2015 CANAR Training Conference(Consortia of Administrators for Native American Rehabilitation)United as Warriors: Telling Our StoryRadisson Salt Lake City DowntownNovember 9-12, 2015

LORAE HOMANA PAWIKIVA Office of Tribal Government Relations (OTGR) SpecialistSOUTHWEST REGION (AZ, CO, NM, UT)

OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care

REIMBURSEMENT ACTIVITY~$29,220,382.66 ~6,076 Total Unique Veterans ~86 Tribal Health Program sites ~83 Indian Health Service sites

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care

TRAINING TO STRENGTHEN REIMBURSEMENT

~VA-IHS/THP Reimbursement Program Team

Periodic

~Enrollment Overview by VHA

Offered by HEC and CBO - Health Eligibility Center and Chief Business Office

3rd Tuesday each month

Request invitation – send message to Tribal.Agreements@va.gov

~VA-IHS/THP Reimbursement Agreement Program

Enrollment Eligibility Innovative, Engaging, Blended Learning

December 2014 (film)

~http://www.va.gov/PURCHASEDCARE/programs/veterans/nonvacare/ihs/index.asp

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

OTGR Goal 2: Promote Economic Sustainability

Expand Knowledge and Use

of Native American Direct Loan

(NADL) Program

Veterans Benefits Administration

(VBA) product

~91 Tribal Governments signed NADL MOU

~3 Tribal Governments in process

to sign NADL MOU

Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/08/13/housing-vets-coming-taos-pueblo-161366

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

Housing for Vets Coming to Taos PuebloHarlan McKosato 8/13/15Native American veterans from Taos Pueblo in New Mexico were pleased by the recent signing of MOU

OTGR Goal 3: Implement Tribal Consultation Policy

Listening Session

National Indian Health Board 2012 Conference in Denver, Colorado

Tribal Consultation SessionNational Indian Health Board 2014 Conference Albuquerque, New Mexico September 8, 2014

Proposed Realignment of Services VA Hot Springs, SD November 2014

Tribal Consultation Choice Act Section 102 c

December 2014

OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care

OTGR Goal 2: Promote Economic Sustainability

OTGR Goal 3: Implement Tribal Consultation Policy

Conduct Veterans Training Summits

22 Summits (2012 to 2015)

2,800 participants

Supports 3 OTGR Goals

Forum for VA Subject Matter Experts

for Tribal Program and IHS Representatives

for Listening to Tribal Veterans

for Tribal Leadership and VA Leadership

*does not include latest Summits in Northwest

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

Conduct Webcasts• Establishing Reimbursement Agreements Between VA and Tribal Health Programs on

03/25/2014• Using the Native American Direct Loan (NADL) on 11/22/2013

Network, partner, collaborate in Indian Country• Meeting Tribal Leaders, Tribal Health Directors, Tribal Veterans Representatives in region to

facilitate access to healthcare and benefits• Meeting Veterans – help field concerns for healthcare or benefits

Write and eMail OTGR National Newsletter

Active OTGR website – www.va.gov/tribalgovernment

Support Veteran Court Resource Guide for Tribal Veterans

Support VA published report • “American Indian and Alaska Native Service Members and Veterans, September

2012”

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

Veterans Cemetery Grants on Tribal Lands(National Cemetery Administration initiative)

1) Pine Ridge, SD – dedication ceremony July 9, 2014

2) Rosebud, SD – open

3) Yurok Tribe, CA – dedication ceremony August 12, 2014 ($3,318,990)

4) Pasqua Yaqui, AZ – open

5) Seminole Nation, OK – under construction

FY 14 Grant Opportunities

6) Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Tribes – MT

7) Crow Nation – MT

8) San Carlos Apache – AZ

9) Ponca Tribe – OK

5) Catawba Nation – SC (FY15)

OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

OTGR Goal 1: Facilitate Increased Access to Health Care

OTGR Goal 2: Promote Economic Sustainability

OTGR Goal 3: Implement Tribal Consultation Policy

VA OTGR NATIONAL UPDATE

SILETZ HONOR GUARD FORT BERTHOLD HONOR GUARD

GILA RIVER FLAG CEREMONY

CHINLE COLOR GUARD UTE MOUNTAIN UTE VETERANS

Lorae.pawiki@va.gov – Office of Tribal Government Relations / Point of Contact / Southwest Region

www.va.gov/tribalgovernment - Main website

Tribal.agreements@va.gov – VA-IHS-THP Reimbursement Agreements

Tribal.Consultation@va.gov – eMail for tribal leaders to submit inquiries directly to VA

http://www.va.gov/PURCHASEDCARE/programs/veterans/nonvacare/ihs/index.asp - Get updates on current health care reimbursement information.

OTGR CONTACT INFORMATION