See how much you could save on Marketplace coverage

Curious about your Marketplace costs? Use the Kaiser Family Foundation’s online Subsidy Calculator to get an estimate of what your premiums and savings might be on a Marketplace plan.

Keep in mind that this is just an estimate, and your actual costs may be higher or lower. When open enrollment in the Health Insurance Marketplace starts October 1, you’ll be able to see exactly what you’ll pay for specific plans, including any savings you qualify for based on your income.

In the meantime, before all of the plan prices are available to you on October 1, use the handy Kaiser Family Foundation tool to help you understand where your costs could fall.  Learn more about the Subsidy Calculator on HealthCare.gov.

Questions? Call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. TTY users should call 1-855-889-4325.

Suicide Prevention Survey

Dear Colleague,

Suicide is a leading public health issue and we need your help!

The Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition is conducting a three minute anonymous survey (Survey Link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Utah-SuicideSurvey) among Utah community and business leaders.  

As part of the Zero Suicide Initiative of the National Action Alliance on Suicide Prevention, several states have participated in this survey.  The goals of the survey are to:

•    Identify suicide prevention training needs in Utah and
•   Identify gaps in community efforts to support individuals with suicidal thinking, feelings, or behavior.

In order to accomplish these goals, questions will be asked pertaining to your knowledge, beliefs and experiences with suicide prevention.  Aggregate results at the organizational level will be used to determine how we can improve suicide prevention, intervention, training, support, and postvention nationally and locally. 

The last page of the survey will provide information on how you can receive the survey results and enter drawing to win a $100 Amazon.com gift card and a book from Thomas Joiner, author of "Why People Die by Suicide."

Please help us meet our goal of having 5,000 Utahns take this Suicide Prevention Survey!  Feel free to forward this email and survey link to your partners and others as applicable.  If you have questions regarding the survey, contact Anna Fondario at 801-538-6201 or afondario@utah.gov.  If you have questions about Utah’s suicide prevention efforts, contact Rick Hendy at 801-538-4390 or rhendy@utah.gov.

Thank you for your participation!  

Survey Link:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Utah-SuicideSurvey

Sincerely,

Utah Suicide Prevention Coalition

Utah Department of Human Services Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health

Utah Department of Health Violence and Injury Prevention Program

CMS Announcement: It's Time to Set Up Your Marketplace Account!

Starting today you can be one step closer to getting health insurance by creating your Marketplace account. Setting up your account is the first step in the process to get you ready for October 1.

Follow these quick, easy steps and you’ll be on your way:

• Provide basic information like your name, address, and email address
• Choose your user name and password
• Create security questions to add an extra layer of protecting your information

When open enrollment begins October 1, you’ll be set up to apply for health coverage, compare plans side-by-side, and enroll in a plan.

Create your account today! And after you’ve set up your account, make sure to tell your family and friends to set up theirs too.

Coverage starts as soon as January 1, 2014.

Questions? Call 1-800-318-2596, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

CDC Reports Obesity Rates Decline among Young Children from Low-Income Families

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that obesity rates among preschool children from low-income families have declined in 18 states and one U.S. territory, and increased in only three states.  The report provides state-specific data on obesity rates among children ages 2 to 4 who are enrolled in federal health and nutrition programs, such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Jim Marks, senior vice president and director of the Health Group at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, said the report “shows our nation is making important progress in efforts to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic,” and noted that it “builds on other positive reports that have come from all around the nation over the past few years.”
RWJF.org

Tour of the CuidadoDeSalud.gov and Marketplace.CMS.gov Online Resources for Partners

Tour of the CuidadoDeSalud.gov and Marketplace.CMS.gov Online Resources for Partners

This webinar will provide an overview of the consumer resources available on CuidadoDeSalud.gov, and partner resources available on Marketplace.cms.gov. We will discuss how these online resources are designed to be used by our partners and highlight key features for consumers.

The presentation will be in Spanish. We will take questions in English and Spanish.

Background: Hispanic Americans represent one third of the nation’s uninsured, and often have higher rates of serious disease. Hispanic women are almost twice as likely to die from cervical cancer as non-Hispanic white women, and Hispanic Americans are twice as likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of similar age.

One of the most important accomplishments of the Marketplace is the Health Insurance Marketplace. In October 2013, millions of Americans —individuals, families, and small businesses—will be able to find health insurance that fits their budgets and meets their needs, at the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

Title: Seminario sobre los Recursos Disponibles en CuidadoDeSalud.gov y Marketplace.CMS.gov para Nuestros Compañeros
Date: Thursday, August 8, 2013
Time: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM EDT
Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/915891986 

Seminario sobre los Recursos Disponibles en CuidadoDeSalud.gov y Marketplace.CMS.gov para Nuestros Compañeros

Este seminario virtual ofrecerá un resumen de los recursos disponibles en la página web de CuidadoDeSalud.gov incluyendo recursos específicos en Marketplace.cms.gov. Hablaremos de cómo estos recursos en la red han sido diseñados para el uso de nuestros compañeros y explicaremos características claves para los consumidores.

