Covering Indian Country – February 2021

February 2021

Spotlight: CMS's behavioral health website

Maintaining emotional, psychological, social, and spiritual wellness is just as important as maintaining physical wellness. Most health care coverage helps ensure people can access behavioral health services when they need them.

The CMS Division of Tribal Affairs (DTA) recognizes how challenging it can be to locate a behavioral health provider and understand behavioral health care coverage and eligibility for services. That's why DTA created a behavioral health website for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

CMS is committed to helping tribal communities understand what behavioral health is and why it matters.

The website includes an interactive tribal behavioral health service locator tool for all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and several U.S. territories. Additionally, the website reviews the different types of behavioral health care coverage available through:

• Indian Health Service
• Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program
• Medicare
• The Marketplace

To help people make their first behavioral health appointment, the website defines common behavioral health terms and lists sample questions that patients may wish to ask their provider. The questions cover topics such as treatment plan development and scheduling.

February: Heart Health

Health observances

February is American Heart Month

Heart disease is a leading cause of death among American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs). And AI/AN women tend to die from heart disease at younger ages, compared with women from other racial/ethnic groups.

To help raise awareness of these health disparities, WomenHeart: The National Coalition for Women with Heart Disease created the brochure, Native American Women & Heart Disease (PDF, 3.4 MB, 2 pp).

The brochure encourages AI/AN women to discuss heart disease with their health care providers. It also highlights the importance of maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and not smoking.

National Children's Dental Health Month

Each February, we observe National Children's Dental Health Month.

Pain due to tooth decay can affect kids' ability to concentrate and learn. As noted in CMS's Dental Health for Children fact sheet (PDF, 931 KB, 2 pp), good oral health habits can help ensure children's teeth and gums stay healthy.

During National Children's Dental Health Month, share the link to Strong Teeth, Strong Kid, an American Indian-led campaign focused on good oral health for children's development.

The campaign includes several resources, including a list of important oral health milestones (PDF, 630 KB, 1 p) and a video showing children how to brush their teeth properly.

Additional Resources

Special Enrollment Period for Marketplace coverage: February 15–May 15, 2021

On January 28, 2021, in accordance with an Executive Order issued by President Joe Biden, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for individuals and families for Marketplace coverage in response to the COVID-19 public health emergency.

The SEP will allow individuals and families in states with Marketplaces served by the HealthCare.gov platform to enroll in 2021 health insurance coverage. From February 15, 2021 through May 15, 2021, the SEP will be available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application. State-based Marketplaces operating their own platform have an opportunity to take similar action within their states.

Although members of federally recognized tribes can enroll in or change plans in the Health Insurance Marketplace throughout the year, tribal members and non-tribal members who are applying with a tribal member should consider enrolling during the February 15–May 15 SEP.

Learn more about American Indian and Alaska Native protections in the Marketplace (PDF, 4 pp, 136 KB). Enroll at HealthCare.gov or call 1-800-318-2596.

Tribal-specific resources on COVID-19 vaccines

Funding opportunities

Weyerhaeuser Children's Initiative

Stage 1 Applications due: March 1, 2021

View the Weyerhaeuser Children's Initiative funding opportunity

The Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation is offering funds to support direct service programs that promote resilience, stability, and psychosocial health for youth ages 14–21 who have been traumatized by adverse childhood experiences.

Tax-exempt programs serving youth of color and youth from rural communities are encouraged to apply. Advancement from Stage 1 to Stage 2 of the application process is by invitation only.

Udall Undergraduate Scholarships

Deadline: March 2, 2021

View the Udall Undergraduate Scholarship funding opportunity

The Udall Foundation offers scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate sophomores and juniors pursuing careers related to tribal public policy, Native health care, or the environment. The foundation anticipates awarding 55 scholarships of up to $7,000 each. Contact a Udall faculty representative for access to the application. New Udall scholars must attend an orientation on August 3–8, 2021, in Tucson, AZ.

FDPIR Nutrition Education Grants

Deadline: March 8, 2021

View the FDPIR Nutrition Education Grants funding opportunity

The Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) is offering funds for nutrition education through the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations (FDPIR). On average, FNS funds 15 grantees per year. Tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.

Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Implementation Grants

Deadline: March 12, 2021

View the Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Implementation funding opportunity

The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA's) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program – Implementation grants will support activities that expand access to and strengthen the quality of substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery services in high-risk rural communities.

HRSA anticipates awarding 78 grants of up to $1,000,000 each for a 3-year period of performance. 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 webinars listed below are intended for all health care team members.

Dates/titles of upcoming webinars

February 16, 2021, at 12 pm Eastern: School-Based Suicide Prevention
February 24, 2021, at 11 am Eastern: Teen Dating Violence and Bullying: The Role of the Healthcare Provider
February 25, 2021, at 12 pm Eastern: IHS COVID-19 Implementation Progress and Safety Update
March 3, 2021, at 11 am Eastern: Teen Dating Violence and Bullying: The Role of Schools
March 10, 2021, at 11 am Eastern: Helping Parents Talk to Teens about Dating Violence

2021 CMS Quality Conference

March 2–3, 2021
Virtual
Register for the 2021 CMS Quality Conference

The theme of the 2021 CMS Quality Conference is "Healthcare Innovation During a Time of Disruption." Community stakeholders from across the health care spectrum are encouraged to attend.

Protecting Our Children Conference

April 11–14, 2021
Virtual
Register for the Protecting Our Children Conference

The theme of the 39th annual Protecting Our Children Conference is "Connectedness, Resilience, and Persistence." Sponsored by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the conference is geared toward social service providers; legal professionals; advocates for children; and tribal, state, and federal leaders.

NICWA Training Institute

April 19–22, 2021
Virtual
Register for the NICWA Training Institute

The National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA) training institutes are led by professionals with extensive experience working with tribal communities. The April training will focus on positive parenting and understanding the Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978.

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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