Cecil H. Doggette's Posts (55)

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Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on September 28, 2021 at 7:57pm in Blogs

 

 
Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign Notes Header

Webinar on 10/13 – Register Now!

Engaging and Enrolling: Countering the Chilling Effect of "Public Charge" to Help Latino Children Get Medicaid and CHIP Coverage

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign Invites You to Attend a Webinar:

Engaging and Enrolling: Countering the Chilling Effect of “Public Charge”
to Help Eligible Latino Children get Medicaid and CHIP Coverage

Wednesday, October 13, 2021
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

Medicaid and CHIP (Children’s Health Insurance Program) provide comprehensive health benefits to almost 39 million children up to age 19 nationwide.[i] But many children still lack health insurance. A recent report from the Georgetown University’s Center on Children and Families found that the overall child uninsured rate started going in the wrong direction between 2016 and 2019, and Latino children were disproportionately affected. Latino children’s uninsured rate reached 9.3 percent in 2019, compared to 4.4 percent for non-Latino children. [ii] To close this coverage gap, it is critical to understand more about which Latino children are losing coverage, factors and drivers associated with higher uninsured rate, and outreach strategies and resources to help enroll eligible but uninsured children in Medicaid and CHIP. These insights will help direct outreach and enrollment efforts to more effectively target immigrant families, address coverage disparities, and advance health equity.

This webinar, which is being held during National Hispanic Heritage Month, will feature an analysis of recent data to raise awareness about the increase in uninsurance rates for Latino children, outreach strategies to effectively target this population, and a new resource available on InsureKidsNow.gov for organizations working with immigrant families. The webinar will also address recent federal guidance to inform states and stakeholders that the 2019 Public Charge Final Rule was vacated and is no longer in effect, and that applying for or receiving Medicaid or CHIP benefits does not make someone a “public charge.”[iii] The Department of Homeland Security’s Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking requesting public feedback on the public charge ground of inadmissibility will also be covered.

Participants will also learn about the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign’s many resources on InsureKidsNow.gov, which include a digital video, social media, text messages, and newsletter articles.

Webinar speakers feature:

  • Sarah Lichtman Spector, Director, Division of Medicaid Eligibility Policy, Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
  • Amanda Baran, Chief of Policy and Strategy, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security
  • Kelly Whitener, Associate Professor, Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy’s Center for Children and Families
  • Patrick Bresette, Children’s Defense Fund – Texas
  • Jenn Kerr, Outreach Contractor, Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign, Porter Novelli Public Services

REGISTER HERE

We Want to Hear from You!
The Campaign wants to hear how organizations like yours are helping get children and teens get vaccinated. Send us an email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov. And visit our website to access slides and recordings from previous Campaign webinars.­­­­

Stay Connected with the Campaign 

  • Share our Campaign materials. Our ever-growing, multi-lingual Outreach Tool Library features a variety of targeted resources to use in your outreach and enrollment efforts, available in multiple formats.
  • Contact us. To get more involved with the Campaign, contact us via email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov.
  • Follow the Campaign on Twitter. Remember to re-tweet or share our messages from @IKNGov with your social network and be sure to use our #Enroll365 and #KidsEnroll hashtags in your posts.

Subscribe to the “Campaign Notes” eNewsletter
The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign eNewsletter “Campaign Notes” is distributed throughout the year and provides updates on Campaign activities. If a friend or colleague forwarded this email to you, we invite you to sign up to receive this eNewsletter directly to your inbox.

[i] https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/program-information/medicaid-and-chip-enrollment-data/report-highlights/index.html#:~:text=82%2C301%2C711%20individuals%20were%20enrolled%20in,individuals%20were%20enrolled%20in%20CHIP
[ii] https://ccf.georgetown.edu/2021/06/08/health-coverage-trends-for-latino-children/
[iii] There’s one exception for people receiving long-term care in an institution at government expense, like in a nursing facility or mental health institution. These people may face barriers getting a green card.

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Become A Champion For Coverage

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on September 27, 2021 at 7:51am in Blogs

 

 

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You are invited to become a Champion for Coverage!

 

The COVID?19 pandemic has elevated the need for health coverage and the American Rescue Plan has made that coverage more affordable than ever. Join the Biden-Harris Administration in helping to educate people so they can get the care they need, when they need it, at a price they can afford. As a Champion for Coverage organizations will work towards ensuring every uninsured person who’s eligible for health coverage through HealthCare.gov, Medicaid or CHIP knows their options and is able to sign up for coverage.

 

Can my organization be a Champion for Coverage?

Champions for Coverage are public or private organizations and businesses across the country that are promoting the Health Insurance Marketplace in their communities. They include national and regional agencies such as community health centers, state and local government agencies, health provider organizations, libraries, local retail businesses, community based organizations, and many more. Champions have been integral in connecting millions of consumers to health care benefits in the Marketplace.

 

How do Champions for Coverage help Spread the Word?

Champions engage in various educational and outreach efforts, such as leveraging CMS Marketplace materials and resources, hosting in-person or virtual educational events, participating in social media, distributing materials to uninsured people, and through other communication channels. Many have hosted events or provided space and resources for certified assisters to conduct enrollment events.

 

What Benefits do Champions for Coverage Enjoy?

The benefits Champions will obtain upon becoming Champions are gaining public recognition on Marketplace.cms.gov; national and regional engagement calls; receiving timely Marketplace updates and news through e-newsletters and webinars/calls; and accessing a dedicated Champion inbox reserved exclusively for Champion organizations’ questions and comments.  More resources and opportunities will be announced as Open Enrollment is underway.

 

How can my organization become a Champion for Coverage?

Organizations conducting Marketplace outreach can voluntarily sign up to become Champions by filling out an online form on Marketplace.cms.gov. People can refer their questions about the Champion initiative to Champion@cms.hhs.gov.

Please keep in mind that Champion for Coverage organizations must not be in a position to profit from their Champion designation. If your organization falls under this category but would still like to contribute your valuable work by conducting Marketplace outreach, please email us at champion@cms.hhs.gov so we can provide you with details on how to stay connected with the latest information.

We look forward to having your organization join the growing list!

 
 
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Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on August 25, 2021 at 7:07am in Blogs


Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign Notes Header

Immunizing Children and Teens Helps Them Stay
Healthy and Protected Throughout the School Year 

Give children a shot to stay healthy by reminding parents to keep up with their child’s annual vaccinations. Vaccinations give kids extra protection and help reduce the risk of transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases, such as measles and mumps. Routine medical visits and childhood vaccinations also play an important role in safely returning to school and extracurricular activities this fall.

