Covering Kids & Families of Indiana Newsletter
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Medical Debt and Credit Scores
The Biden Administration announced a plan to develop federal rules barring unpaid medical bills from affecting patients' credit scores. KFF Health News reported, "There is growing evidence, that credit scores depressed by medical debt can threaten people’s access to housing and fuel homelessness in many communities. At the same time, CFPB researchers have found that medical debt — unlike other kinds of debt — does not accurately predict a consumer’s creditworthiness, calling into question how useful it is on a credit report."
In a recent article, reporters noted that "Indiana has the na tion's 11th highest rate of medical debt in collection. More than 18% of Hoosiers have medical debt in collection, totaling $2.2 billion." The damage caused to credit scores by medical debt can follow Hoosiers for years, preventing them from getting a job, renting an apartment, or securing a loan for a car or home.
The rule making process is slow; Administration officials say that the rules will be developed in 2024.
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Health Misinformation Tracking
The KFF Health Misinformation Tracking Poll Pilot examines U.S. adults’ use of and trust in different media sources and their exposure to and belief in a series of health-related misinformation claims, including false statements related to COVID-19 and vaccines, reproductive health, and firearm safety.
Below is data from a snapshot report looking specifically at rural areas. There will be similar snapshots looking at Black adults and Hispanic adults. These snapshot reports are aimed at helping organizations in the U.S. working to combat health-related misinformation and rebuild trust in the media, public health, and scientific communities.
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Medicaid's Coverage Role in Small Towns and Rural Areas
According to a recent report from Georgetown's Center for Children and Families, "as of 2020-2021, Medicaid/CHIP provided coverage for a larger share of both adults and children in small towns and rural areas than in metropolitan counties nationwide and in every state examined. This disparity was even wider for children."
The author goes on to write that, "Medicaid enrollment has grown in recent years as the continuous coverage protection helped many more people stay insured, but these coverage gains are at dire risk during the current unwinding process. Because more people in rural areas are covered by Medicaid, and because of additional barriers to renewing coverage like having to travel further to eligibility offices or having less internet access, people living in rural counties may be more likely to be disenrolled for procedural reasons despite still qualifying for coverage."
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The State of Coverage Policy Summit
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NEWS FROM THE INDIANA SCHOOL HEALTH NETWORK
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Family Friendly Schools
The Indiana Department of Education (IDOE) is seeking applications for the 2024-2025 Family Friendly Schools Designation. The Family Friendly Schools Designation is a state recognition program for schools who focus on addressing the academic, physical, emotional and social needs of students while providing necessary resources and fostering the active involvement of families within the school and community. Awarded schools are honored for welcoming all families into the school community, communicating effectively, supporting school success, speaking up for every child, sharing power, and collaborating with the community. IDOE designated 91 Indiana schools for the 2023-2024 school year.
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Updates to the FSSA website
The Indiana Family and Social Services Administration (FSSA) continues to regularly update their “return to normal operations” website. Recent updates include
- A new flier for Hoosiers who have lost their Medicaid coverage
- FSSA’s July and August reports to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
- A new dashboard that makes it possible to review information at the county level
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Free COVID Vaccinations and Tests
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This month, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) launched a program to provide continued free coverage of COVID vaccines for uninsured and underinsured adults.
CDC’s Bridge Access Program provides no-cost COVID-19 vaccines to adults without health insurance and adults whose insurance does not cover all COVID-19 vaccine costs. No-cost COVID-19 vaccines through this program will be available until December 31, 2024.
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Beginning September 25, every U.S. household can place an order to receive four free COVID-19 rapid tests delivered directly to their home.
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Medicare Savings Program
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) finalized a rule to streamline enrollment in the Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that help low income seniors and people with disabilities pay Medicare premiums and cost sharing. The rule is expected to make it easier to enroll and retain MSP coverage which is managed by state Medicaid programs. It is estimated that only half of eligible people are enrolled in MSP. For example, under the rule, Medicare-eligible individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) will be enrolled automatically. Stay tuned for more information as it is released.
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Young Invincibles’ is hosting a Webinar Series with a focus on the upcoming Marketplace open enrollment.
Thursday, October 5 at 1pm ET
This first webinar in the series covers navigating CMS's certification training platform (Marketplace Learning Management System or MLMS), and the basics of starting out as a new assister, including how to prepare and what to expect from your first enrollment appointment.
Thursday, October 12 at 1pm ET
Health insurance literacy education is an essential component to outreach and enrollment work. If consumers don’t understand their coverage, they can’t use it! Learn best practices for conducting community HIL outreach and talking to consumers about using their coverage.
Outreach Strategies for Beginners - REGISTER
Thursday, October 19 at 1pm ET
Learn strategies for both in person and digital outreach, from where to go to what to say. Whether you're new, or are returning for your umpteenth year, join the webinar and gain some pro-tips!
Reaching Communities of Focus - REGISTER
Thursday, October 26 at 1pm ET
Not everyone has easy access to health coverage and care. Some friends and neighbors face additional barriers when trying to access basic services. Learn more about the specific needs of rural, LGBTQ+, and Latino consumers when it comes to coverage and care, and hear about best practices for meeting challenges and creating smooth enrollment experiences for these consumers.
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Trauma and Adolescent Development Webinar
The Annie E. Casey Foundation recently hosted a webinar on trauma and adolescent development aimed at helping participants:
- Understand how trauma affects adolescent development based on the latest research and Assata’s own work with young people.
- Learn tactics to improve services and programs aimed at youth with trauma experiences.
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CMS Website Improvement
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced an improved public-facing website. The redesign will help users find information and resources more efficiently .
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Gun Violence Prevention and Medicaid: State of the Field
Guns are now the leading cause of death for children, teens, and young adults across the country. Gun violence also has a disproportionate impact on young Black men — and on people of color in general. Join Centers for Health Care Strategies for webinar on October 18th 3 – 4:30pm EST.
This session will convene clinicians, practitioners, and community leaders – representing national and local perspectives from Chicago, Connecticut, and Philadelphia – to discuss how the integration of gun violence prevention and Medicaid can create better outcomes for patients, savings for payers and systems, and safer communities. Leaders in the field of violence prevention, as well as experts in health care and Medicaid will share concrete examples of work underway, provide strategies for integration, and discuss obstacles and opportunities for progress.
Registration is free.
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Total Membership decreased in August.
With 2,109,521 members, there were 33,643, or -1.57%, fewer members in August 2023 than in July 2023.
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© 2023 Covering Kids & Families of Indiana | All Rights Reserved
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