmly opposing any policy that would undo decades of precedent in federal Medicaid policy towards Tribal Nations by extending 100% Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) to States for Medicaid services rendered by providers outside the Indian health system to American Indians/Alaska Natives. This policy would seek to stabilize state Medicaid programs at the direct expense of the Indian health system, and runs contrary to federal trust and treaty obligations.
NIHB was joined by Tribal Nations, National Congress of American Indians, National Council of Urban Indian Health, and multiple regional Tribal organizations in this important advocacy. NIHB encourages all Tribal Nations and organizations to join us in showing that Indian Country is uniformly opposed to this provision by sending similar letters. Please find this template letter on NIHB’s Tribal COVID-19 Resource Center. Read the joint letter here.