Covering Indian Country – February 2024

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services: Covering Indian Country

February 2024

Spotlight: Coverage for SUD services

Substance use disorders icon from behavioral health website for American Indians and Alaska Natives

A recently published issue brief on substance use and substance use disorders (SUDs) highlights racial and ethnic disparities in access to culturally competent, evidence-informed prevention and treatment services.

You can help address those disparities by:

Remind people that SUD services are covered by Medicaid and Marketplace plans.

The CMS Division of Tribal Affairs maintains maintains a behavioral health website for American Indians and Alaska Natives.

The website features an interactive tribal behavioral health service locator tool to help people find a tribal behavioral health program or facility in their geographic area. That tool is updated annually and lists the types of services available at each location.

Also, to help people prepare for a visit with a behavioral health care professional, the website offers a list of sample questions.

February: American Heart Month

Two Native elders exercising. Text announces that February is American Heart Month and provides tips for keeping our hearts healthy

Share this ad in your newsletter or on your website. For more information, please visit CMS’s Outreach and Education Resources page.

Public service announcements

Share these brief audio clips and videos, available in Native languages and English, on your local radio station, website, and Facebook page.

SoundcloudAudio clips



YoutubeVideos

New 2023 twitter logo x icon designTweet it

Does heart disease run in your family? Ask your elders about their heart health and discuss your history during your next checkup.

https://youtu.be/h4pNQq_UUc4

#CMSNativeHealth

Brochures and other resources

A collage of 3 resources: (1) Third Party at Work poster (2) My Health: Dental Care for Children fact sheet (3) CMS Programs at a Glance brochure

Download these resources or order copies on the Tribal Products Ordering page. Please allow 2 weeks for your order to be completed.

 

Health observances

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

Optimal dental health can help reduce the risk for tooth decay and diabetes. Help keep kids’ teeth healthy by encouraging families in your community to take children to the dentist by their first birthday.

Also, remind families that the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) and Medicaid cover dental services, such as checkups, x-rays, and fluoride treatments.

Additionally, share the link for the dentist locator on InsureKidsNow.gov, which can be used to find a dentist who sees children and who accepts CHIP and Medicaid coverage.

American Heart Month

Heart health tracker

More than 60% of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/ANs) who become pregnant have suboptimal heart health.

In observance of American Heart Month, read a journal article on how addressing social and historical determinants of health can help improve health outcomes among AI/ANs who are pregnant or have recently given birth.

The article suggests interventions such as:

  • Developing a workforce that integrates community voices into culturally sensitive care
  • Offering multidisciplinary team-based care that includes mental health counselors, AI/AN traditional healers, and community health workers

Also, share the link to a one-page heart health tracker that people can use to record their blood pressure and other numbers related to heart health.

Additional resources

Text messaging service to help AI/ANs quit smoking

The Indian Health Service and the National Cancer Institute recently announced the launch of SmokefreeNATIVE, a new text messaging program to help American Indians and Alaska Natives ages 13 and up stop smoking commercial tobacco.

Program participants receive daily text messages for:

  • Up to two weeks before their target date for quitting smoking
  • Six weeks after the target date

Enroll now in SmokefreeNATIVE by signing up online or texting NATIVE to 47848.

Funding opportunities

IHS scholarship programs

Deadline: February 28
View the IHS scholarship funding opportunities

The Indian Health Service (IHS) offers scholarships to American Indian and Alaska Native undergraduate and graduate students pursuing careers in medicine, dentistry, nursing, and other select health professions.

Interested applicants should be sure to review scholarship eligibility criteria and other details before making their submission.

FEMA hazard mitigation grant programs

Deadline: February 29 at 3 p.m. Eastern
View the FEMA hazard mitigation funding opportunities

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is offering hazard mitigation funds through its Flood Mitigation Assistance and Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities grant programs. Federally recognized tribes are encouraged to apply.

Medicine PATH Program

Deadline: February 29
View the Medicine PATH Program funding opportunity

The Medicine Pathways for Advancing Tribal Healthcare (PATH) Program will enroll eight Native college or university students who are interested in becoming physicians. Students selected for the program will be expected to attend:

  • A three-week summer session based at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston
  • Virtual meetings during the rest of the calendar year

Udall undergraduate scholarships

Deadline: March 6 at 11:59 p.m. Mountain
View the Udall undergraduate 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. New Udall scholars must be available to attend an orientation scheduled for August 6–10, in Tucson, Arizona.

For access to the application, contact a Udall faculty representative.

Calendar of events

2024 Tribal Nations Training Week

March 9–16
Anniston, Alabama
Apply to participate in Tribal Nations Training Week

“Developing Generational Resiliency Through Training” is the theme of this year’s Tribal Nations Training Week, which is hosted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Center for Domestic Preparedness. The training is fully funded for tribal, state, local, and territorial emergency responders.

Indigenous Women’s Health Meeting

March 13–15
Albuquerque, New Mexico
Learn more about the Indigenous Women’s Health Meeting

Clinicians, healers, elders, and community members should plan to attend the 8th Indigenous Women’s Health Meeting, which will highlight care models and community-based public health approaches to promote wellness. Topics will include trauma-informed care, substance use, and more.

2024 Protecting Our Children Conference banner

Protecting Our Children Conference

April 7–10
Seattle, with the option to attend virtually
Register for the Protecting Our Children Conference

The title of the 42nd annual Protecting Our Children Conference is “Together We Stand: Preserving the Spirit of ICWA.” Sponsored by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the conference is geared toward social service providers, legal professionals, advocates for children, and tribal and federal leaders.

Tribal Self-Governance Conference

April 15–18
Chandler, Arizona
Register for the Tribal Self-Governance Conference

Federal partners, tribal leaders, tribal officials, and people who work closely with tribal communities are encouraged to attend this year’s Tribal Self-Governance Conference. Topics covered include tackling substance abuse and moving toward climate resiliency.

NCUIH annual conference

April 29–May 2
Washington, DC
Register for the NCUIH annual conference

The theme of this year’s National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) annual conference is “Sustaining Traditions: Culture, Identity, and Health.” Health care professionals, policymakers, and community leaders are encouraged to attend. Early bird registration ends March 1.

Banner for 2024 National Council of Urban Indian Health annual conference

NIHB National Tribal Health Conference

May 19–23
Rapid City, South Dakota
Register for the NIHB National Tribal Health Conference

“Tribal Health Equity on Our Terms” is the theme of this year’s National Indian Health Board (NIHB) National Tribal Health Conference. Tribal leaders, public health professionals, policy specialists, advocates, and allies are encouraged to attend.

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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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