1. VA Update
Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board Quarterly Meeting
Portland, OR
January 16, 2018
Introduction

2. VA Secretary’s Five Priorities - VA’s Strategic Framework

3. Community Care Coordination
Existing reimbursement agreements will expire on June 30th 2019 – discussions on follow-on agreements will be conducted.
Care coordination is largely a local matter – we need to know where this is not working well. Building relationships between tribes/IHS and VA is key.
Only direct care is reimbursed under existing agreements. Future ability to reimburse for purchased care is unknown; we welcome collaboration with one or more tribes to improve coordination of VA purchased care.

4. Tribal Health Program
Contract with Cerner to purchase a new Electronic Health Record is being pursued (no estimated award date)
Eligibility for VA healthcare benefits is defined in legislation; we can only apply those criteria to assess whether a Veteran is eligible. Enrollment staff at the local VA Medical Center can assist with this is a good resource
Pharmacy billing questions

5. Tribal Health Program (continued)
GAO reports on VA-IHS MOU
VA training for coordinating services - addressed at local levels
Cultural Competency – OTGR office working on training module
Veterans Choice Program (VCP) – describe and update
On Dec 22nd VCP funding was extended ($2.1 billion); should last until mid-2018
Emergency MH care expanded to OTH-discharged Vets last spring
Latest EO offers 1 year MH care to all newly discharged Vets
Pending legislation: CARE Act
Congressional interest in expanding VA Caregiver Support Program to earlier Vet cadres (earlier than 9/11 gen)

6. VA Office of Tribal Government Relations Update
VA releasing their 2017 Executive Summary Report regarding engagement with Indian Country
Going through concurrence process now
Nationwide Outreach Campaign in Indian Country for Veterans with presumptive disabilities
DTLL sent out October 30, 2017
20 Tribes responded – 6 within my region (AK, CA, NV, OR, WA)
VA OTGR engaging in 2018 outreach across Indian Country
Veteran Summits, Regional Tribal Meetings, Veteran Training, Tribal Site Visits

7. Questions Regarding Reimbursement Agreements
Bill Murray, VISN 20 Strategic Planner,
Terry Bentley, Tribal Government Relations Specialist, Pacific District (OR, WA, CA, ID, NV, CA, AK)
VHA Chief Business Office for Purchased Care,
It’s been our pleasure to go over this presentation with you today. Here’s our contact information.
I’ll now open it up for any questions.