Covering Indian Country – August 2022

 

August 2022

 

Spotlight: Keeping kids healthy Kids who are up to date on their routine vaccines and other preventive health services are less likely to miss school because of illness. That’s why having coverage for well-child visits is so important. Enrollment assisters play a key role in helping American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) families get health care coverage. To that end, CMS urges you to make sure households in your community know about the coverage options available through Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Marketplace. "Healthy kids are better students." — Flyer on InsureKidsNow.gov Help motivate parents and caregivers to enroll children in insurance by: Focusing your outreach and education efforts on coverage for preventive services Highlighting reasons why insurance is recommended (PDF, 1.1 MB, 8 pp) for people eligible to receive health care from IHS, a tribe, or an urban Indian health program Also, consider sharing the overview of insurance options and benefits available to AI/ANs through CMS programs and the Marketplace (PDF, 1.1 MB, 2 pp). Additionally, please refer families to CMS’s Outreach and Education Resources webpage for region-specific brochures with information about health care coverage and Indian health facilities.

 

August: Pediatrics/CHIP/back to school

 

Share this ad in your newsletter or on your website. For more information, please visit 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 Give kids their best shot at a healthy school year. Enroll them in insurance now. https://youtu.be/ElF17QlNHz4 #CMSNativeHealth 2022−2023 calendar still available CMS Tribal Affairs’ 18-month calendar (PDF, 5.7 MB, 44 pp) is still available. This calendar covers January 2022 through June 2023 and features health information, links to excellent resources online, space to note plans applicable to families, and other tools to improve overall wellness. The information in the calendar can help tribal families take steps toward better control of their health, such as enrolling in health care coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), or the Health Insurance Marketplace. For more information about CMS Tribal Affairs’ outreach materials, visit the CMS Outreach and Education Resources webpage. To order the 2022−2023 calendar or any other outreach materials, please visit the Tribal Products Ordering Page. All materials are free and you may order as many as you need. Brochures and other resources Download these resources or order copies on the Tribal Products Ordering Page. Please allow 2 weeks for your order to be completed. 10 Important Facts about Indian Health Service and Health Insurance (PDF, 1.1 MB, 8 pp) explains why tribal members should sign up for health care coverage. The updated 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. The new Medicare Savings Programs brochure (PDF, 511 KB, 2 pp) explains how Native people with limited income and assets can get help paying for Medicare.

 

Health observances

 

August is National Immunization Awareness Month An initial COVID-19 vaccination series is now recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older to prevent severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Yet the percentage of children who have received that vaccination series remains low. During National Immunization Awareness Month, help protect children and their families from COVID-19 by sharing 2 new resources from the Johns Hopkins Center for American Indian Health: Fact sheet on kids and COVID-19 vaccines Social media toolkit   Opioid Misuse Prevention Day: August 31 In the weeks leading up to Opioid Misuse Prevention Day, share culturally tailored resources from the WA Tribal Opioid Solutions campaign. Funded by the Washington State Health Care Authority, the campaign offers: A community guide for preventing opioid use disorder (PDF, 1.7 MB, 2 pp) Videos on safe storage and disposal of medications Suggestions for discussing opioids with youth

 

Additional resources

 

Workshops for AI/ANs interested in health professions The National Center for American Indian Health Professions at A.T. Still University invites applications for pre-admissions workshops, to be held September 8−10. The workshops are open to American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) ages 18 and older who are interested in medical school or another advanced health professions program. Current high school seniors, current community college or undergraduate students, and recent college graduates are eligible to apply to attend a workshop. The application deadline is August 24.

 

Funding opportunities

 

Tribal Self-Governance Program cooperative agreements Deadline: August 31 Two types of Tribal Self-Governance Program (TSGP) cooperative agreements are available to tribes and tribal organizations for a 1-year performance period: Negotiation cooperative agreements of $84,000 each will support grantees’ efforts to prepare for and engage in TSGP negotiations Planning cooperative agreements of $180,000 each will fund grantees’ research and organizational preparation related to health care program administration

HRSA’s Service Area Competition Deadline: September 12 View HRSA’s Service Area Competition funding opportunity The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is offering grants to support continued access to culturally competent primary care in medically underserved communities. Approximately 79 grants will be awarded. 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. Child and adolescent behavioral health webinar series (2 pm Eastern) August 18: Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder & Oppositional Defiant Disorder September 1: Intellectual Disabilities September 15: Communications Disorders September 29: Specific Learning Disorders October 13: Motor Disorders October 27: School Coordination for Children with Neurodevelopmental Disorders Trauma and stress disorders webinar series (12 pm Eastern) August 23: Trauma Disorders in Youth: Attachment Disorder, PTSD and Complex Developmental Trauma September 13: Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) September 27: Trauma Responses across the Lifespan October 11: Treatment Approaches for Trauma Responses: Medications, Trauma Informed Care October 25: Treatment Approaches for PTSD in Adults: Individual and Group Application and Contraindications/Cultural Fit

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. August 23: Role of Indigenous Healing Practices in Native Life Re-Balance September 27: Inspiring Native Life Transformation Plans October 25: Reframing Native Mental Health

Circle of Harmony HIV/AIDS Wellness Conference August 24–25 Virtual Register for the Circle of Harmony HIV/AIDS Wellness Conference Plan to attend the Circle of Harmony HIV/AIDS Wellness Conference, which will address prevention of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse from a Native American perspective. The conference’s theme is “Cultivating Biomedical Practices to Advance Health Equity.”

NIHB’s National Tribal Health Conference September 26–28 Washington, DC Register for NIHB’s National Tribal Health Conference Make plans now to join National Indian Health Board (NIHB) for this year’s National Tribal Health Conference and 50th anniversary celebration. The conference provides opportunities to discuss policy work in the areas of tribal health care, behavioral health, and more. Early bird registration ends August 19.

 

 

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