Covering Indian Country—May 2019

Spotlight: Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Clinic Under Dr. Lyle Ignace's leadership, Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health Clinic (GLIIHC) has created the infrastructure necessary to more fully address its clients' mental and behavioral health needs. Formerly with the Indian Health Service, Dr. Ignace is an internist and the Executive Director of the GLIIHC in Milwaukee, WI. He is also the son of the clinic's co-founders—Dr. Gerald L. Ignace and Georgianna Ignace—and a member of both the Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe of Idaho. Dr. Lyle Ignace   "At our clinic, we balance the use of Western medicine with Native health practices." — Lyle Ignace, MD, MPH, Executive Director, GLIIHC "When I first joined GLIIHC, clients with mental and behavioral health issues were referred elsewhere, and it might take a month or two to identify providers who would accept new patients," explained Dr. Ignace. "Now we have individuals on call who can assess clients' mental and behavioral health needs right away." Currently, GLIIHC's staff includes a psychologist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner with prescribing capabilities, an art psychotherapist, and counselors who are specially trained to help clients with behavioral health and substance use disorders. The clinic also employs cultural and spiritual advisers who are well-versed in more traditional approaches to behavioral health.

May: Hepatitis C

Share this ad in your newsletter or on your website. Other sizes are available on CMS's Outreach and Education Resources page. Public service announcements Share these informational audio clips and videos on your local radio station, website, and Facebook page. Audio English Lakota Navajo Ojibwe Yupik Zuni Video English Lakota Navajo Ojibwe Yupik Zuni Tweet it Did you know that American Indians and Alaska Natives are at higher risk of having #HepC? Get tested. Get treated. Video #CMSNativeHealth Flyers and fact sheets Coverage for New Moms and New Babies (PDF, 477 KB, 2 pp) details prenatal care, coverage for labor and delivery, and care for mom and baby after birth. The Children's Health Checklist (PDF, 1.5 MB, 2 pp) helps parents make sure their children are getting the preventive health care they need. The Women's Health Checklist (PDF, 892 KB, 2 pp) offers information about the free preventive services available to women under Medicare, Medicaid, and insurance plans purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Download these files or order copies of these resources on the Tribal Products Ordering Page. Please allow 2 weeks for your order to be completed.

Health observances

May is Hepatitis Awareness Month More American Indian and Alaska Native people die from hepatitis C than any other racial or ethnic group. Hepatitis Awareness Month is an opportunity to remind everyone that timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent many of those deaths. Indian Health Service is working to improve the care it provides to patients with hepatitis C. Strategies, which are discussed in a March webinar, include screening patients born from 1945–1965 (who are at higher risk for hepatitis C than other generations) and using telehealth to increase access to medical specialists in rural areas.

National Women's Health Week Each year, Mother's Day—the second Sunday in May—marks the start of National Women's Health Week, a time to celebrate initiatives that improve the health of women and their families. Recently, Indian Health Service and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists released new recommendations for treating opioid use disorder in American Indian and Alaska Native women (PDF, 1 MB, 32 pp). Aimed at preventing deaths due to prescription opioid overdoses, the recommendations cover topics such as medication-assisted therapy, management of behavioral health issues, and trauma-informed care.

Mental Health Month In observance of Mental Health Month, download and share Suicide Surveillance Strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities (PDF, 10 MB, 38 pp). Released by the Suicide Prevention Resource Center, the report provides information to help Native communities assess the effectiveness of their efforts to prevent suicide among youth. It suggests creative and culturally appropriate approaches to gathering data, stories, and information about suicide. The report features brief case studies and quotes from key informants about their experiences. It also lists resources to help programs successfully collaborate on suicide prevention initiatives.

Additional resources

Disability-related disparities persist among AI/AN people An analysis of recent data indicates that disabilities are almost twice as common among American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) people than for the U.S. population in general. The National Indian Health Board analyzed data from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey and found that the disability rate for AI/AN people ages 35–64 is 25.6%, compared with 13.2% for all Americans in that age group. Additionally, disability rates among AI/AN elders are 33% higher than the rates reported for elders of all races.