Aviso: Esta presentación será en español. Tomaremos preguntas en ingles y español.

Resumen: En el 2011, el por ciento de Latinos sin seguro era más de 30, la cifra más alta entre cualquier otra minoría. El Mercado de Seguros Médicos será una de las metas más importante de la Ley de Cuidado de Salud a Bajo Precio. En octubre del 2013 millones de individuos podrán buscar y comprar planes de seguros médicos adecuados a sus necesidades y nivel de vida en el nuevo Mercado de Seguros Médicos.

Titulo: Seminario sobre los Recursos Disponibles en CuidadoDeSalud.gov y Marketplace.CMS.gov para Nuestros Compañeros
Fecha: 8 de Agosto, 2013
Hora: 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM (Hora Este)
Hay espacio limitado.
Haga su reservación ahora:
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/915891986 

Civil Rights Provision in Affordable Care Act Prohibits Discrimination in Health Programs and Activities: Request for Information

The Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights (OCR) today issued a Request for Information (RFI) on the civil rights provision of the Affordable Care Act (Section 1557) in the Federal Register.  The Department welcomes comments from consumers, health care providers, and other interested members of the public and invites submission of comments.

OCR enforces Section 1557, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity), disability, or age in certain health programs and activities.  Of particular note, Section 1557 is the first federal civil rights law to prohibit sex discrimination in covered health programs and activities.  To ensure equal access to health care, Section 1557 also applies civil rights protections to the newly created Health Insurance Marketplaces. 

The RFI is intended to gather information that will assist OCR in drafting the Section 1557 implementing regulation, and seeks comments on a wide range of topics, including:.

 ·         Examples of, experience with, and impacts of discrimination in health programs and activities;

·         Examples of health programs and activities, including less common types of programs;

·         What exceptions, if any, should apply in the application of discrimination on the basis of sex;

·         Access to electronic and information technology for individuals with disabilities; and

·         Language assistance services for persons with limited English proficiency.

Section 1557 is consistent with and promotes several of the Administration’s key initiatives that advance prevention and wellness, reduce health disparities, and improve access to health care services.   The Affordable Care Act helps ensure that all people, particularly low-income individuals, racial and ethnic minorities, and other underserved populations, improve their health and increase their health care and insurance options.  For more information regarding the Request for Information, please contact Carole Brown at 202-619-0805.

OCR is currently accepting and investigating complaints filed under Section 1557.  If you believe you have been discriminated against on one of the bases protected by Section 1557, you may file a complaint with OCR.   Language assistance services and alternate formats and other communication assistance are available and provided free of charge.

This notice is also available in the following in-language translations:

Español | 中文 | Tiếng Việt | 한국어 | Tagalog | Русский | العربية  | Français (créole) | Português

To learn more about non-discrimination laws and civil rights matters in health care and human service settings and to find information about filing a complaint, visit us at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr.

Have You Checked Your Immunization Status?

August is National Immunization Awareness Month (NIAM). This annual national health observance provides an opportunity to highlight the need for improving national immunization levels. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) list influenza and pneumococcal as especially serious diseases for adults 65 and older. Accordingly, CMS asks health care professionals to encourage Medicare beneficiaries to stay current on their immunizations; especially seasonal influenza, pneumococcal and hepatitis B for those who are at risk. Medicare Part B covers these immunizations and their administration for qualified beneficiaries.

• Influenza Immunizations: Medicare covers both the costs of the vaccine and its administration by recognized providers. There is no coinsurance or co-payment applied to this benefit, and a beneficiary does not have to meet his or her deductible to receive this benefit.

• Pneumococcal Vaccinations: Medicare provides coverage for one (1) pneumococcal vaccine for all beneficiaries. One vaccine at age 65 generally provides coverage for a lifetime, but for some high risk persons, revaccination may be appropriate. Medicare will also cover a pneumococcal vaccine for persons at the highest risk if 5 years have passed since the last vaccination. There is no coinsurance or co-payment applied to this benefit, and a beneficiary does not have to meet his or her deductible to receive this benefit.

• Hepatitis B Vaccinations: Persons at high or intermediate risk, such as people with renal disease, hemophilia, and diabetes mellitus, are among those who are eligible to receive coverage for this immunization benefit under Medicare Part B, when administered by qualified providers. The coinsurance or co-payment applies after the yearly deductible has been met.

For More Information:

• CMS Immunization Website

• MLN Preventive Immunizations Booklet for Health Care Professionals

• MLN Quick Reference Medicare Immunization Billing Chart

• CDC Adult Immunization Schedule

• National Immunization Awareness Month 2013 Toolkit