National Immunization Awareness Month each August provides a great opportunity for organizations to promote the vaccination and preventive benefits for children who have or may be eligible for free or low-cost health insurance under Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). With Medicaid and CHIP, families can access annual age-appropriate immunizations, booster shots, and flu shots for kids and teens up to age 19. A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the administration of key vaccines to children ages 2 to 17 declined between 60% and 70% from March to May of 2020 and that vaccine administration had not yet caught-up. That’s another reason it is especially important during the Back-to-School season this year to remind parents and caretakers about the importance of keeping up with childhood vaccinations.

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign has a variety of resources to help parents rest easier knowing childhood vaccinations and booster shots are covered. Organizations can use the free customizable materials in their outreach efforts year-round, including digital videos, palmcards, posters, infographics, social media messages, graphics, and more. Be sure to explore the Outreach Tool Library for all Campaign resources.

A Note About the Child Tax Credit and Public Charge
Starting on July 15, most families are eligible to receive monthly child tax credits payments of up to $250 per child ages 6-17 and $300 per child under age 6. Receiving this tax credit does not impact a family’s ability to qualify for Medicaid or CHIP. More information can be found at childtaxcredit.gov.

And having Medicaid or CHIP won’t affect someone’s chances of becoming a Lawful Permanent Resident or U.S. citizen. The Department of Homeland Security will not consider applying for or receiving Medicaid or CHIP when making a “public charge” determination (except Medicaid for long-term institutionalization, such as nursing home care). To read a copy of the full Informational Bulletin, please visit: medicaid.gov/federalpolicy-guidance/downloads/cib072221.pdf.

New Videos Available
Did you know that the Campaign has a series of digital videos which your organization can use in Medicaid and CHIP outreach and enrollment? These new Campaign videos can be used to encourage parents and caretakers to enroll their children in Medicaid and CHIP year-round to access important benefits like routine well-child visits and dental care. Here a few examples of the videos:

Remind parents to call their child’s health care provider to schedule routine medical visits and vaccinations, especially if they missed any during the COVID-19 public health emergency.

Let parents know about the oral health benefits covered by Medicaid and CHIP and why keeping up with their child’s dental health before school starts is so important.

Upcoming Observances
To help prepare for the 2021-2022 school year, the Campaign has a variety of Back-to-School resources that can help get the word out to parents and caretakers about Medicaid and CHIP.

Additional observances in September - October include:

  • Baby Safety Awareness Month (September)
  • National Preparedness Month (September)
  • National Suicide Prevention Week (September 5-11)
  • National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15-October 15)
  • Children’s Health Month (October)
  • National Primary Care Week (October 4-8)
  • National Health Education Week (October 18-22)­­

Stay Connected with the Campaign 

  • Share our Campaign materials. Our ever-growing, multi-lingual Outreach Tool Library features a variety of targeted resources to use in your outreach and enrollment efforts, available in multiple formats.
  • Contact us. To get more involved with the Campaign, contact us via email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov.
  • Follow the Campaign on Twitter. Remember to re-tweet or share our messages from @IKNGov with your social network and be sure to use our #Enroll365 and #KidsEnroll hashtags in your posts.

Subscribe to the “Campaign Notes” eNewsletter
The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign eNewsletter “Campaign Notes” is distributed throughout the year and provides updates on Campaign activities. If a friend or colleague forwarded this email to you, we invite you to sign up to receive this eNewsletter directly to your inbox.

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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

To contact CMS, please visit our contact us page. 

 
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Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on August 17, 2021 at 10:26am in Blogs

 

Men’s Health Network invites you to collaborate with us during Prostate Cancer Awareness month in September. At MHN, we strive to spread knowledge and awareness on many issues surrounding men’s health. We will be hosting multiple events throughout the month, and it would be tremendous if we can count on you to be a part of one or more of them. Collaboration with you will allow us to expand our reach and spread potentially life-saving news.

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death in men which is why this awareness period is so important to us. Cancer.org estimates almost 250,000 men will get prostate cancer this year, with just over 34,000 men dying from the disease in 2021. 

On September 1st, MHN will be releasing a press release kicking off the month, which will outline our plans to host a Twitter Chat around prostate health on September 22, 2021, at 2 PM EST. Currently, we are looking for partners and sponsors to either participate or co-host this chat with us. Interested? Please let us know!

Looking for social media messaging throughout September? Check out our free and comprehensive toolkit here: https://www.prostatehealthguide.com/awareness/digital-media-toolkit/

Other events in September may include: interviews with prostate cancer survivors, meetings on capitol hill, and much more. Stay tuned and reach out if you'd like to be involved.

With your help, it gives all of us the chance to spread more awareness and reach out to men about getting checked, getting help, and living with prostate cancer.

We hope you consider collaborating with us this September for Prostate Cancer Awareness Month! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me below. We look forward to your response and hope to be in touch soon.

Stay safe and healthy!

Best regards

Brandon Ross

Head of Communications & Outreach

Men's Health Network

(O): 202-543-6461, ext. 109

(C): 714-788-9631

communications@menshealthnetwork.org
www.menshealthnetwork.org

 

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CMS National Training Programs - Free

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on August 17, 2021 at 10:09am in Blogs

 

 

 

 

 

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2021 Virtual Workshops: Register today

virtual workshopRegistration is still OPEN for our upcoming virtual workshops!  Select the hyperlinked event title(s) below to register for those you’re interested in attending. You’ll be prompted to login to the CMS National Training Program (NTP) virtual workshop webpage. To login, use the same email address and password you use to register for all NTP webinars. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create one before registering. After you register for an event, you’ll get an email confirmation and calendar appointment. Please email NTPHelp@cms.hhs.gov if you need help with your account or registration. Sessions will start at 1pm and conclude no later than 3:30pm (ET). Session materials will be available for download at the time of the events and sessions will be recorded for later viewing.

17th – Medicare Coverage for Services Related to COVID-19

18th – Medicare Coordination of Benefits

19th – Medicare Plan Finder

24th – Medicare Current Topics

25th – Preventing Fraud, Waste, & Abuse in Medicare and Medicaid

26th – Where Do I Find? (Online Resources)

31st – Medicare Scenarios (Casework Session)

September 2021

1st – Medicare Rights & Protections

2nd – Social Security Benefits

NOTE: Registration requests will be considered on a first-come, first-serve basis until each session reaches capacity. The number of attendees from the same organization may be limited. If any session reaches capacity, we’ll work to schedule an additional offering for a later date.

NTP Webinar Recordings

CMS NTP Virtual Workshop: Original Medicare (Recorded July 27, 2021)

CMS NTP Virtual Workshop: Medicare Drug Coverage (Recorded July 28, 2021)

CMS NTP Virtual Workshop: Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap) (Recorded July 29, 2021)

To view our other webinar recordings, please visit the NTP website.

Did You Know?

·       There's a new blog, Prevention is key—protect yourself with vaccines.

