Indian Health Service March 23, 2011 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Indian Health Service (IHS) is providing notice of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the IHS and the Department of the Interior (DOI), signed in 2009, and has developed an amendment to that MOA that includes language consistent with Section 703 of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), Public Law 94-437, as amended. The purpose of the MOA and the amendment is to advance our partnership with Tribes and Federal stakeholders on alcohol and substance abuse prevention and treatment. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act's, Public Law 111-148, permanent authorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA) establishes timelines and requirements for coordinated actions by the Department of Interior (DOI), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Tribes and Tribal organizations. Specifically, Section 703 of the IHCIA provides new authorities that permit the DOI and HHS, acting through the Indian Health Service (IHS), to develop and enter into a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), or review and update any existing memoranda of agreement, as required by Section 4205 of the Indian Alcohol and Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act of 1986 (25 U.S.C.2411). DOI and IHS signed an MOA on this topic in 2009, and have developed an amendment to that MOA that includes language consistent with the new IHCIA provision. In accordance with Section 703 of the IHCIA, which states that the MOA between the IHS and DOI shall be published in the Federal Register, the agency is publishing notice of this MOA and the amendment to this MOA.