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* Please enter your name and tribal government

Question Title

* Please rank your top five budget priorities for FY 2018.

  First Choice Second Choice Third Choice Fourth Choice Last Choice
Health Information Technology (IT) – Provides critical IT support to secure and reliable information technology that improves health care delivery and quality, enhances access to care, reduces medical errors, and modernizes administrative functions.
Purchased/Referred Care (PRC) - The California Area is 100% compacted and PRC dependent as there are no IHS-operated hospitals or clinics.
Indian Health Care Improvement Fund (IHCIF) measures the resources needed by tribal healthcare programs.  If Congress appropriates additional funding for the IHCIF, IHS and tribal healthcare programs with the greatest unmet needs are funded first.
Urban - Recent studies document poor health status and inadequate healthcare available and accessible to the urban AI/AN population living off of their reservations/rancherias.  There are 8 urban Indian healthcare programs in California.
Obesity/Diabetes + Complications (Dialysis) - The national rate of diabetes for AI/ANs is 16.1%.  Tribal and urban Indian healthcare programs use these funds to offer education, self-management support, clinical, and specialty care for diabetics.
Behavioral Health includes prevention and treatment of chemical dependence and depression.  Psychiatric and psychological services are necessary to improve outreach, education, crisis intervention, and the treatment of mental illness.  
Methamphetamine and Suicide Prevention/Domestic Violence Prevention projects promote the development of innovative models to address methamphetamine abuse, suicide, and domestic violence, and sexual assault in Indian Country.
Dental Health - The IHS dental program reduces dental decay in children, reduces periodontal disease in children and adults, and fluoridates both tribal and community water systems.  
Sanitation Facilities Construction offers technical environmental engineering expertise and financial assistance to California tribal governments for the development and continued operation of safe drinking water and wastewater disposal facilities.
Pharmacy – Seek an IHS budget line item for pharmaceutical products and services similar to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
Tribal Healthcare Facilities (e.g. Small Ambulatory Program, Joint Venture Construction Program, and Maintenance & Improvement)
Higher Increase in H&C for Local Priorities - Congress no longer has the ability to “earmark” funds to address local health crises in their districts. An innovative approach must be created to fund critical health issues identified by Tribes.

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* Please rank your top five priorities for Unfunded New Programs and Services Authorized in the Indian Health Care Improvement Act.

  First Choice Second Choice Third Choice Fourth Choice Last Choice
Sec. 111. Community Health Aid Program (CHAP).  New CHAP program, similar to that in Alaska, for other states, excluding dental unless state authorized.
Sec. 112. Health professional chronic shortage demonstration program.  New demonstration programs to address workforce shortages.
Sec. 123. Diabetes Prevention, Treatment and Control.  Scope of SDPI services is expanded to include dialysis.
Sec. 124. Other authority for provision of services.  New long term care and assisted living services.
Sec. 127. Behavioral Health Training and Community Education Programs.  New 500 position comprehensive behavioral health workforce.
Sec. 132. American Indians Into Psychology Program.  New grants to colleges and universities to promote psychology careers.
Sec. 133. Prevention, Control, and elimination of Communicable and Infectious Diseases.  New grants and demonstration projects for disease prevention.
Sec. 136. Office of Indian Men’s and Indian Women’s Health.  Establish and staff an office of men’s health in IHS
Sec. 143. Indian Health Care Delivery Demonstration Projects.  New demonstration projects to test alternative health care models.
Sec. 146. Indian Country Modular Component Facilities Demonstration Program.  Construct new and modular types of facilities to demonstrate effectiveness and value.
Sec. 147. Mobile Health Stations Demonstration Program.  Purchase mobile stations to demonstrate effectiveness and value.
Sec. 153. Grants to and Contracts with the Service, tribes, etc. to Facilitate Outreach, Enrollment, and Coverage of Indians under SSA and other Benefits Programs.  New grants and contracts to facilitate enrollment.
Sec. 161. Facilities Renovation.  Renovation, construction, expansion of urban Indian health facilities.
Sec. 164. Expand Program Authority for Sec. Urban Indian Organizations.  New grants to urban organizations for additional health activities.
Sec. 165. Community Health Representatives (CHRs).  Establish a CHR like program for urban organizations.
Sec. 166. Use of Federal Government Facilities and Sources of Supply; Health Information Technology.  Permits urban organizations to use HHS buildings and equipment and provide new grants to expand I.T. adoption.
Sec. 173. Nevada Area Office.  Establish and staff a new Nevada IHS Area Office.
Sec. 192. Arizona, North Dakota and South Dakota as Contract Health Service Delivery Areas; eligibility of California Indians.  Expands CHS eligibility in ND and SD if existing patients are not harmed.
Sec. 704. Comprehensive Behavioral Health Prevention and Treatment Program.  Expands scope of behavioral health care programs and services.
Sec. 705. Mental Health Technician Program.  Comprehensive training of community mental health paraprofessionals.
Sec. 707. Indian Women Treatment Programs.  New grants to develop additional behavioral health programs for women.
Sec. 708. Indian Youth Program.  Expands the scope of treatments in Youth Regional Treatment Centers.
Sec. 709. Inpatient and Community Mental Health Facilities Design, Construction, and Staffing.  Construct and staff one inpatient mental health care facility per IHS Area.
Sec. 710. Training and Community Education.  New programs to education officials and community members.
Sec. 711. Behavioral Health Program.  New grants to establish community-based behavioral health services.
Sec. 712. Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Programs.  Comprehensive FAS training for providers.
Sec. 713. Child Sexual Abuse and Prevention Treatment Programs.  Establish regional demonstration projects and new treatment programs in every service area.
Sec. 715. Behavioral Health Research.  New grants for Indian behavioral health research.
Sec. 726. Indian Youth Life Skills Development Demonstration Program.  New Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants.

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* How would you like to see IHS improve "quality of and access to health care" for each of your top ranked budget priorities?

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* How would you like to see IHS improve "customer service" for each of your top ranked budget priorities?

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* What makes IHS a good investment for each of your top ranked budget priorities?

Do you have a Hot Issue?  If so, please complete the Hot Issue Template attached to the e-mail.

Are you willing to share a Personal Testimony?  If so, please complete Personal Testimony Template attached to the e-mail. 
Note:  Personal testimonies may be shared publicly at the HHS Annual National Tribal Budget and Policy Consultation Session in February.

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