·       The Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins October 15 and ends December 7, 2021. 

  • You can find the latest news about Medicare by visiting the CMS Newsroom.

 

 

 

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Health Funding Opportunity Announcement

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on July 13, 2021 at 9:47am in Blogs
 

 

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Office of Minority Health

 

 

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Notice of Funding Opportunity Announcements

 

The Office of Minority Health (OMH) at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services administers grant programs to support projects that implement innovative models to improve minority health and reduce health disparities.

OMH has released the following funding opportunity announcements for which applications are now being accepted.

 

Announcement Number: MP-CPI-21-003
Opportunity Title: Framework to Address Health Disparities through Collaborative Policy Efforts: Coordinating Center
Award Amount: Up to $500,000
Estimated Total: $500,000
Application Due Date: August 23, 2021, 6:00 PM ET 

The Coordinating Center (MP-CPI-21-003), combined with the Office of Minority Health demonstration projects (MP-CPI-21-004), constitute the “Framework to Address Health Disparities through Collaborative Policy Efforts” initiative. The goal of the initiative is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a methodological framework, structured process, and tool in supporting the assessment and identification of policies that may create or perpetuate health disparities by contributing to structural racism, as well as the modification, development, and implementation of policies to improve health outcomes.

The Coordinating Center will oversee and coordinate complementary and collaborative efforts among the participating sites (OMH-funded and self-funded) through leadership and management toward the goals and objectives of the initiative.

This notice solicits applications to establish and operate a Coordinating Center that will:

(1) Lead the development of a methodological framework, process, and tool for the assessment of policies that may create or perpetuate health disparities by contributing to structural racism, in collaboration with MP-CPI-21-004 “Framework to Address Health Disparities through Collaborative Policy Efforts: Demonstration Projects” recipients.
(2) Provide technical assistance to MP-CPI-21-004 recipients and self-funded participant organizations on utilizing the framework, process, and tool.
(3) Lead the evaluation of the implementation of the methodological framework, process, and tool.

Click on the following link to access the notice of funding opportunity.

A technical assistance webinar for potential applicants will be held July 20, 2021 at 1:00 PM Eastern. Click here to register for the technical assistance webinar.

 

Announcement Number: MP-CPI-21-004
Opportunity Title: Framework to Address Health Disparities through Collaborative Policy Efforts: Demonstration Projects
Award Amount: Up to $375,000
Estimated Total: $1,500,000
Application Due Date: August 23, 2021, 6:00 PM ET 

The demonstration projects, combined with the Coordinating Center (MP-CPI-21-003), constitute the “Framework to Address Health Disparities through Collaborative Policy Efforts” initiative. The goal of the initiative is to demonstrate the effectiveness of a methodological framework, structured process, and tool in supporting the assessment and identification of policies that may create or perpetuate health disparities by contributing to structural racism. The initiative also focuses on the modification, development, and implementation of policies to improve health outcomes.

This notice solicits applications for demonstration projects that will:

(1) Participate in the development of the methodological framework, process, and tool.
(2) Utilize the methodological framework, process, and tool to assess and identify policies that may create or perpetuate health disparities by contributing to structural racism.
(3) Modify existing or develop new policies.
(4) Implement those policies to improve health outcomes.
(5) Participate in evaluation activities through the Coordinating Center.

Click the following link to access the notice of funding opportunity.

A technical assistance webinar for potential applicants will be held July 21, 2021 at 1:00 PM Eastern. Click here to register for the technical assistance webinar.

 

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Centers For Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)-BLOG

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on June 9, 2021 at 2:23pm in Blogs

 

*June 1- Find care providers near you. Medicare.gov makes it easy to find and compare nearby health care providers, like hospitals, home health agencies, doctors, nursing homes and other health care services that accept Medicare.

*June 3- Your health insurance options after college. Congratulations, recent graduates! Here are 3 health insurance options to help protect you from unexpected medical costs if you get hurt or sick.

 

 

 

CMS has developed a Virtual Toolkit to help you stay informed on CMS and HHS materials available on the COVID-19. Please share these materials, bookmark the page, and check back often for the most up-to-date information. For more information, please email partnership@cms.hhs.gov

 

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CMS-Children & Teens Forgoing Mental Health Care

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on May 21, 2021 at 10:11am in Blogs

 

Connecting Kids to Coverage Campaign Notes Header

  Data Report Shows Vulnerable Children and Teens Forgoing Mental Health Care During COVID-19 Public Health Emergency

Data recently released by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) highlights the continued impact the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) is having on Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) beneficiaries and utilization of health services. The data show that, from March through October 2020, beneficiaries have foregone millions of primary, preventive, and mental health care visits due to the COVID-19 PHE, compared to the same time period in 2019. Although utilization rates for some treatments have rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, mental health services show the slowest rebound. This decline in utilization is occurring at a time when preliminary evidence shows mental health conditions have worsened nationwide. The gap in service utilization due to the PHE, particularly for mental health services, may have a substantial impact on long-term health outcomes. Medicaid and CHIP-funded mental health services, in addition to primary and preventative services, cover the majority of children, people living in poverty, and those with special health care needs. Medicaid and CHIP also cover millions of racial and ethnic minorities.

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign, a national outreach and enrollment initiative funded under the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA) and the Affordable Care Act, has recently launched a Mental Health Initiative, which includes a digital video, print materials and social media graphics that promote mental health services, which are covered under Medicaid and CHIP.

Additional Data Highlights
Specifically, the data demonstrate a 34% decline in the number of mental health services utilized by children under age 19, compared to the same time period in 2019, and 22% decline in the number of mental health services utilized by adults aged 19 to 64, compared to the same time period in 2019. This translates to approximately 14 million fewer mental health services for children and approximately 12 million fewer mental health services for adults, for a total of nearly 26 million fewer mental health services utilized across both groups. Similarly, although there are preliminary reports of increased drug-related mortality due to the COVID-19 PHE, substance use disorder service utilization fell by 3.6 million services (13% decline) when compared to the same time period in 2019. 

It is important to note that the data show that utilization rates for certain primary and preventive services for children under age 19 have recovered to pre-pandemic levels, or have started to rebound across many areas of the country. While this recovery is encouraging, millions of services still need to be delivered to make up for those missed between March and October 2020. Preliminary 2020 data shows 9% fewer childhood vaccinations for beneficiaries under age two (1.8 million services), 21% fewer child screening services (4.6 million services) among children under age 19, and 39% fewer dental services (11.4 million services) among children under age 19 when compared to pre-pandemic levels. This data takes into account increases in services delivered through telehealth.

