Spotlight: Cost-sharing protections
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A recording of Marketplace Information to Help Tribal Communities, a technical assistance webinar reviewing Marketplace updates and Tribal Premium Sponsorship, is now available online.
Co-hosted by the CMS Division of Tribal Affairs (DTA) in partnership with the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO), the webinar highlights several benefits under the American Rescue Plan (ARP) that improve access to health care coverage.
Notably, while American Indians and Alaska Natives have their own Special Enrollment Period (SEP), they can also take advantage of open enrollment under the new SEP, which runs through August 15. Under this SEP, people can enroll in coverage at any time during the month and begin receiving benefits on the first of the following month. Additionally, 4 in 5 enrollees will be able to find plans for $10 or less per month.
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Tribal members whose income is between 100% and 300% of the federal poverty level can enroll in a “zero cost sharing” qualified health plan on the Marketplace.
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As stated in the webinar, cost-sharing protections are not affected by the ARP or the SEP. The presenters recommend that households with tribal and non-tribal members whose income falls below 300% of the federal poverty level should consider enrolling in separate Marketplace plans during the SEP. Enrollment in separate plans ensures that tribal citizens can receive the comprehensive cost-sharing protections for which they are eligible.
The HealthCare.gov application now includes a comparison tool that helps households determine which plans work best for them. The tool puts household members into different enrollment groups based on the household information provided. Applicants then view the plans available for each enrollment group.
DTA strongly encourages enrollment assisters and outreach workers to view the technical assistance webinar and read CCIIO’s SEP technical stakeholder guidance (PDF, 126 KB, 7 pp), which provides answers to frequently asked questions about the SEP.
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Share this ad in your newsletter or on your website. For more information, please visit CMS’s Outreach and Education Resources page.
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Public service announcements
Share these brief audio clips and videos, available in 10 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 5 weeks for your order to be completed.
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Hepatitis C awareness
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To focus attention on viral hepatitis, May is designated as Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day.
The most common type of viral hepatitis in the United States is hepatitis C (hep C), which kills more American Indians and Alaska Natives than it does any other racial or ethnic group.
Many people who are newly infected with the hep C virus remain asymptomatic or experience only mild illness. However, left untreated, hep C can cause serious liver damage, cancer, and even death. That is why hep C screening is recommended for:
- Adults at least once in a lifetime
- Pregnant women during each pregnancy
To encourage people to get tested for hep C, the Association of American Indian Physicians produced 2 brief videos—1 for millennials and another for baby boomers.
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New program addresses disparities in maternal health care
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Racial and ethnic disparities contribute to poor maternal health outcomes. Training health care professionals to respond respectfully and compassionately to patients’ experiences, values, and beliefs can help address those disparities.
To that end, Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS) in Maternal Health Care, a program for providers and students, is now available on the Think Cultural Health website. The 2-hour program fosters greater awareness of implicit bias and improves participants’ ability to deliver culturally competent, person-centered care.
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CHWs for COVID Response and Resilient Communities
Deadline: May 24
View the CHWs for COVID Response and Resilient Communities funding opportunity
The National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion is offering funds to train, deploy, and engage community health workers (CHWs) in efforts to fight COVID-19 and address health disparities. Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.
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Eric D. Bothwell Memorial Awards in American Indian and Alaska Native Men’s Health
Deadline: May 28
View the Eric D. Bothwell Memorial Awards funding opportunity
The Eric D. Bothwell Memorial Awards promote scholarship to address disparities impacting the physical and mental health of American Indian and Alaska Native men and boys. Students and early career researchers are encouraged to apply.
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Pride Foundation Crisis Community Care Fund grants
Applications accepted on an ongoing basis
View the Pride Foundation Crisis Community Care funding opportunity
Pride Foundation offers Crisis Community Care Fund grants to address the public health, social, and political/legislative impact of COVID-19 on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) communities.
The foundation anticipates awarding monthly grants of up to $10,000 each until depletion of the $250,000 budget for 2021. Groups and 501(c)3 organizations serving Indigenous LGBTQ+ people are encouraged to apply.
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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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Virtual CMS ITU Outreach and Education Trainings
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The CMS Division of Tribal Affairs offers virtual trainings to benefit coordinators and business office, patient registration, medical records, and purchased/referred care services staff.
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, you may register for other IHS area webinars if you are interested.
Please check CMS’s website periodically for more information as these virtual events are scheduled and opened for registration.
Upcoming Virtual ITU Trainings by IHS area
Oklahoma City: Weeks of May 10–17
California: Weeks of May 17–24
Great Plains: Weeks of June 7–14
Bemidji/Nashville: Weeks of June 14–21
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10th Annual National Native Harm Reduction Summit
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July 21–23
Virtual
Register for the National Native Harm Reduction Summit
The National Native Harm Reduction Summit is an opportunity for behavioral health care professionals, social service providers, public health professionals, and community members to address issues related to hepatitis C, HIV, and drug use in tribal, urban Indian, and rural communities. Summit tracks cover innovation and mobilization, infectious disease, opioids and substance use, culture, and recovery and resilience.
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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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