Dear Tribal Leader Letters
Physician Retention Listening Session Letter (PDF - 196 KB) - April 1, 2022
Spring 2022 HRSA Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) Meeting (PDF - 128 KB) - March 22, 2022
HRSA’s Efforts
HRSA’s Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) leads HRSA’s Tribal Affairs work and serves as HRSA’s primary point of contact for tribal governments and tribal organizations. HRSA’s goal is to advance tribal health systems and resources, partnering with federal agencies and other organizations to increase access to HRSA programs. Working with the tribal communities, HRSA aims to increase opportunities to access and optimize the quality and performance of the tribal health system increasing the capacity of Indian Country to respond to the impact of disease burden among American Indians and Alaska Natives.
To help tribal organizations maximize the impact of key government programs, HRSA identified the following priorities:
- Increase Urban Indian Health participation in the Health Center Program.
- Improve usage of Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) designation to tribal populations.
- Shortage Designation Criteria:
- Members of Indian tribes are automatically designated as population HPSAs.
- Outpatient health programs or facilities operated by a tribe or tribal organization under the Indian Self-Determination Act, or by an urban Indian organization receiving funds under Title V of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, are considered Federally Qualified Health Centers, and thus automatically designated HPSAs.
- Shortage Designation Criteria:
- Support the workforce through health professions programs and the National Health Service Corps.
- Enhance participation in the HRSA competitive grants process.
HRSA Tribal Advisory Council (TAC)
In 2021, HRSA established a Tribal Advisory Council (TAC) as a forum for elected tribal officials and HRSA staff to exchange views, information, or advice about:
- Emerging public health issues in Indian Country
- Urgent public health resources and service needs
- Collaborative approaches to address the issues and needs of American Indian and Alaska Native populations
TAC Resources
- April 26-27, 2022 Meeting Agenda (PDF - 115 KB)
- December 1-2, 2021 Meeting Summary (PDF - 635 KB)
- December 1-2, 2021 Meeting Agenda (PDF - 173 KB)
- HRSA TAC Charter (PDF - 79 KB)
- HRSA TAC Member List (PDF - 141 KB)
- HRSA TAC Member Regions Map (PDF - 792 KB)
- HRSA TAC Member Bios (PDF - 110 KB)
Dear Tribal Leader Letters
- Substance Use Disorder Treatment and Recovery Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) Letter (PDF - 38 KB) - April 22, 2022
- National Health Service Corps New Site Application (PDF - 103 KB) - March 21, 2022
- Nurse Corps and National Health Service Corps 2022 Application Cycles Letter (PDF - 151 KB) - March 15, 2022
- Provider Relief Fund Letter (PDF - 206 KB) - December 21, 2021
- HRSA Annual Tribal Consultation Letter (PDF - 76 KB) - November 30, 2021
- National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program 2022 Application Cycle Letter (PDF - 34 KB) - November 24, 2021
- Maternity Care Target Areas (MCTA) Criteria Letter (PDF - 74 KB) - October 22, 2021
- HRSA's Shortage Designation Modernization Project Related to Tribes and Urban Indian Organizations Letter (PDF - 47 KB) - September 15, 2021
- HRSA's October 2021 Annual Tribal Consultation Letter (PDF - 74 KB) - September 10, 2021
- Reorganization of HRSA's Tribal Health Affairs Team Letter (PDF - 33 KB) - August 31, 2021
- Substance Use Disorder and Treatment Loan Repayment Program (STAR LRP) Letter (PDF - 130 KB) - July 6, 2021
- $15 Million in NHSC Loan Repayment Programs Earmarked for Indian Country Letter (PDF - 33 KB) - April 22, 2021
- New Information Related to Tribes and Urban Indian Organizations on Training for the HRSA 2021 National Shortage Designation Update 2.0 As Part of the Shortage Designation Modernization Project Letter (PDF - 31 KB) - March 11, 2021
- Update to the Establishment of the HRSA Tribal Advisory Council Letter (PDF - 34 KB) - February 23, 2021
Tribal Health Resources
- Telehealth for American Indian and Alaska Native communities
- Health Centers Dually Funded by the IHS and HRSA (PDF - 113 KB)
- Grants for Underserved Populations
- Loans & Scholarships
- Shortage Designation: Health Professional Shortage Areas & Medically Underserved Areas/Populations
- HRSA and American Indians and Alaska Natives
- CDC Tribal Health
- SAMHSA SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) Technical Assistance Center
- SAMHSA National Tribal Behavioral Health Agenda
- Rural Tribal Health – Funding & Opportunities
- Tribal Colleges and Universities
- National Council of Urban Indian Health
- National Indian Health Board
Policy Updates
- HRSA Tribal Consultation Policy (PDF - 131 KB)
- Health Resources for American Indian/Alaska Native Women and Families (PDF - 72 KB)
If you have questions related to HRSA’s Tribal Affairs activities, you may contact HRSA IEA’s Tribal Affairs team at aianhealth@hrsa.gov.