Throughout the pandemic, CMS has encouraged states to consider telehealth options to combat COVID-19 and increase access to care. This updated data snapshot demonstrates a marked increase in the number of services delivered via telehealth compared to prior years. The number of services delivered via telehealth surged 2,700% during the PHE to nearly 68 million between March and October 2020. However, this increase has not been enough to offset the overall decline in service utilization.

For COVID-19 treatment and acute care use, the preliminary findings show more than 1.2 million Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries received COVID-19 treatment, and nearly 124,000 were hospitalized through October 2020. Despite significant variance across states regarding this data, preliminary results suggest that the COVID-19 treatment rate increases with age. In addition, Medicaid and CHIP paid for nearly 10 million COVID-19 tests or testing related services, although this data does not include tests provided free of charge or covered by other insurance programs, including Medicare.

View the press release, fact sheet and data report for additional information.

Stay Connected with the Campaign 

  • Share our Campaign materials. Our ever-growing, multi-lingual Outreach Tool Library features a variety of targeted resources to use in your outreach and enrollment efforts, available in multiple formats.
  • Contact us. To get more involved with the Campaign, contact us via email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov.
  • Follow the Campaign on Twitter. Remember to re-tweet or share our messages from @IKNGov with your social network and be sure to use our #Enroll365 and #KidsEnroll hashtags in your posts.

Subscribe to the “Campaign Notes” eNewsletter
The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign eNewsletter “Campaign Notes” is distributed throughout the year and provides updates on Campaign activities. If a friend or colleague forwarded this email to you, we invite you to sign up to receive this eNewsletter directly to your inbox.

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NEW! CMS National Training Program Update

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on May 13, 2021 at 8:28am in Blogs

 

 

 

 

 

National Training Program

May is Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

AAPIThroughout May, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. We are committed to understanding the health needs of this diverse population and strive towards improving the health of all minority populations. We welcome you to view and share our resources on prevention, health equity, and research about health disparities. Also, you can learn about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) programs to improve the health of Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Other Pacific Islander populations in the United States.

NTP Medicare Update & Education Webinar

May 13, 2021    1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Join us for information about:

  • Medicare updates
  • Older Americans Month
  • Mental Health Awareness Month and Medicare coverage of screenings and counseling
  • Medicare and the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program

To register, go to CMSnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/moodle/course/view.php?id=130. After registration, you'll get an email with a calendar appointment. This webinar will be recorded. You don’t need to register to view the recording.

New / Updated Training Materials

Medicare Rights and Protections PowerPoint (Spanish version)

The CMS National Training Program has training materials for many Medicare topics, including PowerPoint modules that can be customized for your audience. Check them out at CMSnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/resources.

NTP Webinar Recordings

April NTP Update & Education webinar (recording)

This webinar shared Medicare updates and information on "From Coverage to Care" telehealth resources, alcohol abuse awareness month, Medicare coverage of alcohol misuse screenings and counseling, and the Health Insurance Marketplace ® Special Enrollment Period (SEP). The webinar also included a presentation on Medicare eligibility and coverage for transplant services.

To view all of our webinar recordings, visit the NTP website.

New/Updated CMS Products

Medicare Supplemental Insurance: Getting Started

4 Programs That Can Help You Pay Your Medical Expenses

Guide to Choosing a Hospital

Opioid treatment programs for people with both Medicare and Medicaid (Spanish)

Did You Know?

National Training Program, Office of Communications

 

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HHS Community News, 2021

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on May 13, 2021 at 8:15am in Blogs

 

 

 

2021 Marketplace Special Enrollment Period Report

Last week, it was announced that 940,000 Americans have signed up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. Until Aug. 15, 2021, consumers who want to enroll in coverage, compare plan offerings, or see if they qualify for more affordable premiums can visit HealthCare.gov or CuidadoDeSalud.gov or call the Marketplace Call Center at 1-800-318-2596, which provides assistance in over 150 languages.

 

COVID-19 Related News

Vaccines.gov or Vacunas.gov

Community members can now use Vaccines.gov to find a vaccine location near them and then call or visit their website to make an appointment.

 

Community-Based Testing Sites for COVID-19

COVID-19 tests are available at no cost nationwide at health centers and select pharmacies. COVID-19 testing is free to anyone in the U.S., including the uninsured. Find a testing location here.

 

Join the COVID-19 Community Corps

Community Corps members benefit from a steady stream of timely news, resources, and information—including briefing calls with subject matter experts on strengthening vaccine confidence.  Sign up here.

 

CDC Updated Guidance

·       Updated FAQ Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccination

·       COVID-19 Easy to Read Materials in Spanish

·       Support for Teens and Young Adults: The CDC updated their information and resources for teens and young adults. The CDC also added information on how to work through stress, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse during this challenging time.

·       Guidance for Operating Child Care Programs During COVID-19

·       COVID-19 Data Tracker Weekly Review: Go here for CDC’s updated numbers on reported cases, variants, testing, vaccinations, hospitalizations, and deaths. The CDC also included travel information--as many countries and states are now loosening restrictions for visitors—and makes recommendations on travel.

 

Partner Resources and Toolkits*

Highlighted here are a few of the helpful resources that have come our way and we want to share with you.

·       Clinton Foundation’s Toolkit for Faith and Community Leaders.

 

·       Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) and Interfaith Youth Core’s (IFYC) Religious Diversity and Vaccine Survey and PRRI-IFYC COVID Vaccine Religion Report.

 

·       The Get Vaccinated! Black Faith Community Toolkit, created by the Skinner Leadership Institute in collaboration with the National African American Clergy Network. (Includes a guide for houses of worship who want to host an immunization site.)

 

·       How Can Faith Leaders Help End the COVID-19 Pandemic? Support the COVID-19 Vaccination Effort created by the Association of Immunization Managers (AIM) and includes resources for supporting vaccine access in houses of worship.

 

·       COVID-19 Vaccines: Equity-Centered Approaches

Thurs., May 13, 1:00 p.m. ET. Register. This webinar, hosted by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, will explore current and historical efforts to vaccinate communities of color and indigenous communities to evaluate lessons learned and their applicability to COVID-19 currently.

 

New COVID-19 Funding Announcements

HHS Announces Nearly $1 Billion for Rural COVID-19 Response

This funding is intended to increase the number of vaccines sent to rural health clinics and other providers serving rural communities to expand testing and other COVID-19 prevention services, ensure access to healthcare practices in rural areas, and work to increase vaccine confidence and uptake.

 

HHS Announces $250 Million for a Community-Based Workforce to Increase Vaccinations in Underserved Communities

Funds will be awarded to develop and support a community-based workforce who will serve as trusted voices sharing information about vaccines, work to increase COVID-19 vaccine confidence, and address any barriers to vaccination for individuals living in vulnerable and medically underserved communities.

