CMS Division of Tribal Affairs

Important information for our tribal partners

Help spread the word to promote COVID-19 vaccination so we can reach community immunity.

We Can Do This. We’re working to promote COVID-19 vaccine confidence, encourage prevention, and support our partners’ efforts to reach their communities.

Through strong partnerships with tribes and urban Indian organizations across Indian Country, we have administered more than 1 million COVID-19 vaccines in Native communities, but we still have work to do to reach community immunity.

You can help by:

• Sharing resources for American Indian and Alaska Native communities  .
• Joining the COVID-19 Community Corps   and receive weekly emails featuring tips, news, and resources to share with your community.
• Using new social media profile frames   to display your choice to get vaccinated and encourage your friends and family to do the same.

Marketplace Webinar Invitation: Information to Help Tribal Communities

Thursday, April 8 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

We will also have a presentation on “Enrollment of Tribal Citizens and Other Indian Health Service (IHS) Eligible Individuals in Health Insurance Coverage through a Marketplace, Including Use of Tribal Sponsorship to help provide information” for those helping individuals enroll in assistance. Please join us to learn more about these recent changes and how we can help Tribal members get access to coverage.

To read the CMS fact sheet on the American rescue plan visit: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/american-rescue-plan-and-marketplace

Who Should Attend:

Navigators and certified application counselors (CAC), agents and brokers, organizations that work with Tribal communities on education, outreach, and enrollment, Tribal advisors. 

When:  Wednesday, April 8 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM ET

Registration Link: https://kauffmaninc.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_5yNzjQsFTsquJnBCZTLyHg

MARKETPLACE SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD EXTENDED TO AUGUST 15TH

On March 3,  President Biden announced that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is extending access to the Special Enrollment Period (SEP) until August 15. The original SEP was from February 15^th to May 15^th.  With the extension to August 15^th, new and current enrollees will have additional three months to enroll or re-evaluate their coverage needs with increased tax credits available to reduce premiums. .  Although members of Federally-recognized Tribes can enroll in the Marketplace year round, this SEP is a good opportunity for Tribal members and their families to enroll in the Marketplace to better access health care services especially needed during this pandemic. 

The SEP will allow individuals and families in states with Marketplaces served by the HealthCare.gov platform to enroll in 2021 health insurance coverage.  These Marketplaces will make this SEP available to all Marketplace-eligible consumers who are submitting a new application or updating an existing application. Medicaid and CHIP-eligible consumers also can apply through the Marketplace both during and after the SEP.  State-based Marketplaces (SBMs) operating their own platform have the opportunity to take similar action within their states

CMS Releases Extension of Grace Period Related to the “Four Walls” Requirement under 42 C.F.R. § 440.90 for Indian Health Service and Tribal Facilities Informational Bulletin 

On January 15, 2021, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) released a Center Informational Bulletin that extends the grace period previously granted to Indian Health Service (IHS) facilities, and facilities operated by Tribes and Tribal organizations under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (ISDEAA), which permits IHS and Tribal facilities to claim Medicaid reimbursement under the clinic services benefit at 42 C.F.R. § 440.90 (including at the IHS All Inclusive Rate) for services provided outside of the “four walls” of the facility.

The bulletin extends the grace period to October 31, 2021 and explains the steps Tribal facilities and states will need to take before the extended grace period expires in order for these facilities to continue to be reimbursed for services provided outside the four walls of the facility after October 31st.  CMS is also extending the grace period for IHS-operated facilities to October 31, 2021, to give IHS and states additional time to work toward a solution addressing compliance with the “four walls” requirement for IHS-operated facilities.

For more information on the Extension of Grace Period Related to the “Four Walls” Requirement under 42 C.F.R. § 440.90 for Indian Health Service and Tribal Facilities Informational Bulletin, please visit this link:   https://www.medicaid.gov/federal-policy-guidance/downloads/cib11421.pdf

Flu Resources (Print Ads, Fillable Flyer, Bookmark)

• Flu Shots Covered by Medicare Print Ad (PDF)
  (PDF, 388 KB, 1 pp)
• Flu Shots Covered by Medicaid and CHIP Print Ad (PDF)
  (PDF, 251 KB, 1 pp)
• Flu Shots Covered by Medicare Fillable Flyer (PDF)
  (PDF, 371 KB, 1 pp)
• Flu Shots Covered by Medicaid and CHIP Fillable Flyer (PDF)
  (PDF, 378 KB, 1 pp)
• Flu Shots Covered by Medicare Bookmark (PDF)
  (PDF, 547 KB, 2 pp)
• Flu Shots Covered by Medicaid and CHIP Bookmark (PDF)
  (PDF, 378 KB, 1 pp)

Email Signature Blocks

•  Child patient  (PDF) Flu message
•  Health provider & adult patient ITU Trusted Source of Care
•  Female health provider ITU Trusted Source of Care
•  Adult patient getting eye exam ITU Trusted Source of Care
•  Health provider & child patient ITU Trusted Source of Care