Spotlight: Medicare enrollment tools
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Medicare’s open enrollment period runs through December 7.
During open enrollment, people who are newly eligible for Medicare can sign up for the coverage options that best meet their needs. Open enrollment is also an opportunity for people already enrolled in Medicare to make changes to their health care coverage and prescription drug plans.
In advance of the December 7 deadline, enrollment assisters are urged to familiarize themselves with Medicare & You 2021 (PDF, 3.6 MB, 124 pp), the official U.S. government Medicare handbook.
Published by CMS and the Department of Health & Human Services, the handbook includes an overview of Medicare coverage options and explains how consumers can get the most out of the services that Medicare offers.
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Enrollment in Medicare by the December 7 deadline will help ensure Native elders can get health care when and where they need it.
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Additionally, enrollment assisters may wish to download CMS’s newly released flyer, Things to Consider When Choosing a Medicare Plan (PDF, 50 KB, 2 pp), and visit the CMS National Training Program website, which houses a Medicare open enrollment toolkit and other resources.
Finally, all outreach workers are encouraged to consult the Managing through COVID-19 Toolkit for ideas on how to provide Medicare enrollment assistance safely during the ongoing pandemic. Produced by the Administration for Community Living, the toolkit includes suggestions for outreach event planning, confidential information delivery, and more.
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Share this ad in your newsletter or on your website. Other sizes will be available on CMS’s Outreach and Education Resources page.
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Public service announcements
Share these brief audio clips and videos, available in several Native languages and English, on your local radio station, website, and Facebook page.
 Audio clips
 Videos
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Flyers and fact sheets
Download these resources or order copies on the Tribal Products Ordering Page. Please allow 2 weeks for your order to be completed.
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November is American Diabetes Month
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The number of American Indian and Alaska Native adults with diabetes has decreased significantly since 2013 thanks to educational initiatives implemented at Special Diabetes Program for Indians sites and elsewhere.
In observance of American Diabetes Month, help sustain those initiatives by sharing the link to a culturally appropriate series of diabetes education lesson plans. Offered by Indian Health Service, the 11 lesson plans cover a range of topics, including:
- Dental, eye, and foot care
- Heart and kidney health
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
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National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month
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November is National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month.
One of every 3 American Indians over the age of 65 is at risk of developing Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia. Evidence suggests that having diabetes, high blood pressure, or heart disease increases that risk.
To help American Indian elders keep their minds and hearts healthy, the National Council of Urban Indian Health recently launched its Wisdom Keeper campaign. The campaign’s materials include a social media toolkit, videos, posters, and links to resources on smoking cessation and other topics.
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Marketplace enrollment is open until December 15
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The 2021 Health Insurance Marketplace is open for business! People have until December 15 to apply for new 2021 health care coverage.
Members of federally recognized tribes can enroll outside the open enrollment period, but this is a good time to renew, change, or update your 2020 health care coverage plan for 2021. Coverage starts January 1, 2021.
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Cherokee Nation prepares for flu season
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The best way of preventing flu-related hospitalizations and deaths is to get a flu vaccine each fall. And this year, flu vaccination is crucial to help reduce the burden on medical professionals who provide care for patients with COVID-19.
To that end, Cherokee Nation has scheduled dozens of community flu clinics, where people age 6 months and older can receive free flu shots. Running through mid-December, the flu clinics will be held at health centers, town halls, churches, and other sites throughout the tribe’s reservation in northeastern Oklahoma.
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Get the flu shot now
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Getting the flu shot will protect you, your family, and your community!
The CMS Division of Tribal Affairs (DTA) has developed a series of materials to educate people about the importance of flu vaccination. They include print ads, which can be posted in your clinic or published in your local tribal newspaper; bookmarks; a customizable flyer that can be used to promote the date and times when flu vaccinations are available; and signature blocks, which are personalized blocks of text that can be automatically added to your email messages to promote and remind recipients of the importance of flu vaccinations.
DTA has also developed signature blocks that can be used to encourage tribal members to use the IHS, tribal, and urban Indian health centers as trusted sources of care.
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Minority fellowship programs for counselors in training
Deadline: December 15
View the NBCC Minority Fellowship Program funding opportunities The National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) Foundation is offering fellowships to counselors in training who will work on behalf of an underserved population for 2 years after graduation.
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The Minority Fellowship Program for Mental Health Counselors supports students earning their masters and doctorates in counseling.
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The Minority Fellowship Program for Addictions Counselors supports students earning their masters in substance use disorder service programs.
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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.
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NNHRTI webinar series
The National Native Health Research Training Initiative (NNHRTI) webinars are opportunities for American Indian and Alaska Native scientists and health professionals to share knowledge that addresses the health needs of Native communities.
Please check NNHRTI’s webinar information page periodically for more information about upcoming webinars.
Dates of upcoming webinars (all held at 2 pm eastern)
November 18, 2020
December 9, 2020
January 13, 2021
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CMS ITU Virtual Training for IHS Phoenix Area staff
Dates: November 30–December 3, 2020, and December 7–9, 2020
Times: 11:30 am–1 pm eastern and 3:30 pm–5 pm eastern each day
Register for the IHS Phoenix Area virtual training
Due to travel and training restrictions issued as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs will offer virtual training to business office staff, patient registration staff, and benefits coordinators in the IHS Phoenix Area. The agenda includes presentations on Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, purchased/referred care, and more.
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Behavioral Health Integration webinar series
December 3, 2020, at 12 pm eastern
Sponsored by the IHS Tele-Behavioral Health Center of Excellence, Psychotropic Medications in an Integrated Care Setting is intended for social workers, psychologists, counselors, and other health care team members.
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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.
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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 care coverage.
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