Native Health and Wellness Act of 2017

To amend the Public Health Service Act to improve the public health system in tribal communities and increase the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives pursuing health careers, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Native Health and Wellness Act of 2017 2. Tribal health block grant Title III of the Public Health Service Act is amended by inserting after section 317T of such Act ( 42 U.S.C. 247b–22 317U. Tribal health block grant (a) In general To the extent and in the amounts made available in advance by appropriations, the Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall award a grant, in an amount determined pursuant to the formula developed under subsection (e), to each eligible Indian tribe or tribal organization for the purposes of promoting health, preventing disease, and reducing health disparities among American Indians and Alaska Natives. (b) Consultation The Secretary shall carry out this section, including the development of the formula required by subsection (e), in consultation with eligible Indian tribes and tribal organizations. (c) Eligibility To be eligible for a grant under this section for a fiscal year, an Indian tribe or tribal organization shall submit to the Secretary a plan at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (d) Use of funds Each grantee under this section shall use the grant funds— (1) to establish or support preventive health service programs that facilitate the achievement of health-status goals; (2) to establish or support public health services that reduce the prevalence of chronic disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives; or (3) to strengthen public health infrastructure to facilitate the surveillance and response to infectious disease and foodborne illness outbreaks. (e) Formula The Secretary shall develop a formula to be used in allocating the total amount of funds made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year among the eligible Indian tribes and tribal organizations. (f) Reports Each grantee under this section shall submit reports at such time, in such manner, and containing such information as the Secretary may require. (g) Definitions In this section, the terms Indian tribe tribal organization 25 U.S.C. 1603 (h) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $56,700,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. . 3. Grant program to recruit and mentor American Indian and Alaska Native youth and young adults Subpart 3 of part E of title VII of the Public Health Service Act ( 42 U.S.C. 295f 779. Recruitment and mentoring of American Indian and Alaska Native youth and young adults (a) In general The Secretary shall make grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations for the purpose of recruiting and mentoring American Indian and Alaska Native youth and young adults in health professions. (b) Use of funds An Indian tribe or tribal organization receiving a grant under subsection (a) shall use the grant funds— (1) to expose American Indian and Alaska Native adolescent youth or young adults to health professions; (2) to promote science education; (3) to establish mentoring relationships between— (A) American Indian and Alaska Native youth or young adults; and (B) health professionals; (4) to provide hands-on learning experiences in a health care setting; (5) to establish partnerships with institutions of higher education (including tribal colleges), local educational agencies, and other community-based entities to develop a larger and more competitive applicant pool for health professional careers; or (6) to provide counseling, mentoring, and other services designed to assist American Indian and Alaska Native youth or young adults in the pursuit of higher education with respect to health professions. (c) Definitions In this section: (1) Health profession The term health profession Health profession 25 U.S.C. 1603 (2) Indian tribe The term Indian tribe 25 U.S.C. 1603 (3) Tribal organization The term tribal organization 25 U.S.C. 5304 (d) Authorization of appropriations To carry out this section, there is authorized to be appropriated $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2018 through 2022. .

Summary: Native Health and Wellness Act of 2017 This bill amends the Public Health Service Act to require the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to award grants to Indian tribes or tribal organizations for promoting health, preventing disease, and reducing health disparities among American Indians and Alaska Natives. Specifically, grants may be used to: establish or support preventive health service programs that facilitate the achievement of health-status goals; establish or support public health services that reduce the prevalence of chronic disease among American Indians and Alaska Natives, or strengthen public health infrastructure to facilitate the surveillance and response to infectious disease and foodborne illness outbreaks. In addition, the Department of Health and Human Services must make grants to Indian tribes and tribal organizations for recruiting and mentoring American Indian and Alaska Native youth and young adults in health professions.