Content created by Assistant Secretary for Financial Resources (ASFR)
Fiscal Year 2024
Released March, 2023
Topics on this page: Cross-Agency Collaborations
Cross-Agency Collaborations
The Federal Government has a unique legal and political government-to-government relationship with tribal governments and provides health services for American Indians and Alaska Natives consistent with that special relationship. HHS works with tribal governments, urban Indian organizations, and other tribal organizations to facilitate greater consultation and coordination between states and tribes on health and human services issues. The HHS Office of Intergovernmental and External Affairs (IEA) facilitates Regional Tribal Consultations, Annual Tribal Budget Consultation, and regular meetings of the Secretary’s Tribal Advisory Council (STAC). The Indian Health Service (IHS) also regularly consults and confers with Tribes and Urban Indian Organizations on funding allocations and policy decisions that impact Indian Country.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, HHS increased the frequency of STAC meetings to ensure Tribal leaders have access to updated information and have adequate opportunities to raise concerns and provide feedback to HHS. HHS also participates in the White House bi-weekly Indian Country COVID-19 update call, which provides Tribal leaders with COVID-19 updates from across the Federal Government.