Subject: TRIBAL CONSULTATION: To Implement New, USDA Emergency Health Care Grants in Tribal Communities

WASHINGTON, April 28, 2021 – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced it is hosting a consultation to solicit input on ways to implement new, emergency health care grants in tribal communities.

Congress appropriated $500 million in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to create the grants to help rural health care facilities, tribes and communities expand access to COVID-19 vaccines, health care services and nutrition assistance. USDA will administer the funds through the Community Facilities Program.

USDA is requesting input from tribal leaders to identify potential challenges and opportunities for delivering the funds on tribal lands.

The consultation will help USDA identify:

• How the funds can be used to improve access to quality health care for tribes;
• Financial and operational needs of tribal health care providers;
• Barriers for tribes to access funding; and
• Additional considerations, such as critical health care issues on tribal lands, that need to be taken into account to help define health care opportunities for tribes.

The consultation will be held virtually on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

To register, visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4072164873111932688.

USDA framing paper