·       The first of two the funding opportunities was released last week and will award 10 recipients to engage with multiple organizations regionally and locally, including with community-based organizations, health centers, minority-serving institutions, and other health and social service entities. Closing date: May 18, 2021 (11:59 p.m. ET). Applicants should contact CBOVaccineOutreach@hrsa.gov with any questions.

·       The second funding opportunity will be released in the near future and will focus on smaller community-based organizations.

 

Highlighted Grants and Funding Opportunities

Note: A primary reason funding opportunities are highlighted each week is to let you know of potential investments in your community. To participate in these funds, you may need to actively engage with local community partners, health care systems, and/or public health entities and contribute to your community’s collective efforts. Grants are listed in order of due date, note *new listings.

 

*Forecasted: Funding Allocation for Navigators

In April, CMS announced plans to make $80 million available in grants to Navigators in the federally-facilitated Marketplaces for the 2022 plan year. Details about the Navigator grant funding, including eligibility requirements and required Navigator duties, are available through the 2021 Navigator Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) Forecast(CFDA # 93.332).

 

Innovations in Nutrition Programs and Services - Statewide Research

Funding aimed at maximizing the independence, well-being, and health of older adults and allow them to live at home for as long as possible. This opportunity seeks to verify the effectiveness of Senior Nutrition Program (SNP) innovative policies created during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Closing date: May 24, 2021.

 

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants
Grants to improve telemedicine and distance learning services in rural areas through the use of telemedicine, computer networks, and related advanced technologies. Closing date: June 4, 2021.

 

American Rescue Plan – Health Center Construction and Capital Improvements

Funding opportunity is to support construction, expansion, alteration, renovation, and other capital improvements to modify, enhance, and expand health care infrastructure in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Closing date: June 24, 2021.

 

FEMA Emergency Food and Shelter Program

The application period for $110 million in Emergency Food and Shelter Program supplemental funding has opened. This funding is available to organizations that provided, or will provide, services to families and individuals crossing the southern border into the United States.

 

COVID-19 Funeral Assistance

Families who lost loved ones to COVID-19, FEMA will provide financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after Jan. 20, 2020. Read their Funeral Assistance FAQ for more information.

 

Community Health Workers for COVID Response and Resilient Communities

Grants for training and deployment of community health workers to build and strengthen community resilience to fight COVID-19 in geographic areas and populations that experience health disparities. Closing date: May 24, 2021.

 

Mine Health and Safety Grants

Grants to prevent fatalities, disease, and injury from mining and secure safe and healthy working conditions for miners through laws, regulations, safety improvements, education, and training. Closing date: May 28, 2021.

 

Brookwood-Sago Mine Safety Grants

Grants for education and training programs to help identify, avoid, and prevent unsafe working conditions in and around mines. Special emphasis is given to programs and materials that target workers at smaller mines, including training miners and employers about new MSHA standards, high-risk activities, or hazards identified by MSHA. Closing date: May 28, 2021.

 

Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program Grants

Program to help rural communities use the unique capabilities of telecommunications to connect to each other and to the world, overcoming the effects of remoteness and low population density. For example, this program can link teachers and medical service providers in one area to students and patients in another. Closing date: June 4, 2021.

 

*Comprehensive Opioid, Stimulant, and Substance Abuse Site-Based Program
Grants to develop, implement, and/or expand comprehensive programs in response to illicit opioids, stimulants, or other substances of abuse. The program provides resources to support state, local, tribal, and territorial efforts to reduce violent crime and drug abuse and enhance public safety while supporting victims. Closing date: Jun 21, 2021.

 

Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC)

Grants for projects in the Appalachian region and Lower Mississippi Delta region that will provide career training and support services to eligible individuals in counties and parishes and/or areas currently underserved by other resources. Closing date: July 21, 2021.

 

RWJF/DOT Pioneering Ideas Brief Proposals

Grants for innovative projects that are working to build a culture of health, ensuring that everyone has access to the care they need and all families have the opportunity to make healthier choices. Closing date: Ongoing.

 

Housing Opportunities for Persons With AIDS Competitive Grant: Housing as an Intervention to Fight AIDS
Funding to create and implement new projects that align with initiatives aimed at ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic using housing as an intervention in ending the epidemic. Closing date: July 6, 2021.

 

*FY 2021 Second Chance Act: Adult Reentry Education, Employment, Treatment and Recovery Program

This program provides funding under the Second Chance Act to develop a strategic plan for integrating correctional and employment programming/systems and/or establishing, expanding, and improving treatment for people with substance use disorders during incarceration and to help facilitate the successful reintegration of offenders returning to communities after a prison or jail sentence.Closing date: July 6, 2021

 

Project Talk Initiative Host Site Applications
Partnerships with community-based organization host sites to evaluate the impact of several approaches to promote advance care planning in underserved populations, including those from ethnic and racial minority backgrounds, rural communities, and low-income areas.  Closing date: Ongoing.

 

Rural Business Development Grants

Supports targeted technical assistance, training, and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1,000,000 in gross revenues. Applications accepted on an ongoing basis.

 

Finally, on Tues., May 11, 11:00 a.m. ET, FEMA will be hosting the webinar, Get Ready for Hurricane Season, so community members in hurricane-prone areas can take preparedness measures in advance of the storms!(Register here)

 

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Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on May 13, 2021 at 8:13am in Blogs

 

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  A Note About the Significance of CMS’s
“Connecting Kids to Coverage” National Campaign 

A Message from Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra

Today our nation’s children are living through challenging times: social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the seemingly endless epidemic of mass shootings, and the economic toll that this pandemic has taken on families. And all of this is taking a toll on impacting our children’s mental health.

Our children deserve to be children, but when the conflicts of the world force themselves into their lives, that’s when we need to step in and make sure that they are protected. Fortunately, most children have access to health coverage; unfortunately, millions of children remain uninsured. What’s more, kids in minority communities have disproportionately high rates of uninsurance. These facts make CMS’ Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign all the more important.

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign’s mission is to promote the enrollment of eligible children in Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), thereby affording their families the peace of mind of knowing they have health coverage. Not only do these programs cover preventive care, but they cover much needed mental health services.

On this Mental Health Awareness Month, I want to reiterate HHS’s commitment to extending health insurance to all our nation’s children and to giving parents the tools they need to help ensure their children develop into healthy adults. As Frederick Douglass said more than one hundred years ago, “It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.” That remains as true today as it did back then.

I want to thank CMS and all the Campaign’s partner organizations for working to amplify the message of this campaign, and I want to encourage parents whose kids are uninsured to enroll in Medicaid and CHIP. Together, we can help this nation’s children grow into healthy adults.

Connecting Kids to Health Coverage
Across the U.S., more than 94% of children have health insurance, however, millions remain uninsured. Among those uninsured, those in minority communities face high rates of uninsurance. In fact, American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) children continue to have the highest uninsured rates by race and ethnicity; followed by Hispanic children. African Americans have the lowest rate of uninsured children apart from Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander children.

