Biography

Myra M. Munson founded the Juneau office of our firm in 1990, after serving as Commissioner of the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services from 1986 to 1990.  Her nationwide practice emphasizes self-determination and self-governance, the Indian Health Care Improvement Act (IHCIA), Medicaid and other third-party reimbursement issues, and other tribal health program operations issues.

Ms. Munson has represented tribes in planning and assuming programs and negotiating Title I and Title V agreements with the Indian Health Service (IHS) in more than half of the IHS Areas.  She served on the negotiated rule making committees for the Title IV and Title V regulations.

She was a technical advisor to the IHCIA National Steering Committee from its inception; assisted in drafting and editing substantial sections of the reauthorization; and testified before the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. Since its adoption as part of the Affordable Care Act, she has conducted innumerable training programs at national and regional conferences and for individual tribes and tribal organizations, as well as assisting tribal health programs to implement various provisions of the IHCIA and ACA.

Ms. Munson is also a member of the NIHB Medicare & Medicaid Policy Committee, and a technical advisor to the CMS Tribal Technical Advisory Group since their inception.  She actively serves on a number of subcommittees, including ACA Policy, Tribal Consultation, and  Regulation Review. 

In other areas of practice, Ms. Munson worked with Alaska Tribal Health Programs to draft the  Community Health Aide Program Standards, including the standards for Dental Health Aide Therapists, and now assists tribes and organizations considering expansion of these services in other locations. She has worked on state redistricting matters with Donald Simon of our DC office. 

Ms. Munson was born in Juneau, Alaska and grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska. She earned her bachelor's degree at University of Alaska Fairbanks in 1972, and her law degree and master's degree in social work at the University of Denver in 1980 – both with distinction.  Ms. Munson is currently serving on the Board of Alaska Legal Services Corporation. 

In 2003 Ms. Munson was awarded the Alaska Federation of Native’s Denali Award, and in 2011, the Healthy Alaska Natives Foundation awarded her its President’s Award for promoting public understanding of Alaska Native health and wellness issues.