Spotlight: Andrea Thomas with Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium
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Mapping uninsured children and their families is a crucial part of connecting Alaska Natives to health care, says Andrea Thomas, Outreach and Enrollment Manager for the Southeast Alaska Regional Health Consortium (SEARHC).
SEARHC is one of two health organizations in Alaska using new technology called MAPS IQ to track uninsured children and families.
"We will be able to track and outreach to uninsured people," said Thomas, who explained the mapping technology is made possible through a grant from InsureKidsNow.gov. Grant funds are also being used to hire more enrollment specialists and financial counselors.
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SEARHC focuses on several outreach strategies:
- using prepared scripts to engage the community about Medicaid
- providing professional customer service
- walking community members through their health coverage applications
- using media as a partner in outreach efforts
SEARHC also works with other organizations to find the best ways to connect people to care. “In Alaska, there are partnerships,” Thomas said. “We often share what we learn and help each other out.”
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Health Insurance Marketplace open enrollment: Nov. 1–Dec. 15
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It’s open enrollment time on the Health Insurance Marketplace. People may sign up for health insurance coverage in 2018 from Nov. 1–Dec. 15.
Encourage people in your community to sign up now. They can connect with someone in their area to answer questions and help them apply, using healthcare.gov’s local help page. Before applying, a review of the Marketplace checklist (PDF, 216 KB, 1 p) will ensure applicants have all the information they need to fill out the application.
American Indians and Alaska Natives can find out more about applying and special protections in the Health Insurance Markeplace at go.cms.gov/nativehealth.
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CDC: STDs on the rise in Native communities
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According to CDC’s 2016 Sexually Transmitted Diseases Surveillance Report, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) like chlamydia, gonorrhea, and syphilis, are on the rise across all races and ethnicities in the United States.
American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) had the second highest rate of chlamydia and gonorrhea cases in 2016. AI/ANs had the third highest rate of syphilis. According to CDC, young people (ages 15 to 24) acquire half of all new STDs.
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“From a public health perspective, it is important that adolescents have the option to obtain confidential reproductive health education, counseling, and services,” says Jessica Leston, clinical programs manager for the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB).
NPAIHB’s We R Native program provides culturally relevant HIV and STD education to young people (ages 15 to 24). This evidence-based program also offers a sexual health video that encourages AI/AN youth to lead healthier sexual lives by getting tested for STDs.
NPAIHB also offers the Native Voices sexual health curriculum for AI/AN high school students and young adults. The curriculum is designed for parents, teachers, and others working with youth.
Learn more about NPAIHB’s work on sexual health in the IHS Primary Care Provider (PDF, 247 MB, 37 pp).
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Promote flu vaccination and protect the circle of life
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Help protect American Indians and Alaska Natives from developing serious flu complications.
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CMS Tribal Affairs webinar: Medicare Part D open enrollment
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Wednesday, Nov. 15
2 p.m. eastern
Register
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CMS is partnering with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to host a webinar about Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D). This webinar will provide an overview of Medicare Part D and highlight updates and changes for this year’s open enrollment period (October 15–December 7).
CMS and IHS subject matter experts will focus on what Medicare Part D plans cover, how the plans work with Indian health programs, and how to sign up. Patients enrolled in Medicare Part D who fill prescriptions through an Indian health pharmacy pay nothing. Indian health programs can then bill Medicare Part D for prescription drugs and use that money to expand services in their communities. Learn more about Medicare Part D.
Pre-registration is required for this webinar.
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Enrollment toolkit from coverage to care
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Download CMS’s From Coverage to Care (C2C) enrollment toolkit (PDF, 4 MB, 50 pp) and use it as a resource to discuss health insurance with consumers.
The toolkit is organized into five sections and covers:
- the importance of health care
- commonly used terms
- selecting the right plan
- how to enroll in a plan and identify a provider
Remind AI/ANs from federally recognized tribes that they can enroll in Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP or change their plan at any time.
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Webinar recording: Navigate the redesigned LTSS Technical Assistance Center
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Watch the October 2017 CMS Long-Term Services and Support (LTSS) webinar, “Navigate the redesigned LTSS Technical Assistance Center” to learn where to find online resources and tools to support your LTSS programs. These services help improve the lives of AI/AN elders and those with disabilities.
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CMS Indian Health Service, Tribal or Urban Indian Health Trainings
November 14–16, 2017
Phoenix, AZ
Learn more and register
This training is for business staff, benefits coordinators, medical records staff, and patient registration staff. It will cover CMS Tribal Affairs updates, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, the Health Insurance Marketplace, state-administered programs, Social Security, and Veterans Affairs. The third day, hosted by IHS, will focus on how to maximize access to third-party resources and improve access to quality health care.
Trainings in 2018
- March 20–22 in Denver, CO
- April 3–4 in Seattle, WA
- April 17–19 in Sacramento, CA
- April 23–24 in Albuquerque, NM
- May 3–4 in Chicago, IL
- May 8–9 in Dallas, TX
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About the Newsletter
Covering Indian Country is published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Division of Tribal Affairs to share resources, success stories, and best practices with the people who connect tribal communities to health insurance.
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