There are a variety of reasons that minority populations face barriers to enrolling in health insurance, a few of which include language, lower literacy rates, and limited access to enrollment assistance. It is crucial that children are covered by health insurance to stay up to date on preventive care, promote physical and social development, and succeed academically. Data show that children with health insurance are less likely to miss class and more likely to perform better in school compared to those who do not have health insurance.

Particularly in households that are low-to-mid-income, Medicaid and CHIP are a great option for kids’ health insurance. Not only does Medicaid and CHIP cover preventive care, it also covers routine check-ups, vaccinations, prescriptions, dental care, vision care, and mental health services.

Coverage of mental health services is particularly important right now with the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. Prior to COVID-19, as many as one in six U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 17 had a treatable mental health disorder. Since the start of the pandemic, children across the country have been facing additional stressors such as a disruption of familiar routines, schooling and socialization, as well as economic and other impacts on families, leading to a surge of anxiety and depression in young people. In addition, mental health disparities exist across race, gender, and geographic location. Due to COVID-19, many routine well-child visits may have been postponed, keeping children from getting important preventive services. Between March through July 2020, compared to data from the same period in 2019, CMS found in a data snapshot that children insured by Medicaid and CHIP participated in fewer routine care visits, which includes  8.4 million (35%) fewer outpatient mental health services, even after accounting for the increased use of telehealth. 

Coverage with Medicaid and CHIP includes developmental and behavioral health screenings and services delivered via telehealth. Early intervention and access to essential mental health services can help children get the support they need to meet important developmental milestones. While promoting access to mental and behavioral services is a year-round mission for us (and many of you)—May is Mental Health Awareness Month, which is an opportune moment for organizations to focus on this critical benefit in our efforts to enroll eligible children in Medicaid and CHIP, and encourage our current beneficiaries to access these services.

Medicaid and CHIP offer free or low-cost health insurance for kids and teens up to age 19. The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign resources below can help organizations promote health insurance coverage through Medicaid and CHIP and connect children of all backgrounds to health care.

Campaign Resources

  • Mental health resources

Visit the “Mental Health Initiatives” page to find all of the Campaign’s mental health resources in one place, including a :15 second digital video. These resources can be used to encourage parents and caregivers to enroll in Medicaid and CHIP to access important mental health benefits once their children and teens are covered.

  • Print materials in multiple languages

Organizations can use these inclusive, multi-language print materials to assist in outreach. These materials can be placed throughout the community to increase awareness about Medicaid and CHIP. Available languages include French, Marshallese, Spanish, Arabic, Burmese, Chinese, Farsi, Haitian Creole, Hmong, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, Tagalog, and Vietnamese. These materials can also be customized to include your organization’s name, logo, and other state-specific information. See our customization guide on how to submit your request.

  • Multicultural, AI/AN resources

There are many resources to help reach children and families, including multicultural outreach resources, the Outreach and Enrollment fundamentals guide for AI/AN children, and tips for conducting outreach in rural communities.

Upcoming Observances
There are national observance opportunities for partners to share Campaign materials to spread the word about the services and benefits of Medicaid and CHIP. Upcoming observances include:

  • Mental Health Awareness Month (May)
  • National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month (May)
  • Safety & Health Week (May 2 – 8)
  • Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day (May 7)
  • Mother’s Day (May 9)­­

Stay Connected with the Campaign 

  • Share our Campaign materials. Our ever-growing, multi-lingual Outreach Tool Library features a variety of targeted resources to use in your outreach and enrollment efforts, available in multiple formats.
  • Contact us. To get more involved with the Campaign, contact us via email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov.
  • Follow the Campaign on Twitter. Remember to re-tweet or share our messages from @IKNGov with your social network and be sure to use our #Enroll365 and #KidsEnroll hashtags in your posts.

Subscribe to the “Campaign Notes” eNewsletter
The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign eNewsletter “Campaign Notes” is distributed throughout the year and provides updates on Campaign activities. If a friend or colleague forwarded this email to you, we invite you to sign up to receive this eNewsletter directly to your inbox.

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CMS Women's Health Week

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on May 13, 2021 at 8:09am in Blogs

 

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HealthCare.gov Special Enrollment Period

Women’s Health Week of Action

May 9-15, 2021

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is continuing promoting Weeks of Action!  Each week will focus on engaging a targeted population to encourage action to come to HealthCare.gov during the Special Enrollment Period and enroll in coverage or potentially take advantage of more cost savings.  

The week of May 9-15 is National Women’s Health Week and CMS is recognizing the effort by focusing on our Women’s Health Week of Action running from May 9-15. We encourage you to help spread the word with your partners and members about helping women enroll in health insurance through Healthcare.gov. Weeks of Action focused on other populations will continue to August 15, 2021 when the SEP ends.

We have several resources for promotion this week on our partner toolkit including social media, fact sheets, graphics, etc.

We recently posted our new Week of Action Communications Toolkit which includes talking points, messaging, and a drop in article that can be customized for your organization.

There are also two Twitter chats scheduled this week with our federal partners for your participation:

-          Tuesday, May 11th - FDA & HHS Office of Women’s Health - 2-3pm;

-          Wednesday, May 12th - HRSA Office of Women’s Health - 1-2pm.

For more information, contact the CMS Office of Communications Partner Relations Group at Partnerships@cms.hhs.gov or view our website for further resources.

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Resources

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on May 4, 2021 at 8:50am in Blogs

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Resources: What Partners Need to Know Now – 5/3/21

 

As COVID-19 vaccines continue rolling out across the country, CMS is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers and keeping you updated on the latest COVID-19

resources from HHS, CDC and CMS.

 

With information coming from many different sources, CMS has up-to-date resources and materials to help you share important and relevant information on the COVID-19 vaccine with the people that you

serve. You can find these and more resources on the COVID-19 Partner Resources Page and the HHS COVID Education Campaign page. We look forward to partnering with you to encourage our beneficiaries to get vaccinated when they have the opportunity. For more information, visit the CMS COVID-19 Policies and Guidance page.

 

COVID-19 SNAPSHOT OF NEW COVID-19 VACCINE INFORMATION

 

CMS, CDC and HHS have released new guidance and resources related to the COVID-19 vaccine to serve our beneficiaries. This important information is highlighted below for our partners to share with providers and consumers.

 

No Out-of-Pocket Cost for COVID-19 Vaccine. CMS has recently become aware of instances where consumers are being charged to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.  We encourage you to remind vaccine providers of the following information as the vaccine becomes more widely available help curb any consumer barriers to receiving a vaccine.

