[Federal Register Volume 70, Number 181 (Tuesday, September 20, 2005)]
[Notices]
[Pages 55145-55146]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 05-18653]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Indian Health Service


National Indian Health Board

AGENCY: Indian Health Service, HHS.

ACTION: Notice to supplement the single-source cooperative agreement 
with the National Indian Health Board.

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SUMMARY: The Indian Health Service (IHS) announces a supplement to the 
single-source cooperative agreement award to the National Indian Health 
Board (NIHB) for costs in providing advice and technical assistance to 
the IHS on behalf of federally recognized Tribes in the area of health 
care policy analysis and program development. The

[[Page 55146]]

NIHB is a non-profit organization as described in section 501(c)(3) of 
the Internal Revenue Code. The mission of the IHS is to work in 
partnership with American Indian and Alaska Native people to raise 
their health to the highest level. Under the original cooperative 
agreement published in the Federal Register, 69 FR 11447, on March 10, 
2004, the NIHB assists the IHS in carrying out its mission through 
access to a broad based consumer network involving the Areas Health 
Boards or Health Board representatives from each of the 12 IHS Areas. 
The NIHB communicates with these boards and with Tribes and Tribal 
organizations in order to raise health of AI/AN people to the highest 
level. NIHB also disseminates health care information which serves to 
improve and expand access for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/
AN) Tribal Governments to all available health programs in the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The NIHB assists in the 
coordination of the Tribal consultation activities associated with 
formulating the IHS annual budget request.
    The program supplement to the single-source cooperative agreement 
is for $321,800 of non-recurring funding for use during the current 
budget period in effect from 01/01/2005 to 12/31/2005. The annual 
funding level of this single-source cooperative agreement is 
approximately $230,000, subject to the availability of appropriations.

Justification for Program Supplement

    The program supplement is issued under the authority of the Public 
Health Service Act, section 301(a) and is included under the Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance number 93.933. This supplement funding is 
related to the original goals of the cooperative agreement and does not 
represent an expansion of activities outside of the present scope of 
work. The Federal Register Notice for the sole-source cooperative 
agreement award can be found in 69 FR 11447, published on March 10, 
2004. The specific objectives and justifications for this program 
supplement are as follows:

1. Outreach and Education Within the AI/AN Community Concerning the 
Programs of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

    We anticipate funding will be transferred through an inter-agency 
agreement between CMS and the IHS to supplement the NIHB cooperative 
agreement. the NIHB will inform and educated AI/AN beneficiaries on 
programs and opportunities that can be accessed in CMS. The NIHB will 
dedicate one full day of its upcoming annual health conference (i.e., 
the 22nd Annual NIHB Consumer Conference in October 2005) to 
familiarize the anticipated 800 attendees with CMS and its programs. In 
addition the NIHB will provide expertise and assistance to he Tribal 
Technical Advisory Group (TTAG) with consultation efforts to ensure 
that Tribes have input in the development of both the CMS Tribal 
strategic plan and the CMS consultation policy for AI/AN's. This 
supplement will benefit AI/AN's by informing a AI/AN's of CMS programs 
established address health care needs of which they may not otherwise 
be aware. The benefit to the IHS is increased funding resources to the 
AI/AN beneficiaries. This effort is consistent with the NIHB's goals of 
expanding the access to other programs of the HHS for AI/AN.

2. Enumeration of the Public Health Infrastructure in AI/AN Communities

    We anticipate funding will be transferred to the IHS from the CDC 
to conduct a study of the status of Tribal public health capacity in 
areas such as epidemiology disease surveillance, public health nursing, 
community environmental health, health education and promotion, and 
other preventative health capacities. A paucity of information exists 
about the prevention capacity available throughout the Tribal Public 
Health System (TPHS) which broadly includes Tribal health departments, 
health committees, service units, and services provided by Indian 
Health Boards. The study, which will be undertaken by the NIHB, will 
provide current and accurate date on the Tribal Public Health System 
and will serve as a foundation for public health workforce research, 
workforce development efforts and demonstration programs and 
discussions on the training needs of public health workers. This effort 
is consistent with the NIHB's goal of providing advice and assistance 
in the areas of health care policy analysis and program development.

3. Support of the Activities of the Tribal Leader's Diabetes Committee

    Efforts to prevent and combat diabetes and its complications have 
been major activities for the IHS over the last several years that have 
resulted in numerous positive accomplishments. A major reason for this 
success had been the active involvement of AI/AN Tribal Leadership in 
determining, with the IHS, how resources should be targeted, and ``best 
practices'' that can be replicated throughout the Indian Country. 
Funding through the supplement will enable the NIHB to provide support 
to the Tribal Leaders Diabetes Committees (TLDC), which provide advice 
and recommendations to the NIHB on the public health effort to prevent 
and control diabetes. This effort is consistent with the NIHB goals of 
providing advice and assistance in the areas of policy analysis and 
program development and in ensuring that health care advocacy is based 
on input from Tribal Government.
    Justification for Single Source: This project has been awarded on a 
non-competitive, single-source basis. The NIHB is the only national AI/
AN organization with health expertise that represents the interest of 
all federally recognized Tribes.
    Use of Cooperative Agreement: The program supplement to the 
original cooperative agreement has been awarded because of anticipated 
substantial programmatic involvement by IHS staff in the project. The 
substantial programmatic involvement includes the following:
    1. The IHS staff will have approval over the hiring of key 
personnel as defined by regulation or provisions in the cooperative 
agreement.
    2. The IHS will provide technical assistance to the NIHB as 
requested and attend and participate in all NIHB board meetings.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Douglas Black, Director, Office of 
Tribal Programs, Office of the Director, Indian Health Service, 801 
Thompson Avenue, Reyes Building, Suite 220, Rockville, Maryland 20852, 
(301) 443-1104. For grants information, contact Ms. Sylvia Ryan, Grants 
Management Specialist, Division of Grants Policy, 12300 Twinbrook 
Parkway, Suite 100, Rockville, Maryland 20852, (301) 443-5204.

    Dated: September 13, 2005.
Robert G. McSwain,
Deputy Director, Indian Health Service.
[FR Doc. 05-18653 Filed 9-19-05; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4165-16-M