Covering Indian Country – May 2023

May 2023

Spotlight: Marketplace enrollment

A recent IHS Tribal Self-Governance Advisory Committee brief (PDF, 439 KB, 13 pp) notes that American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) enrollment in Marketplace health plans continued to increase during 2022.

The brief also highlights the importance of ongoing efforts to make sure AI/AN Marketplace enrollees choose health plans with the most beneficial cost-sharing protections.

Beginning April 1, 2023, most state Medicaid agencies resumed normal operations and are now in the process of making Medicaid redeterminations. As that process continues, please encourage Medicaid beneficiaries to provide up-to-date contact information so they don’t miss their Medicaid renewal letters. Also, make sure Medicaid beneficiaries respond when their renewal letters arrive.

Outreach to help tribal members avoid gaps in health coverage and maximize cost-sharing protections is more important than ever.

In situations where individuals are no longer eligible for Medicaid due to factors such as income or household size, outreach to help tribal members avoid gaps in health coverage and maximize cost-sharing protections is more important than ever.

If you are an enrollment assister or outreach worker, remind AI/ANs who are no longer eligible for Medicaid to visit HealthCare.gov to find out whether they are eligible to enroll in a Marketplace plan.

Also, for information about Marketplace protections:

• Review Health Coverage Options for American Indians and Alaska Natives (PDF, 195 KB, 10 pp)
• Listen to Episode 4 - Marketplace 101 in the Hope + Healing podcast series

May: Women’s health checklist

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

New 2023–2024 calendar is here!

CMS’s Division of Tribal Affairs (DTA) is pleased to announce the release of their 18-month calendar for July 2023 through December 2024 (PDF, 6.7 MB, 44 pp).

The calendar features health information, links to excellent resources online, space to help families plan ahead, and other tools to promote wellness.

Information in the calendar is intended to help tribal families take steps toward better control of their health, such as enrolling in health coverage through Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Visit the Tribal Products Ordering Page to order the CMS Tribal 2023–2024 calendar or any of DTA’s outreach materials. Please allow 2 weeks for your order to be completed.

Health observances

National Women’s Health Week: May 14–20

This year, “Women’s Health, Whole Health: Prevention, Care and Well-being” is the theme for National Women’s Health Week. Help promote women’s wellness by sharing culturally sensitive flyers that recommend screenings and vaccinations for Native women at different ages. Available on the American Indian Cancer Foundation website, the infographics cover prevention of: Breast, cervical, lung, and colorectal cancer Infection with human papillomavirus Hepatitis B

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

The COVID-19 pandemic renewed calls for better access to trauma-informed behavioral health services for youth.

In observance of Mental Health Awareness Month, encourage adults in your network to undergo training in youth mental health first aid for tribal communities and Indigenous peoples.

The training provides the skills needed to safely identify and support Indigenous youth who are experiencing behavioral health challenges.

Hepatitis C awareness

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month, and May 19 is Hepatitis Testing Day. Both observances highlight the importance of screening for viral hepatitis, a liver condition.

The most common type of viral hepatitis in the United States is hepatitis C (hep C). Often, infection with the hep C virus is a long-term chronic condition that causes no symptoms.

Left untreated, chronic hep C can lead to liver cancer, liver failure, or even death. That’s why CDC recommends hepatitis C testing for all adults, with special emphasis on pregnant people and individuals with ongoing risk factors.

Help promote hep C testing in Native communities by downloading and sharing Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board’s booklet on hep C (PDF, 839 KB, 2 pp).

The booklet explains:

• Who is at increased risk for hep C
• How hep C testing is done
• What hep C treatment involves

Additional resources

Virtual summer research training opportunity

American Indian and Alaska Native health professionals and health science students are encouraged to attend a virtual two-week summer research training program. The program will emphasize practical skill-building. Courses will be held June 12–23, from 12–7:30 p.m. Eastern. Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board will cover all participation costs with National Institutes of Health funding. Register by June 5, at 11 a.m. Eastern.

Funding opportunities

Integrated Maternal Health Services initiative

Deadline: May 24
View the maternal health funding opportunity

Integrated Maternal Health Services initiative funds are available for the development and demonstration of models that will increase access to care and improve health outcomes for underserved pregnant and postpartum people.

The Health Resources and Services Administration expects to award five cooperative agreements for a five-year performance period. Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.

Dr. Eric Bothwell Awards for health disparities research

Deadline: May 31
View the Dr. Eric Bothwell Awards funding opportunity

The Dr. Eric Bothwell 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.

CDC funds to strengthen tribal public health systems

Deadline: June 6
View the tribal public health systems funding opportunity

Tribes and tribal organizations are invited to apply for funds to enhance the quality, performance, and infrastructure of tribal public health systems.

CDC expects to award 25 cooperative agreements for a five-year performance period.

Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program

Deadline: June 12
View the Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program funding opportunity

Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply for Pediatric Mental Health Care Access Program funding to help integrate behavioral health care into pediatric primary care. The program’s purpose is to:

• Offer pediatric primary care providers culturally responsive training in behavioral health care and access to behavioral health experts via teleconsultation
• Expand behavioral health teleconsultation to emergency departments and schools

The Health Resources and Services Administration expects to award up to 36 cooperative agreements for a three-year performance period.

Calendar of events