 

COVID-19 VACCINE PROVIDER REMINDER:

If you participate in the CDC COVID-19 Vaccination Program, you must:

  • Administer the vaccine with no out-of-pocket cost to your patients for the vaccine or administration of the vaccine
  • Vaccinate everyone, including the uninsured, regardless of coverage or network status

 

You also can’t:

  • Balance bill for COVID-19 vaccinations
  • Charge your patients for an office visit or other fee if COVID-19 vaccination is the only medical service given
  • Require additional medical or other services during the visit as a condition for getting a COVID-19 vaccination

 

Report any potential violations of these requirements to the HHS Office of the Inspector General:

 

Submit claims for administering COVID-19 vaccines to:

 

For more information on COVID-19 Vaccine Administration, visit the CMS COVID-19 Vaccine Provider page.

 

COVID-19 VACCINE CONSUMER REMINDER. In addition, we encourage you to share the information below with consumers to help address issues relating to consumers who may have received a charge or paid for COVID-19 vaccination.

 

If you paid to get a COVID-19 vaccine: When you get a COVID-19 vaccine, your provider can’t charge you for an office visit or other fee if the vaccine is the only medical service you get. If you get other medical services at the same time you get the COVID-19 vaccine, you may owe a copayment or deductible for those services.

 

If you paid a fee or got a bill for a COVID-19 vaccine, check this list to see if your provider should have charged you:

 

  • Check the receipts and statements you get from your provider for any mistakes.
  • Call your provider’s office to ask about any charges you think are incorrect. The person you speak to may help you better understand the services you got, or realize they made a billing error.
  • If you have Original Medicare, review your “Medicare Summary Notice” for errors. Report anything suspicious to Medicare by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).
  • If you have other coverage like a Medicare Advantage Plan, review your “Explanation of Benefits.” Report anything suspicious to your insurer.

 

If you think your provider incorrectly charged you for the COVID-19 vaccine, ask them for a refund. If you think your provider charged you for an office visit or other fee, but the only service you got was a COVID-19 vaccine, report them to the Office of the Inspector General, U.S. Department of

Health and Human Services by calling 1-800-HHS-TIPS or visiting TIPS.HHS.GOV.

 

 

NEW COVID-19 VACCINE RESOURCES

 

CDC Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People: What you Need to Know.

  • If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing many things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.
  • When choosing safer activities, consider how COVID-19 is spreading in your community, the number of people participating in the activity, and the location of the activity.
  • Outdoor visits and activities are safer than indoor activities, and fully vaccinated people can participate in some indoor events safely, without much risk. Additional CDC guidance can be found here.
  • If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find a COVID-19 near you at Vaccines.gov.

 

NEW CMS COVID-19 Fraud Resources. CMS just launched new materials to help protect Medicare beneficiaries against COVID-19 vaccine fraud.  Spread the word by sharing the resources, graphics and messaging within your communities:

 

Building COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence Webinar: Thursday, May 13th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. E.T. - hosted by the CMS Office of Minority Health.

  • Dr. LaShawn McIver, Director of CMS OMH, will share information and resources to help you address vaccine hesitancy in your community. Dr. McIver will be joined by Dr. Peter Marks, Director of the Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research (CBER) at FDA, who will give an overview of vaccines and their safety. This webinar will equip you to speak persuasively about the COVID-19 vaccine. Register here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/6555661473692736014

 

Please note: You will receive an email with login information from GoToWebinar upon registration. If you do not receive an email in a few days’ time, please contact CMSOMHTeam@ketchum.com.

 

For more information on CMS COVID-19 Partner Updates, please contact us: Partnership@cms.hhs.gov

 

 

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Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on April 22, 2021 at 9:16am in Blogs

 

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Webinar on 4/29 – Register Now!
Promoting Mental and Behavioral Health Resources to Help Children and Teens Enroll in Coverage and Access Care

The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign Invites You to Attend a Webinar:

Promoting Mental and Behavioral Health Resources to Help Children and Teens Enroll in Coverage and Access Care

Thursday, April 29, 2021
2:00 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. ET

Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) cover essential mental and behavioral health services for kids and teens. For Mental Health Awareness Month, observed in May, the Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign (the Campaign) webinar will cover the current landscape of mental health service usage among children and teens, as well as offer ideas organizations can use to help children and teens in their communities access these important mental and behavioral health services.

Prior to the COVID-19 public health emergency, as many as 1 in 6 U.S. children between the ages of 6 and 17 had a treatable mental health disorder. With additional stressors, such as lack of routine and virtual learning, there has been a surge of anxiety and depression in young people since the start of the pandemic. Despite this surge, mental health services declined sharply among children age 18 and under. Although delivery of care via telehealth has helped connect children to important mental health services, data has shown that many children and teens are still not getting the care they need.

Join this webinar for the latest data on the use of mental health services, hear what partners are doing to help connect children to care, and learn about resources your organization can use in outreach and enrollment efforts. Learn about the Campaign’s many resources to promote mental and behavioral health on InsureKidsNow.gov, which include a digital video, social media, text messages, and newsletter articles.

Webinar speakers feature:

  • Melinda Baldwin, Chief of the Center for Mental Health Services at the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
  • Kim Proctor, Technical Director, Data and Systems Group, Center for Medicaid & CHIP Services, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
  • Jamie Poslosky, Senior Director, Advocacy Communications, American Academy of Pediatrics
  • Gillian Ray, Vice President External Relations, Children’s Hospital Association
  • Kelly English, PhD, LICSW, Director of the Children’s Behavioral Health Knowledge Center, Child, Youth, & Family Services Division, Massachusetts Department of Mental Health
  • Darshana Panchal, MPH, Outreach Contractor, Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign, Porter Novelli Public Services

REGISTER HERE

We Want to Hear from You!
The Campaign wants to hear how organizations like yours are helping to connect children and teens to mental and behavioral health services. Send us an email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov. And visit our website to access slides and recordings from previous Campaign webinars.­­­­

Stay Connected with the Campaign 

  • Share our Campaign materials. Our ever-growing, multi-lingual Outreach Tool Library features a variety of targeted resources to use in your outreach and enrollment efforts, available in multiple formats.
  • Contact us. To get more involved with the Campaign, contact us via email at ConnectingKids@cms.hhs.gov.
  • Follow the Campaign on Twitter. Remember to re-tweet or share our messages from @IKNGov with your social network and be sure to use our #Enroll365 and #KidsEnroll hashtags in your posts.

Subscribe to the “Campaign Notes” eNewsletter
The Connecting Kids to Coverage National Campaign eNewsletter “Campaign Notes” is distributed throughout the year and provides updates on Campaign activities. If a friend or colleague forwarded this email to you, we invite you to sign up to receive this eNewsletter directly to your inbox.

