Covering Indian Country – October 2022

 

October 2022

 

Spotlight: Outreach to Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries When the COVID-19 public health emergency ends, states will resume routine operations, which include eligibility terminations. The process of reviewing the eligibility of Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) enrollees is often referred to as "unwinding." To ensure a smooth "unwinding" process, states will need to contact the beneficiaries for completion of eligibility renewals. In many cases, limited postal delivery and broadband service make it challenging for states to reach American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) beneficiaries who live on tribal lands. For that reason, Indian health care providers (IHCPs) play a key role in connecting with and retaining AI/AN beneficiaries. IHCPs play a key role in connecting with and retaining AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. Accordingly, CMS has urged states to engage with tribes and IHCPs to: Discuss unwinding activities at tribal/state meetings Share implementation plans and seek tribal input Collaborate on outreach to Medicaid or CHIP enrollees to remind them to update their contact information and complete their renewals CMS also encourages states to share monthly enrollment and renewal data with IHCPs consistent with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and Medicaid confidentiality safeguards. Additionally, CMS recommends that states leverage the updated communications toolkit, Medicaid and CHIP Continuous Enrollment Unwinding (PDF, 1.7 MB, 15 pp), which now includes tailored resources to support outreach to AI/AN Medicaid beneficiaries. In the meantime, tribes and tribal organizations may find it helpful to download the Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee’s recent brief (PDF, 342 KB, 2 pp) for an overview of federal guidance on Medicaid and CHIP eligibility and enrollment procedures.

 

October: Domestic violence

 

Share this ad in your newsletter or on your website. Other sizes are available on CMS’s Outreach and Education Resources page. Public service announcements Share these brief audio clips and videos, available in Native languages and English, on your local radio station, website, and Facebook page. Audio clips   Videos Tweet it Visit HealthCare.gov to learn about special enrollment periods for domestic violence survivors. https://youtu.be/8TqiTRbFgUw #CMSNativeHealth Brochures about health care coverage Access these resources online at your convenience: CMS’s regional brochures help people learn more about health care coverage and locate their nearest Indian health facility. The CMS Programs at a Glance brochure (PDF, 1.1 MB, 2 pp) reviews health care coverage options and benefits specific to American Indians and Alaska Natives.

 

Health observances

 

October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month This year, the theme of Domestic Violence Awareness Month is #Every1KnowsSome1. The theme is intended to highlight how common domestic violence is and increase awareness of tactics that abusive partners may use in addition to physical violence. For more information about those tactics, download Intimate Partner Violence: Unnatural Power and Control Descriptions (PDF, 121 KB, 4 pp). Published by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, the brochure: Explains how intimate partner violence differs from dysfunctional or unhealthy relationships Describes how abusive partners intimidate, isolate, or blame their victims Lists actions that fall into the categories of emotional, economic, ritual, and cultural abuse

 

Breast cancer screening October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this year Indigenous Pink Day falls on October 20. Both observances highlight the importance of breast cancer screening. When breast cancer is found early, treatment is more likely to be successful. Help promote breast cancer screening for Native women, men, and non-binary or gender-fluid people by: Sharing the American Indian Cancer Foundation’s Indigenous Pink Social Media Toolkit (PDF, 374 KB, 2 pp) Reminding people that mammography is an essential health benefit

 

Additional resources

 

NNED webinar on community needs assessments The latest installment in the Elevate CBOs webinar series is now available on the National Network to Eliminate Disparities in Behavioral Health (NNED) website. Titled Community Needs Assessments, the webinar is intended for NNED members and community-based organization (CBO) staff. Previous webinars in the Elevate CBOs series cover the topics of budgets, grants, and data and are also posted on the NNED website.

 

Funding opportunities

 

National Tribal Broadband Grant Deadline: October 17, at 5 p.m. Eastern View the National Tribal Broadband funding opportunity The Bureau of Indian Affairs is offering grants to hire consultants who will conduct feasibility studies for deployment or expansion of high-speed internet. Approximately 15–27 grants of up to $175,000 each will be awarded for a two-year performance period. Federally recognized tribes are encouraged to apply.

Native Agriculture and Food Systems Scholarships Deadline: October 18 View the Native Agriculture and Food Systems funding opportunity First Nations Development Institute is offering 20–25 scholarships for the current academic year to Native undergraduate or graduate students who are majoring in agriculture and agriculture-related fields. Applicants must provide proof of tribal affiliation and demonstrate a commitment to helping their community reclaim control of the local food system.

Support for 988 Tribal Response Deadline: October 25 View the Support for 988 Tribal Response funding opportunity The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, also known as 988, provides direct round-the-clock access to trained crisis counselors. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration will provide funds to: Make sure American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) have access to culturally competent trained 988 crisis center support Improve integration and support of 988 crisis centers, tribal nations, and tribal organizations Facilitate collaboration between tribal, state, and territory health providers; urban Indian organizations; and first responders in a way that respects tribal sovereignty Up to 100 cooperative agreements will be awarded for a two-year performance period. Tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations are eligible to apply.

Barclay-Giel Seed Grants Deadline: November 3, at 8 p.m. Eastern View the Barclay-Giel funding opportunity The PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health is offering grants to support community-based public health programs. Approximately 15–20 grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded for a one-year performance period. Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.

 

Calendar of events

 

Some events may be cancelled, postponed, or held virtually as public health officials monitor COVID-19 safety measures during this time. Please check the events’ pages for updates on event status.

Indian Health Service Webinars Sponsored by the Indian Health Service (IHS) Tele-Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, the IHS tele-education webinars listed below are intended for health care team members. Behavioral health integration webinar series (12 p.m. Eastern) October 20: Operational Elements of Integrated Care: Daily Functions of the Care Team December 8: Effective Strategies to Integrate American Indian and Alaska Native Culture into Clinics Pain & opioid use disorder webinar series (2 p.m. Eastern) October 25: Preventing Overdose in Adolescents Trauma & stress disorders webinar series (12 p.m. Eastern) October 25: Treatment Approaches for PTSD in Adults: Individual and Group Application and Contraindications/Cultural Fit November 15: Treatment Approaches for PTSD for Youth November 29: PTSD: Impact on Intimacy and Relationships December 13: PTSD & Sexual Trauma in Men Child and adolescent behavioral health webinar series (2 p.m. Eastern) October 27: School Coordination for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders

USET Webinars on Native Psychological Brilliance United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc. (USET), a tribal behavioral health ECHO, hosts a Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance webinar on the fourth Tuesday of every month at 2 p.m. Eastern. Native Psychological Brilliance refers to the intelligence, strengths, balance, innate resources, and resilience of Native people. Register for the USET webinars. Dates and topics of upcoming webinars are listed below. October 25: Reframing Native Mental Health November 22: Open Discussion Forum: Reclaiming Native Psychological Brilliance

NCAI’s 79th Annual Convention & Marketplace October 30–November 4 Sacramento, CA Register for NCAI’s 79th Annual Convention & Marketplace The National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) invites members, partners, tribal leaders, and Native youth to its annual event to discuss critical issues and develop strategies for protecting and advancing tribal sovereignty.

7th Annual Native American Women’s Conference November 4 Chandler, AZ Register for the Native American Women’s Conference The theme of this year’s Native American Women’s Conference is “Live, Love, Lead.” Roundtable topics include reproductive planning, living off the land, healthy relationships, civic engagement, and more.

 

 

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