Covering Indian Country – November 2023

November 2023

Spotlight: Open enrollment

People who have affordable health care coverage are more likely to be up to date on their vaccinations and wellness visits.

To that end, CMS urges you to remind everyone in your community that the Health Insurance Marketplace is now open.

All Marketplace plans cover prescription drugs, health care provider visits, urgent care, hospital visits, and more.

Consumers who visit HealthCare.gov and enroll in a Marketplace plan by December 15 can get full-year coverage that starts January 1, 2024.

Open enrollment is a great opportunity to make sure you and your family members are covered in 2024.

While members of federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act corporation shareholders can enroll year-round, open enrollment is a great opportunity to:

• Make sure you and your family members are covered in 2024
• Take advantage of special protections, such as reduced cost sharing plans, for American Indians and Alaska Natives who are enrolled in the Marketplace

For more information about those special protections, review Health Coverage Options for American Indians and Alaska Natives (PDF, 195 KB, 10 pp).

Additionally, remember that Medicare open enrollment ends December 7. Download the Medicare and You handbook (PDF, 3.2 MB, 128 pp) now, and be ready to answer elders’ questions about coverage.

November: Medicare & Marketplace open enrollment

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

Health observances

November is American Diabetes Month

In observance of American Diabetes Month, share the latest Special Diabetes Program for Indians (SDPI) infographic (PDF, 439 KB, 1 p).

Available on the Indian Health Service website, the infographic highlights:

• Recent improvements in health outcomes for Native people with diabetes
• SDPI’s positive impact on access to diabetes-related health services

National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month

Great American Smokeout: November 16

Held the third Thursday of each November, the Great American Smokeout encourages people to quit using commercial tobacco products for at least 24 hours.

In the days leading up to this year’s Great American Smokeout, please urge people in your community to enroll in the American Indian Commercial Tobacco Program (AICTP).

AICTP enrollees can receive free, confidential support from an American Indian coach over the phone and or online. Each coach is specially trained to help people develop and implement a plan for quitting commercial tobacco.

Additionally, the AICTP website offers an overview of medications available to help people stop smoking.

Additional resources

Promoting conversations with youth about mental health

Youth are more resilient when they feel loved, respected, heard, and seen. That’s why we hope you’ll encourage parents and other adults in your community to participate in Mind4Health.

Available on the Healthy Native Youth website, Mind4Health offers a 90-minute online training, which helps caring adults offer support to youth when concerning messages are posted on social media.

The training resources include a recently published youth activity guide (PDF, 2.3 MB, 17 pp) for teaching youth how to respond when peers share concerning messages online.

Additionally, adults who text “Mind4Health” to 65664 will receive up to two text messages each week, with tips and tools for:

• Talking with youth about mental health and wellness
• Modeling self-care
• Sharing mental health resources when needed

Funding opportunities

Barclay-Giel Seed Grants

Deadline: November 12 at 8 p.m. Eastern
View the Barclay-Giel funding opportunity

The PHS Commissioned Officers Foundation for the Advancement of Public Health is offering grants to support community-based public health programs.

Approximately 15–20 grants of up to $10,000 each will be awarded for a one-year performance period. Tribes and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.

JHCIH winter institute scholarships

Deadline: November 17 at 5 p.m. Eastern
View the JHCIH winter institute funding opportunity

The Johns Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health (JHCIH) is offering scholarships for its 2024 winter institute, which will offer the following courses online:

• Prevention of Unintentional Injuries in American Indian Communities
• An Interdisciplinary Approach to Understanding the Health of Native Americans

Indigenous health leaders and health professionals who serve tribal communities are encouraged to apply.

Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy

Deadline: December 1
View the Commonwealth Fund funding opportunity

The Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy prepares physicians to transform health care delivery systems and address social determinants of health. Fellows will complete academic work leading to a master of public health or master of public administration degree at Harvard University.

Up to five fellowships will be awarded. Physicians from groups underrepresented in medicine are encouraged to apply.

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