CHR Newsletter
In this Issue
- CHR Strategic Plan To Achieve Vision Over Next Five Years
- CHR Program Champion
- Professional Development/Events
- Who's New?
A Guide to Success! June 2024
CHR Strategic Plan To Achieve Vision Over Next Five Years
The Indian Health Service (IHS) Community Health Representative (CHR) Program, in collaboration with its partners, has developed a plan aimed at propelling the national program forward. The National CHR Strategic Plan 2023-2028 is a blueprint that defines the program's vision, goals, objectives, strategies, and metrics for success for the next five years.
Aligned with the overarching strategic plans of IHS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the CHR Program’s strategy focuses on five priority areas to achieve its vision:
- Advocacy and Awareness
- Partnerships
- Sustainability
- Workforce Strengthening
- Data Systems
CHR programs and partners nationwide are encouraged to use the Strategic Plan as a roadmap to enhance their efforts in promoting the health and well-being of AI/AN individuals, families, and communities.
Download the CHR Strategic Plan.[PDF - 1.5 MB]
CHR Program Champion: Rapid City – Oglala Sioux Tribe Begins Billing Medicaid for CHR Services
In a groundbreaking move, the Oglala Sioux Tribe (OST)-Rapid City (RC) CHR Program has begun billing Medicaid for CHR services, marking a significant milestone for IHS. They are the first Tribal CHR program to begin billing state Medicaid.
The OST-RC CHR Program can now increase billing revenue, resulting in program stability and expansion for additional services that are so desperately needed in the Rapid City area.
Catherine Jeffries, the director of CHR OST-RC, shed light on the pivotal impact this initiative has had on the community.
The journey towards Medicaid billing began with the creation of a comprehensive policy and procedure manual in 2019, spearheaded by Jeffries. It not only streamlined processes but also facilitated essential training for staff, enabling them to navigate complex systems and the Medicaid portal confidently.
One of the program's critical successes lies in its ability to address social determinants of health, leveraging billing codes to provide critical services from training to case management and mental health support.
This work has not been without challenges, mainly arising from the complex day-to-day realities CHR specialists grapple with. Their program has had to work to overcome hurdles like learning to navigate secure computer systems and emotional strains arising from the nature of their work.
Vicki Palmreuter, Tribal Liaison and Program Assistant for Community Health Worker Collaborative of South Dakota (CHWSD), said it had taken about two years of meetings with OST-RC to build a relationship and get to a point where the CHR program was ready and prepared to submit its first claim to South Dakota Medicaid.
"But by them going through it, we have sort of a case study to take out to other CHR programs who might be interested, and we’ve already started to do that. Rapid City has sort of blazed the trail for that [billing process] and having one tribe approve a CHR program to bill state Medicaid."
Professional Development/Events
IHS CHR Program Partners With Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board
The IHS CHR Program and the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB) are continuing their successful webinar partnership series Indian Country CHR (CHR) ECHO Program on the 3rd Monday of every month.
The Indian Country CHR ECHO Program will provide comprehensive information for Indian Health Service, Tribal, and Urban Indian CHRs to decrease barriers, improve access and provide holistic, culturally appropriate care locally for AI/AN people. Free Certificates of Completion will be provided.
To receive updates, reminders to join, monthly connect details for the ECHO and session recordings - please sign-up!
Read more about the Indian Country CHR ECHO program and email for more information.
CHR RPMS Training
Registration for onsite training in the Albuquerque Area Office:
- July 15-16, 2024 - Forms and Coding
- July 17-18, 2024 - Data Entry and Reports
Registration for onsite training in the Aberdeen Area Office:
- July 29-30, 2024 - Forms and Coding
- July 31- August 1, 2024 - Data Entry and Reports
Who’s New? Oklahoma City CHR Consultant
Whitney Moseley, BSN, RN, has been named as the new Oklahoma City Area CHR Consultant and also currently serves as the Oklahoma City Area Health Promotion Disease Prevention Coordinator. Whitney is from rural Oklahoma and is an enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oklahoma City University in 2012, and a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and International Business in 2010.
She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Managerial Leadership and has served the IHS at different Oklahoma locations as a Public Health Nurse, Informaticist and other acting roles in leadership. Whitney brings 24 years of experience in healthcare to Oklahoma and a passion for public health to her new role.
Whitney is pictured with the United States Public Health Service (USPHS) mascot, LCDR Abigail. This dog is a Warrior Canine Connection dog trained to provide therapeutic care and symbolizes the USPHS’s commitment protecting the Nation’s health.
