Update on Veteran Affairs (VA)/Indian Health Service (IHS) Memorandum of Agreement and Opportunities for Tribes

January 21, 2015

This webinar covered the following:

IHS memorandum of agreement with the Veterans Administration;

Opportunities for IHS and for Tribal Health Programs to enter into reimbursement/sharing agreements with VA under which VA will pay for services provided by the Indian Health Program to American Indian and Alaska Native eligible veterans and, in some cases, non-AI/AN veterans; and

Provide an introduction to the Choice Act under which veterans are able to use non-VA providers and how it may affect AI/AN veterans.

Presenter Information:

Presenter: Myra M. Munson

Myra M. Munson, Partner, Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse, Miller & Munson Law Firm, LLP – Myra joined the firm in 1990, following four years of distinguished service as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS). Prior to that time, she served as an Assistant Attorney General in the Alaska Department of Law representing primarily DHSS. Ms. Munson received her J.D. degree from the University of Denver – School of Law while simultaneously earning an MSW degree.

Ms. Munson’s areas of emphasis include health law, lobbying and regulatory practice, Medicare/Medicaid issues, Title IV “self-governance” issues, representing non-profits, nursing homes, mental health centers, hospitals and other health care providers, Indian Child Welfare Act matters, and reapportionment law.

Facilitator: Cyndi Ferguson

Cyndi Ferguson has extensive experience, including: management and implementation of Tribal Self Governance in the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service programs; negotiation of Self-Governance Funding Agreements with Federal agencies; internal Tribal governance planning; and participation on Tribal Team to develop several major legislative initiatives, including amendments to the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (Title IV, Title V and Title VI). Cyndi has been a lead presenter on national Tribal Self-Governance Trainings, including the recent Self-Governance Health Care Reform outreach and education efforts surrounding implementation of the Affordable Care Act. She has been an active, long-term participant on several Tribal/Federal Workgroups and currently serves as the facilitator for the National Indian Health Board-Medicare and Medicaid Policy Committee.