The importance of Medicare for Native elders The National Indian Health Board recently released a report that showcases the growing importance of Medicare for American Indians and Alaska Native (AI/AN) elders. The report, Medicare and American Indians and Alaska Natives: 2017 Estimates from the American Community Survey (PDF, 2 MB, 40 pp), includes: one-page briefs on Medicare coverage for AI/AN populations in 37 states with tribes and/or Indian health programs, a brief on Arkansas, which has a high number of AI/AN residents who use tribal health services and IHS programs in the neighboring state of Oklahoma, and a 50-state summary.

Funding Opportunities

Improving adolescent physical activity and nutrition Deadline: Friday, May 31 The Youth Engagement in Sports (YES) Initiative seeks projects that encourage regular physical activity and improve nutrition in communities with lower rates of sports participation and limited access to athletic facilities or recreational areas. Grantees will be expected to serve 6th, 7th, and/or 8th graders over a 2-year period. Federally recognized tribal governments and tribal organizations are encouraged to apply.

Promoting health and wellness in Indian Country Deadline: Wednesday, June 12 Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Good Health and Wellness in Indian Country Program funds projects that will reduce obesity rates and prevent death and disability caused by tobacco use, diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Federally recognized tribal governments, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations are encouraged to apply.

Grants for grandparents and other surrogate caregivers Deadline: Wednesday, June 12 The Brookdale Foundation Group's Relatives as Parents Program (RAPP) will provide agencies with seed grants and technical assistance to develop or expand support services for grandparents and other relatives raising children whose biological parents are unable to care for them.

Calendar of Events

NIHB's 10th Annual National Tribal Public Health Summit May 13–15, 2019 Albuquerque, NM Register for the Public Health Summit  Sponsored by the National Indian Health Board (NIHB), the Tribal Public Health Summit attracts public health professionals, elected leaders, advocates, researchers, and community-based service providers. CMS ITU Outreach and Education Training May 14–15, 2019 Tulsa, OK, and Kansas City, MO Register for the ITU Training in Tulsa Register for the ITU Training in Kansas City The target audience for this CMS ITU training is business office staff, benefits coordinators, patient registration staff, medical records staff, and purchased/referred care services staff. Topics include CMS Tribal Affairs updates, Medicare, Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, state-administered programs, Social Security, and Veterans Affairs. Upcoming ITU Outreach and Education Trainings: May 30–31 in Bemidji, MN June 4–6 in Sacramento, CA June 10 in Spokane, WA June 18–19 in Billings, MT June 25–26 in Richmond, VA August 14–15 in Norwich, CT 2019 AI/AN National Behavioral Health Conference May 15–17, 2019 Albuquerque, NM Register for the AI/AN National Behavioral Health Conference The National Indian Health Board (NIHB) is hosting the American Indian and Alaska Native National Behavioral Health Conference with the theme, "Preserving Wisdom, Promoting Innovation." The intended audience includes behavioral health experts, public health professionals, federal employees, advocates, researchers, and community-based providers. 10th Annual Native American Healthcare Conference June 10–11, 2019 Temecula, CA Register for the Native American Healthcare Conference The agenda for this year's Native American Healthcare Conference covers emergency preparedness, diabetes, telehealth, and more. Tribal leaders, Indian Health Service representatives, and health care professionals are encouraged to attend. 2019 National UNITY Conference July 4–8, 2019 Orlando, FL Register for the National UNITY Conference Sponsored by United National Indian Tribal Youth, Inc. (UNITY), this annual youth leadership development conference addresses social issues that impact communities nationwide. The target audience includes community leaders, youth activists, and advisers. 2019 Diabetes in Indian Country Conference Aug. 6–9, 2019 Oklahoma City, OK Register for the Diabetes Conference Health care providers and Special Diabetes Program for Indians grantees are encouraged to attend the Indian Health Service 2019 Diabetes in Indian Country Conference for updates on addressing diabetes.