Bill Overview
Title: Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act of 2022
Description: 2022 This bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to deploy drugs, vaccines, biological products, medical devices, and other supplies from the Strategic National Stockpile directly to health programs or facilities operated by the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribes, or tribal organizations. Such supplies from the stockpile are used to respond to public health emergencies. Specifically, if HHS distributes pandemic or epidemic products (e.g., drugs or medical devices) to states or other entities, HHS must also deploy such products directly to health programs or facilities operated by IHS or other tribal entities. HHS must coordinate with states, programs, and facilities to ensure supplies and products are distributed to such tribal entities.
Sponsors: Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA]
Target Audience
Population: Indigenous peoples and associated health service recipients
Estimated Size: 2600000
- The bill provides direct access to the Strategic National Stockpile for health facilities operated by the Indian Health Service (IHS), tribes, or tribal organizations.
- The target population includes members of American Indian and Alaska Native tribes, along with staff and patients at related health facilities.
- The IHS provides services to approximately 2.6 million American Indian and Alaska Native people.
- Indigenous peoples worldwide face similar public health challenges and may indirectly benefit from the U.S. example.
Reasoning
- The Tribal Medical Supplies Stockpile Access Act of 2022 targets a specific population: members of the American Indian and Alaska Native tribes who rely on the Indian Health Service (IHS) for medical facilities. These communities face unique public health challenges and disparities compared to the general U.S. population.
- The budget allows for significant, though initially limited, scaling of stockpile resources to tribal health services. The policy's impact will initially be localized primarily to these tribal networks rather than the general population.
- The policy is anticipated to provide significant positive impact due to previously limited access to critical medical supplies, especially during public health emergencies like pandemics or epidemics.
- In crafting simulated interviews, diversity in representation is key, including people living on reservations, urban-dwelling Native Americans, health care workers in the IHS, and non-tribal members who may not see direct benefits.
- Most direct benefits will accrue to those using and working in tribal healthcare services, while indirect benefits may extend outward through improved public health responses where communities collaborate closely with tribal entities.
Simulated Interviews
Community Health Representative (Navajo Nation, Arizona)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy is a game changer for us. Before, supplies took too long to arrive.
- Our community can now rest assured that in cases of outbreaks, we are not left out.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Medical Doctor at IHS Clinic (Sioux Falls, South Dakota)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy bridges the gap between federal resources and our community needs.
- I expect improvements in patient outcomes because of faster access to medical stockpiles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Urban Program Coordinator (Seattle, Washington)
Age: 29 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm hopeful that this policy will mean our urban programs aren't left out.
- Coordination with local health departments will be crucial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Retired, Former IHS Staff (Anchorage, Alaska)
Age: 62 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- It's about time that we have direct access to something other than leftovers from the federal supply.
- This is crucial for remote and hard-to-reach areas.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Public Health Educator (Bismarck, North Dakota)
Age: 53 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The access to stockpiled supplies will significantly enhance our emergency preparedness education.
- It's an empowerment tool for our communities.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 7 |
Emergency Medicine Specialist, IHS (Phoenix, Arizona)
Age: 41 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy will directly improve our frontline responses to health crises.
- We can better serve the population with quicker access to life-saving supplies.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Pharmacist, Tribal Health Clinic (Kansas City, Missouri)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Pharmaceutical equity is being addressed here, which is crucial.
- I anticipate fewer drug shortages as a result of this policy.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
Non-profit Worker (New York, New York)
Age: 30 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 1/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is a step in the right direction for addressing systemic issues.
- It sets a precedent for future policies aimed at indigenous healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 6 |
Health Policy Analyst (Los Angeles, California)
Age: 28 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- While the policy targets a specific group, it highlights broader governmental responsibilities towards healthcare equity.
- Ensuring it is effectively coordinated will be key.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 7 |
Tribal Leader (Albuquerque, New Mexico)
Age: 50 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This is an overdue solution to systemic neglect.
- We have to ensure the policy is correctly implemented to see real change.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $10000000 (Low: $7000000, High: $15000000)
Year 2: $9000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $14000000)
Year 3: $9000000 (Low: $6000000, High: $14000000)
Year 5: $8500000 (Low: $5500000, High: $13000000)
Year 10: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $12000000)
Year 100: $7500000 (Low: $5000000, High: $12000000)
Key Considerations
- Coordination complexity with both state and tribal entities can affect implementation efficiency.
- Potential risks of delays in supply distribution should be proactively mitigated to ensure effectiveness.
- The health needs of the diversified tribal population must be continually assessed to tailor supply distribution effectively.