Covering Kids & Families of Indiana Newsletter |
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Sine Die
Sine die? What does that mean? It's legalese for “indefinitely,” and Latin for “without day.” If a meeting - or in this case, the legislative session - ends with no set day to get back together, it's adjourned sine die. That means the legislative session for 2024 is over!
So what happened? Here are just a few bills that have passed the legislative process and been signed into law by the governor.
SB 1 - This bill details the new mandatory retention policy for students who do not pass the reading competency assessment in 3rd grade.
SB 6 - This is a companion bill to SB 1. It requires the department of education to address students in grades 4-8 who did not pass the state reading test and are at risk of not meeting reading proficiency.
SB 5 - This bill specifies how utility companies can interact with homeowners as the utility companies replace lead service lines. There was a provision that would have given schools grants to test for and remediate lead, but it was removed before final passage.
SB 149 - This bill deals with tobacco sales certificates, such as the number of certificates each retail establishment can hold, what ID an employee must have, and how close a store can be to a school.
SB 273 - This bill requires health plans, including Medicaid risk based managed care, to cover biomarker testing.
HB 1216 - This bill r equires Medicaid reimbursement for Medicaid covered services provided to a Medicaid recipient while the individual is detained to a facility for mental health services. This bill sunsets June 30, 2025.
HB 1426 - This bill requires hospitals to offer women with Medicaid a long acting reversible contracteptives (LARC) while at the hospital post-birth. This bill sunsets on June 30, 2025.
You can see all the bills signed by the governor here. |
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NEWS FROM THE INDIANA SCHOOL HEALTH NETWORK |
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Registration for the Indiana School Health Network Conference Is Open!
Covering Kids & Families of Indiana is excited to announce the Indiana School Health Network Conference will be FREE to attend this year. The conference will be held on June 4-5, 2024 at the Embassy Suites in Plainfield. In addition to no cost, pre-conference sessions have been added for June 3rd. Up to 14 free continuing education credits will be offered for nursing, social work, certified health education specialists (CHES), and library professionals. General certificates of attendance will also be provided.
The Seeds of Hope: Growing a Strong Future for Hoosier Kids conference will encourage discussions and initiatives that highlight innovative approaches, community involvement, policy changes, and evolving opportunities. Keynotes include sessions on trauma-informed nutrition security, school-based Medicaid reimbursement, Indiana’s behavioral health strategic plan, and school culture and belonging.
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Reconciling Marketplace APTC- Tax Year 2023
To raise awareness of consumer tax implications related to Marketplace coverage, CMS has provided the following reminders. Requirement for IRS tax Form 8962 is still relatively new and consumers may be unaware of the actions required.
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Consumers who had Marketplace coverage at any point during 2023, must use Form 1095-A to complete IRS tax Form 8962 and reconcile their 2023 premium tax credit when they file their 2023 taxes if they used the premium tax credit to lower their monthly premiums.
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Consumers may have to resubmit their 2023 tax return if they filed electronically but it was rejected for a missing Form 8962. They will need to complete Form 8962 or an explanation for why they are missing the Form 1095A and attach it when they refile. Learn how to fix it and correctly file electronically.
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If a consumer’s tax return was rejected for not having Form 8962 and they didn't have Marketplace coverage in 2023, they should contact the Marketplace Call Center. The Marketplace will help them get a voided Form 1095-A to include with your tax return as proof of not having Marketplace coverage with premium tax credits.
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What Does Public Health Mean to You?
The Indiana Public Health Association is seeking to collect the experiences, input, and vision of Hoosiers as it relates to public health in Indiana. Please fill out this form to help better understand what public health means to YOU!
If you have questions, please contact the IPHA team at info@inpha.org. Thank you!
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March is National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
According to the CMS Office of Minority Health, as many as 27% of adults in the U.S. have a disability. People living with disabilities are more likely to live with obesity, smoke, and have chronic conditions, like heart disease and diabetes. Additionally, people with disabilities face barriers to health care access, with 1 in 4 adults with disabilities lacking a regular health care provider or having unmet health needs due to cost.
Between 2019 and 2021, the prevalence of diagnosed developmental disabilities in U.S. children aged 3 to 17 increased from 7.4% to 8.6%. Children with developmental disabilities often experience differences in health care and service use based on factors like race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Additionally, though rural residents make up less than 20% of the U.S. population, they are more likely than their urban counterparts to experience disability. Since rural and geographically isolated communities often have limited access to transportation, clinics, and hospitals than urban areas, coordination of care for those with disabilities may be more difficult.
Check out the resources below and share widely!
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Promoting Telehealth
Using telehealth to deliver services covered by Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) can help advance health equity.
The toolkit includes a list of actions health care professionals can take before, during, and after a telehealth appointment to help Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries feel more comfortable when receiving services via telehealth.
For more information to help Medicaid and CHIP beneficiaries better understand how to use telehealth, be sure to download and share Telehealth: What to Know for Your Family. The booklet explains how to schedule and prepare for a telehealth appointment, what to expect during the appointment, and how to get follow-up care after the appointment.
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Colon Cancer Awareness
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, and this year, Blue Beads Day is March 21. Both health observances highlight the importance of finding and removing growths in the colon before they turn into cancer.
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Join the Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB)
The Indiana Department of Health and Division of Mental Health and Addiction are recruiting youth ages 14-24 to serve on the Indiana Youth Advisory Board (IYAB).
IYAB gives youth an opportunity to learn about public health problems and come up with ideas and projects to improve the health and well-being of other young people in Indiana. IYAB members spend at least five hours a month meeting (virtually) with peers and working on collaborative, creative, youth-driven initiatives related to mental health, public health, and their passions.
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Home Test to Treat is a new program funded by the National Institutes of Health focused on providing COVID-19 care and treatment for adults who are at greater risk of being affected by COVID-19. Adults who do not currently have COVID-19 or flu may enroll and receive free tests if they are uninsured or are enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, the Veterans Affairs health care system, or the Indian Health Services. Individuals who are currently positive for COVID-19 can enroll to receive telehealth services for COVID-19 and treatment (if prescribed) at no cost. Enrollees may also be invited to participate in a completely optional research component of the program.
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Protecting Our Children Conference
April 7–10
Seattle, with the option to attend virtually
The 42nd annual Protecting Our Children Conference is “Together We Stand: Preserving the Spirit of ICWA.” Sponsored by the National Indian Child Welfare Association, the conference is geared toward social service providers, legal professionals, advocates for children, and tribal and federal leaders.
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NCUIH Annual Conference
April 29–May 2
Washington, DC
The theme of this year’s National Council of Urban Indian Health (NCUIH) annual conference is “Sustaining Traditions: Culture, Identity, and Health.” Health care professionals, policymakers, and community leaders are encouraged to attend.
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IHCP Enrollment
Total Membership decreased in January.
With 2,007,805 members, there were 4,584, or -0.23%, fewer members in January 2024 than in December 2023.
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© 2024 Covering Kids & Families of Indiana | All Rights Reserved |
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