CHAD Connection

There’s been a lot of noise lately about enhanced premium tax credits (PTCs)—what they are, who uses them, and what might happen if they expire. With headlines and opinions swirling, it can be difficult for partners and community members to get a clear picture of what’s what.

A Quick Refresher: What Are Enhanced Premium Tax Credits?

Premium Tax Credits are the financial assistance that lowers the cost of health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace. Congress expanded (“enhanced”) these credits in 2021 so more people could afford coverage during a time of rising need.

These enhancements significantly increased the number of people who qualify for help and the dollar amount of help they receive. As a result, thousands of North Dakotans and South Dakotans have seen meaningful reductions in what they pay each month for coverage.

Consumers can get free, in-person help reviewing their health insurance options and enrolling in coverage during an upcoming enrollment event in Rapid City, hosted by Get Covered South Dakota.

A certified insurance navigator will be onsite to:

Answer questions about health insurance
Review available plan options
Check eligibility for extra savings and cost-sharing reductions
Provide hands-on assistance completing applications accurately

All services are offered at no cost, including access to translation support when needed.

Spots are limited. Community members can call 605-277-8405 to schedule an in-person enrollment appointment in Rapid City.

What Consumers Should Bring:

ID card
Social Security numbers for any adults or children needing coverage
Most recent pay stubs
Immigration documents, if applicable

Event Details:

November 24-25

Career Learning Center of the Black Hills

730 E Watertown Street, Rapid City, SD

If community members are unable to attend in person, Navigators are also available virtually. Encourage them to call or visit getcoveredsouthdakota.org to schedule a virtual appointment before January 15.

Both North Dakota and South Dakota submitted applications for the Rural Health Transformation Program, a new CMS grant program allocating $50 billion nationwide from federal fiscal years 2026 through 2030. The two states are expected to receive a minimum of $100 million per year, each, to improve rural health care access, quality, and sustainability. North Dakota’s submitted application can be viewed here, and South Dakota’s can be viewed here.

North Dakota has released a survey to identify provider readiness for activities within the first grant year, and CHAD is working closely with health center leaders on a coordinated response before the December 1 deadline. An email distribution list has also been created for North Dakotans who would like to receive updates regarding the RHTP (sign up here).

Tribal Infant, Maternal, and Child Health Symposium

February 3-4, 2026 | Fargo, ND

Hosted by the American Indian Public Health Resource Center (AIPHRC), this free 1.5-day event will be filled with insightful discussions, MCH education, traditional teachings, and networking opportunities focused on improving the health and holistic well-being of infants, mothers, and children.

Register

Community Health Representative Symposium

February 4-5, 2026 in Fargo, ND

Hosted by the AIPHRC, this free 1.5-day event will be filled with insightful discussions and networking opportunities with fellow community health representatives. Don't miss out on this chance to enhance your knowledge and connect with others in the field.

Register

Maternal American Indian and Rural Community Health Annual Summit

March 24-25, 2026 in Box Elder, SD

Hosted by Avera Research Institute, this free 1.5-day in-person or 1-day virtual event features maternal health leaders and will aim to raise awareness, share knowledge, and promote positive change in maternal health through presentations, activities, and an interactive workshop.

Register

RM-PHTC's Facilitation Foundations Course
Registration is open for the Rocky Mountain Public Health Training Center’s winter run of Facilitation Foundations – a highly interactive, deep-dive course designed for those new to facilitation.
Over 10 weeks, you’ll build your capacity to facilitate meetings and coalitions that are efficient, effective, and lead to results. Through hands-on activities, you’ll:

Discover your facilitation style and how it impacts group dynamics;

Learn strategies to anticipate, prevent, and manage challenging situations; and

Explore structured strategies for idea generation, evaluation, and decision-making.

By the end, you’ll be equipped to help groups meet their goals and take ownership of the process.
Register

NACHC's New Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Webpage

Does your pharmacy bill or work with contract pharmacies to dispense Medicare Part D drugs? If so, check out NACHC's new Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) webpage for resources to ensure compliance with requirements starting in the new year and to understand how these new policies will impact your CHC. NACHC will be hosting a webinar on December 10, to share more information about the IRA, which includes Medicare Drug Price Negotiation that will be effective January 1, 2026.

Thursday, December 10 | 1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

Annual Regional Telehealth Conference
Registration will open soon. If you are interested in exhibiting or sponsoring, please contact gpTRAC directly to reserve your spot. Space is limited, so early inquiries are encouraged!

For questions, contact Zoi P. Hills, Program Manager at hills069@umn.edu or call 612-384-3315 or 888-239-7092.

April 8–9, 2026
Hyatt Regency, Bloomington, MN (near Mall of America)

Advanced Filtering in DRVS: Turning Data into Actionable Insights

Once you’ve established a baseline understanding of DRVS, there are countless opportunities to take your use of the platform to the next level. One of the most powerful ways to do this is by leveraging advanced filtering to track performance and drive data-informed decisions across your organization.

In this webinar, Azara takes a deeper to look at advanced filtering techniques that help you unlock the full potential of DRVS. Discover how to build complex filters that surface meaningful insights, layer multiple criteria to identify priority patient populations, and create saved filters and views that streamline reporting and enhance collaboration across teams. This session is recommended for team members who manage or maintain the back end of DRVS, including Admin Users, Super Users, and data or quality leads.

Thursday, November 20

1:00 pm CT/12:00 pm MT

UDS Questions? Get answers during UDS Open Q&A Sessions!

The Azara Support Team will be hosting a series of themed UDS open question hours to help ensure users' DRVS UDS experience is as clear and accurate as possible. Each session will focus on a subset of the UDS reports and highlight common mapping and data issues that centers may face. Attendees will be able to ask questions and have them answered live as well as be provided a validation checklist to guide their validation efforts.

Tables 3, 4, 5
December 2, 12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Table 6b/7 Prenatal & Delivery

December 9, 12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT

Table 6b/7 Excluding Prenatal & Delivery

December 16, 12:00 pm CT/11:00 am MT