CDC and Tribal Epidemiology Centers:
Working Relationship Update
Victoria Warren-Mears
Epicenter Director
vwarrenmears@npaihb.org
Overview
 CDC historical relationship
 Granting of Public Health Authority Status
 Visit to NWTEC by Dr. Ursula Bauer
 Calls with Dr. Bauer
 Letter to Dr. Frieden
 Future Directions
NW TEC and CDC
 We have had funding from CDC for a variety of projects,
including the Tribal EpiCenter Consortium and Data into
Action, Comprehensive Cancer Program, and Tribal
Community Survey (Tribal BRFSS)
Public Health Authorities of TECs
 In the Affordable Care Act Indian Health Care Improvement
Act reauthorization TECs were designated at Public Health
Authorities
Tribal Epidemiology Centers
 2010 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
 Permanently reauthorized the IHCIA
 TECs given “public health authority” status
Tribal Epidemiology Centers
 2010 AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
 Health and Human Services (HHS) directed to give TECs access
to HHS data systems and protected health information
 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must provide TECs
technical assistance
 Each IHS Area must have TEC access
Collect and
Monitor
Progress
toward meeting
health status
objectives
Evaluate
Delivery
Systems
Assist Tribes
and Tribal
Organizations
with Epi Data
Make
recommendations
to improve health
care delivery
Make
recommendations
for service targets
Provide TA to
Tribes and
Tribal
Organizations
Provide
disease
surveillance
Seven Core
Functions of
Tribal
Epidemiology
Centers
Core TEC Functions
TEC Core Functions
 “In consultation with and on the request of Indian tribes,
tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations, each
Service area epidemiology center established under this
section shall, with respect to the applicable Service area:
 Collect data
 Evaluate data and programs
 Identify health priorities with tribes
 Make recommendations for health service needs
TEC Core Functions
 Make recommendations for improving health care delivery
systems
 Provide epidemiologic technical assistance
 Provide disease surveillance to tribes
TEC Activities
 Collect and disseminate data…
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Provide analysis of health data
Area/Tribal specific health status reports…
Community Health Profiles
Maintain/provide access to surveillance databases
Conduct epidemiologic studies
Support public health emergency response
Assist Tribes in disease control and prevention
Provide training… Epidemiology, Data Collection, and
Public Health
Visit with Dr. Ursula Bauer
Recent Tribe and Tribal Organization
Specific CDC RFP
 All TEC Directors call with Dr. Bauer to address needs from
CDC
 TC from Dr. Bauer to suggest a letter to Dr. Frieden to
elevate concerns to the Agency level
 Release of CDC RFP
 Letter sent to Dr. Frieden signed by all TEC directors
 Response received June 8, 2014 from Dr. Frieden
Recent Tribe and Tribal Organization
Specific CDC RFP
 CDC RFP:
 Two components
 Tribes
 Tribal Organizations
 Require letters of support from 50% of the area served plus 1
Conversations with Dr. Frieden
Future Directions
 Continue to dialogue with CDC
 Share movement with Tribal leadership
Questions and Comments