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Rural Tribal Health – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Tribal Health.

Gallup Indian Medical Center—an IHS-Operated Health Facility—Did Not Timely Conduct Required Background Checks of Staff and Supervise Certain Staff
Presents findings of an audit to determine whether Gallup Indian Medical Center, an Indian Health Service (IHS) operated facility, met federal requirements for conducting background investigations and supervision of staff in contact with Indian children. Offers recommendations to the IHS regarding completing background investigations, documenting provision staff supervision, and updating standard operating procedures for background investigations.
Additional links: Report in Brief
Date: 09/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Office of Inspector General (HHS)
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Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementia Diagnoses among American Indian and Alaska Native Adults Aged ≥45 Years, Indian Health Service System, 2016–2020
Describes the results of a study analyzing healthcare data from the Indian Health Service (IHS) for federal fiscal years 2016 to 2020 to estimate the number of American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) adults aged 45 years and older living with a Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) diagnosis. Includes demographic statistics by age group, sex, IHS region, and care setting.
Author(s): Andria Apostolou, Jordan L. Kennedy, Marissa K. Person, et al.
Citation: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 72(9), 2834-2841
Date: 08/2024
Type: Document
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Dental Anxiety and Oral Health in American Indian and Alaska Natives
Explores levels of "dental anxiety" or fear and anxiety around dental care in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Discusses the historical and cultural factors that contribute to dental distrust, anxiety, and avoidance among AI/AN individuals. Breaks down data by age, gender, and educational attainment, among other factors.
Author(s): Tamanna Tiwari, Casey D. Wright, Lisa J. Heaton, et al.
Citation: Journal of Public Health Dentistry
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
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Tribal Food Security: Opportunities Exist to Address Challenges in Federal Nutrition Programs
Explores issues related to tribal food security and whether federal nutrition programs meet tribal communities' needs. Describes American Indian/Alaska Native food insecurity rates and the food security challenges of tribal communities. Examines the extent to which select federal nutrition programs address tribal communities' needs and tribes' roles in administering these programs. Offers recommendations to Congress and the U.S. Department of Agriculture regarding the administration of the program and additional flexibilities to support tribes and states.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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CY 2025 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Proposed Rule (CMS 1809-P)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments for hospital outpatient and Ambulatory Surgical Center (ASC) services for calendar year 2025. Summarizes provisions regarding changes to Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and partial hospital program rate setting; a proposal to include an add-on payment to the Medicare outpatient hospital all-inclusive rate (AIR) for certain high-cost drugs for people with Medicare who receive care at Indian Health Service (IHS) or tribal hospitals; updates to the Hospital Outpatient Quality Reporting (OQR), Ambulatory Surgical Center Quality Reporting (ASCQR), and Rural Emergency Hospital Quality Reporting (REHQR) Programs; a proposal for new Conditions of Participation (CoPs) for hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs) for obstetrical services; Medicaid and CHIP continuous eligibility; Medicaid clinic services "four walls" exceptions; and more.
Date: 07/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Advancing Cancer Workforce Capacity for American Indians and Alaska Natives: The Development of a Validated System to Optimize Trainee Participation and Outcome Tracking
Outlines considerations and strategies for development and implementation of a tracking system to support federally funded workforce diversity programs with limited resources to document, track, and disseminate program outcomes for underrepresented trainees. Provides data on degree completion and professional positions of American Indian/Alaska Native (AIAN) trainees over a 20-year period.
Author(s): Kelly A. Laurila, Laurie D. Rogers, Celina I. Valencia, et al.
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 752
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
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Tribal Broadband: Additional Assistance to Recipients Would Better Support Implementation of $3 Billion in Federal Grants
This provides an overview of Tribal Broadband Connectivity Program (TBCP) grants, including recipients who had not received prior funding from key federal broadband programs and recipients' plans for network ownership and financial sustainability. Examines the extent to which the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) provided technical assistance to recipients regarding financial sustainability and navigating the environmental review process. Presents recommendations to NTIA on technical assistance and reporting to Congress on the resources necessary to ensure the financial sustainability of TBCP projects.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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American Indian and Alaska Natives in Tribal Areas Have Among Lowest Rates of High-Speed Internet Access
Highlights the gaps in access to high-speed internet in American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities. Details rates of broadband access by AI/AN households and on tribal lands in general, by state, and by year.
Author(s): Daniela Mejía
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Census Bureau
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Health Insurance Coverage and Access to Care among American Indians and Alaska Natives: Recent Trends and Key Challenges
Issue brief presenting data on rates of insurance coverage, Medicaid coverage, and access to healthcare for American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) using American Community Survey data. Discusses the impacts of health disparities, coverage expansions under the Affordable Care Act, and state Medicaid expansions on AI/AN populations.
Date: 06/2024
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Leading the Way on the Journey to Health Equity and Wellness for American Indians/Alaska Natives
Recording of a May 30, 2024, conference session on addressing tribal health disparities as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Equity Conference. Includes presentations from the National Indian Health Board on priorities for initiatives aimed at improving health equity for American Indians and Alaska Natives and CMS on improving and using demographic data to improve health equity, with a focus on Medicaid and CHIP data.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Date: 05/2024
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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Last Updated: 9/26/2024