Covering Indian Country – July 2020

July 2020

Spotlight: New 18-month calendar from CMS

The CMS Division of Tribal Affairs is committed to improving the health of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) and increasing access to care throughout Indian Country. To that end, it provides resources that promote wellness and encourage people to enroll in health care coverage.

One of the newest resources is an 18-month 2020–2021 calendar (PDF, 6.8 MB, 44 pp), which can be downloaded and printed for personal use. People can choose to print out one month at a time, rather than all 18 months at once. Additionally, hard copies of the calendar are available at no charge from the Tribal Products Ordering Page.

Consider linking to the new 2020–2021 calendar in your outreach strategies.

Consistent with the efforts of enrollment assisters, heath navigators, and tribal health clinic staff, the calendar encourages AI/ANs to enroll in Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicare, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. The calendar also notes the start and end dates for enrollment in Medicare (October 15–December 7) and Marketplace plans (November 1–December 15). Additionally, it includes:

• QR codes that connect people to webpages for additional information
• A page to list family members’ allergies, medical conditions, and current medications, along with care providers’ names and phone numbers
• Tips for staying well, preventing injury, and strengthening cultural connections
• Links to resources on traditional eating, health care coverage options, and more

July: ITU health facilities

Health observances

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

In observance of Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, share the link to the National Indian Health Board (NIHB) webinar on anxiety due to COVID-19. Or download and share the NIHB webinar slides (PDF, 789 KB, 40 pp).

During the webinar, NIHB Behavioral Health Project Manager Dr. Glorinda Segay (Navajo Nation):

• Explains what anxiety is and how it impacts Native communities
• Provides tips for coping with anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic
• Recommends several strategies to help others experiencing anxiety symptoms

Additional resources

Report advances work on Alaskan Inuit food sovereignty

The Alaskan Inuit Food Sovereignty Summit Report (PDF, 12 MB, 36 pp) is now available online.

The report summarizes outcomes and recommendations from last fall’s 3-day summit in Nome, AK. The event convened Inuit participants to develop strategies for securing consistent access, management authority, and rights over traditional food sources.

The summit was the centerpiece of the Alaskan Inuit Food Sovereignty Initiative, which is facilitated by Inuit Circumpolar Council Alaska and funded by a Social and Economic Development Strategies grant from the Administration for Native Americans. The initiative’s steering committee will now draft an action plan based on the summit report.

FNDI awards Fertile Ground Advocacy Campaign funds

First Nations Development Institute (FNDI) recently awarded more than $500,000 in Fertile Ground Advocacy Campaign grants to 7 Native-led organizations and tribes for the development of policies that improve nutrition and health.

Launched in 2019 with support from the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community and the American Heart Association, the campaign is aimed at:

• Improving access to healthy foods
• Reducing consumption of sugary beverages and foods
• Strengthening food sovereignty work rooted in tradition, culture, and indigenous knowledge

FNDI will administer the grants, and the American Indian Cancer Foundation will provide technical assistance.

New toolkits available for HIV prevention programs

Recently released Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data for 2010–2017 show a 39% increase in the number of American Indians and Alaska Natives who were newly diagnosed with HIV.

That increase highlights the need for culturally appropriate programs to address the stigma attached to HIV and increase awareness of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Resources to help organizations develop and implement such programs include:

• A Social Media Toolkit (PDF, 8.5 MB, 64 pp)
• A Toolkit for Advancing the Uptake and Use of PrEP in Indian Country (PDF, 7.1 MB, 40 pp)

Funding opportunities

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.

Health Insurance Enrollment During COVID-19 Webinar

July 30, 2020, at 2 pm eastern

Register for the Health Insurance Enrollment During COVID-19 Webinar

Tribal enrollment assisters and patient benefit coordinators are encouraged to register for a webinar that will enhance their ability to conduct enrollment during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Please check National Indian Health Board’s website for more information.

Virtual CMS ITU Outreach and Education Trainings

Due to travel and training restrictions issued as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs will be offering virtual trainings to business office staff, patient registration staff, Health Insurance Marketplace staff, and benefits coordinators in each IHS area. ITU staff are encouraged to register for the training for their respective IHS area as the agendas will include area-specific issues and state Medicaid/CHIP presentations. However, if you are not able to attend a session on a particular topic during your area’s training event, you may register for other IHS area webinars.

Please check CMS’s website periodically for more information as these virtual events are scheduled and opened for registration.

Upcoming Virtual ITU Trainings:
IHS California Area: August 4–13
IHS Portland Area: August 17–26
IHS Nashville Area: August 23–September 11
IHS Bemidji Area: August 23–September 11
IHS Oklahoma City Area: September 8–18
IHS Albuquerque Area: September 14–25
IHS Billings Area: September 21–30

NNHRTI Webinar Series

The National Native Health Research Training Initiative (NNHRTI) webinars are opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) scientists and health professionals to share knowledge that addresses the health needs of AI/AN communities.

Please check NNHRTI’s website periodically for more information about upcoming webinars.

Dates of upcoming webinars (all held at 2 pm eastern)
August 19
September 16
October 21
November 18

Domestic Violence and Disabilities Webinar

September 16, 2020, at 3 pm eastern

Register for the Domestic Violence and Disabilities Webinar

Sponsored by the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, this webinar will focus on the need to provide safe and effective services to Native women who have disabilities and have experienced sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, and/or stalking.

Contact Us

Do you have news to share? Send it to coveringic@kauffmaninc.com for possible inclusion in an upcoming newsletter. Contact us with other comments or feedback, too.

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 care coverage.

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