mmpc - National Indian Health Board
mmpc - National Indian Health Board
mmpc - National Indian Health Board
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Mr. John n J. O'Brien<br />
Director, , <strong>Health</strong>care and Insuran nce<br />
U.S. Offi ice of Person nnel Manage ement<br />
1900 E Street, S NW, Room R 5532B B<br />
Washing gton, DC 204 415-0001<br />
Re: NIHB N Comm ments on Draf ft Multi-Stat te Plan Proggram<br />
Applicaation<br />
Dear Mr. . O'Brien:<br />
On behal lf of the <strong>National</strong><br />
<strong>Indian</strong> n <strong>Health</strong> Bo oard<br />
Office of f Personnel Managemen M t (OPM) Dra<br />
comment ts are provid ded below as s well as in th<br />
1 , I am wwriting<br />
to suubmit<br />
commments<br />
on thee<br />
U.S.<br />
aft 2014 Muulti-State<br />
Plaan<br />
Program AApplication.<br />
. Our<br />
he attached ccomment<br />
temmplate.<br />
The Mul lti-State Plan n Program (Program) ( will w be criticcally<br />
importtant<br />
to ensurre<br />
that Ameerican<br />
<strong>Indian</strong>s and a Alaska Natives N (AI/ /ANs) are ab ble to accesss<br />
affordable health insurrance<br />
througgh<br />
the<br />
Affordab ble Insurance e Exchanges s (Exchanges s). As discuussed<br />
below, , AI/ANs haave<br />
a federal right<br />
to health care at no cost c to them through the e <strong>Indian</strong> Heaalth<br />
Service, Tribes and Tribal progrrams,<br />
and urban<br />
<strong>Indian</strong> org ganizations (collectively<br />
( , the I/T/U oof<br />
the <strong>Indian</strong>n<br />
health systtem).<br />
Becauuse<br />
of<br />
this, they y are unlikely y to purchas se insurance products onn<br />
the Exchannges<br />
unless tthey<br />
can conntinue<br />
to receive<br />
care at no cost to them m, and do so at the Indiaan<br />
health carre<br />
provider oof<br />
their choicce.<br />
If<br />
they do not particip pate in the Exchanges, E AI/ANs willl<br />
not be abble<br />
to take aadvantage<br />
oof<br />
the<br />
1 Establish<br />
Del livered via electronic e traansmission<br />
Octo ober 22, 20122<br />
hed 40 years ag go, NIHB is an n inter-Tribal organization o thaat<br />
advocates onn<br />
behalf of Triibal<br />
governmennts<br />
for<br />
the provisi ion of quality health h care to all American <strong>Indian</strong>s and AAlaska<br />
Natives. . NIHB is govverned<br />
by a Booard<br />
of<br />
Directors consisting c of a representative<br />
from each of<br />
the twelve Inndian<br />
<strong>Health</strong> SService<br />
(“IHS” ”) Areas. Eachh<br />
Area<br />
<strong>Health</strong> Boa ard elects a rep presentative to o sit on the NIH HB <strong>Board</strong> of DDirectors.<br />
In arreas<br />
where theere<br />
is no Area H<strong>Health</strong><br />
<strong>Board</strong>, Tri ibal governme ents choose a representative who communnicates<br />
policy information aand<br />
concerns of the<br />
Tribes in that area with h NIHB. Whe ether Tribes op perate their enntire<br />
health caare<br />
program tthrough<br />
contraacts<br />
or<br />
compacts with IHS und der Public La aw 93-638, th he <strong>Indian</strong> Selff-Determinatioon<br />
and Educattion<br />
Assistancce<br />
Act<br />
(“ISDEAA A”), or continue e to also rely on o IHS for deli ivery of some, or even most, of their healthh<br />
care, NIHB iis<br />
their<br />
advocate
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