Improving Tribal Nation–Specific Mortality Numerators in the South and Eastern Tribes

: : The United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc, Tribal Epidemiology Center (TEC) has been conducting a Tribal Nation-specific mortality surveillance project for approximately 13 years. Coded death records are received from states via one of 3 data release methods (open, closed, direct) and matched to Tribal Nation electronic health records. Data quality varies depending on the method of data release. The TEC plans a new method to better identify Tribal Nation decedents and return more robust information to improve Tribal Nation-specific mortality data and strengthen Tribal data sovereignty.