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The Road to Equity: Examining Structural Racism Virtual Forum

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on April 22, 2021 at 9:04am in Blogs

 
Register Today

Join CMS OMH for The Road to Equity: Examining Structural Racism Virtual Forum

Register Today

During National Minority Health Month, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Office of Minority Health (CMS OMH) will host The Road to Equity: Examining Structural Racism in Health Care – a two-day virtual forum to explore the advancement of health equity and efforts to address structural racism.

Guest speakers from various federal and partner agencies will share their insight and experience during the forum. Sessions will discuss the impact of COVID-19 on health disparities and initiatives to promote equity, as well as CMS and other federal agencies’ roles as equity partners in increasing access to care and strengthening the capacity of the health care industry.

A formal agenda detailing each session can be found here. There will be time during each session for attendees to ask questions. Space is limited; CMS OMH encourages early registration to ensure you can attend.

Virtual Forum Details

Title: The Road to Equity: Examining Structural Racism Virtual Forum

Dates and Times:

Please note: if you would like to attend both days of the forum, you will need to register for each day individually, using the links above.

You will receive an email with login information from GoToWebinar upon registration. If you do not receive an email in a few days’ time, please contact OMH@cms.hhs.gov.

 

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April 2021 CMS NTP Update & Education Webinar

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on April 9, 2021 at 7:55am in Public Service Announcement (PSA)

 

National Training Program

NTP Medicare Update & Education Webinar
April 15, 2021
1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET

Join us for information about:

  • Medicare updates
  • “From Coverage to Care” telehealth resources
  • Alcohol abuse awareness month and Medicare coverage of alcohol misuse screenings and counseling
  • Marketplace Special Enrollment Period
  • Medicare eligibility and coverage for transplant services

To register for this webinar, go to CMSnationaltrainingprogram.cms.gov/moodle/course/view.php?id=128.

After registration, you'll get an email with a calendar appointment. This webinar will be recorded. You don’t need to register to access the recording.

National Training Program, Office of Communications

 

 

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Resources-What Partners Need To Know NOW

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on April 8, 2021 at 8:26am in News

 

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COVID-19 Vaccine Resources: What Partners Need to Know Now 

-  Reaching Vulnerable Populations

 

 

As COVID-19 vaccines continue rolling out across the country, CMS is taking action to protect the health and safety of our nation’s patients and providers and keeping you updated on the latest COVID-19 resources from HHS, CDC and CMS.

 

With information coming from many different sources, CMS has up-to-date resources and materials to help you share important and relevant information on the COVID-19 vaccine with the people that you serve. You can find these and more resources on the COVID-19 Partner Resources Page and the HHS COVID Education Campaign page. We look forward to partnering with you to promote vaccine safety and encourage our beneficiaries to get vaccinated when they have the opportunity. For more information, visit the CMS COVID-19 Policies and Guidance page.

 

 

 

COVID-19 VACCINE RESOURCES TO SUPPORT VULNERABLE POPULATIONS

 

Many groups such as older adults and people with disabilities may have substantial challenges accessing COVID-19 vaccination services and warrant specific considerations to support equitable vaccine access. The CDC has provided guidance, tools and toolkits and other COVID-19 vaccine resources to support vulnerable populations who are a higher risk, to help them make decisions, protect their health, and communicate with their communities.

 

Toolkit for People with Disabilities - The CDC has created a toolkit to help people with disabilities and those who serve or care for them make decisions, protect their health, and communicate with their communities. This toolkit has several resources including:

 

 

Vaccinating Homebound Persons With COVID-19 Vaccine - COVID-19 vaccination of homebound persons presents unique challenges to ensure safe and effective vaccination, This webpage provides guidance on management of vaccines and vaccination for persons vaccinated at home or in small group settings. 

 

Toolkit for People Experiencing Homelessness – This webpage provides guidance and tools to help homeless service providers make decisions and protect and communicate with staff and with people who are experiencing homelessness.

 

COVID-19 vaccines for patients in dialysis clinics - The federal government is partnering with dialysis organizations, local and state jurisdictions to increase access to COVID-19 vaccines for patients and healthcare personnel in outpatient dialysis clinics. This webpage provides information for dialysis partners and public health jurisdictions to ensure equitable and effective access to COVID-19 vaccines and increase availability of COVID-19 vaccines for patients in dialysis clinics.

 

 

Other Communications Resources 

 

April is National Minority Health Month, and this year, the HHS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is focusing on the impacts COVID-19 is having on racial and ethnic minority and American Indian and Alaska Native communities and underscoring the need for these vulnerable communities to get vaccinated as more vaccines become available. The theme for National Minority Health Month is #VaccineReady.  

 

Spread the word by accessing and sharing the resources in the National Minority Health Month Toolkit, which has resources, sample social media messages, and downloadable graphics.

 

To learn more about National Minority Health Month, visit our website (English | Spanish), sign up to receive email updates on news and activities, and follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

 

 

NEW COVID-19 Public Education Campaign – HHS just launched We Can Do This, a national initiative to increase public confidence in and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines while reinforcing basic prevention measures such as mask wearing and social distancing. Campaign resources and toolkits are available to reach diverse communities. More information can be found here.

 

 

Communication Resources Updates - The CDC recently updated it’s Communication Resources for COVID-19 Vaccines and the Social Media Toolkit: COVID-19 Vaccinations with the latest and most up-to-date COVID-19 vaccine information.

 

 

 

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:

 

NEW Guidance for Providers:  COVID-19 Vaccine Administration – No Out-of-Pocket Cost to Patients 

 

NEW Resources for Medicare beneficiaries:  

 

 

 

For more information, please contact us at: Partnership@cms.hhs.gov 

 

 

 

 

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CMS Special Enrollment Period Extended

Posted by Cecil H. Doggette on March 26, 2021 at 8:48am in News

 

 

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Today, President Biden announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending access to the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) until August 15 – giving consumers additional time to take advantage of new savings through the American Rescue Plan. This action provides new and current enrollees an additional three months to enroll or re-evaluate their coverage needs with increased tax credits available to reduce premiums.

 

“Every American deserves access to quality, affordable health care – especially as we fight back against the COVID-19 pandemic,” said HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. “Through this Special Enrollment Period, the Biden Administration is giving the American people the chance they need to find an affordable health care plan that works for them. The American Rescue Plan will bring costs down for millions of Americans, and I encourage consumers to visit HealthCare.gov and sign up for a plan before August 15.”

 

To read the HHS press release, visit: https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2021/03/23/2021-special-enrollment-period-access-extended-to-august-15-on-healthcare-gov-for-marketplace-coverage.html.

 

To read the CMS fact sheet, visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/extended-access-opportunity-enroll-more-affordable-coverage-through-healthcaregov.

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