TRIBAL PROGRAM NEWS
CHS Restricts
Pharmacy to Generic
Drug Dispensing and
Mail-In Distribution
Pharmacy costs reached a high of
$382,752 in 1999. The current level of
spending estimates that CHS will pay
$474,133 for the year 2000. Pharmacy costs
will continue to increase because of the
rising cost of medications. In an attempt to
remain within our budget, CHS must adjust
the pharmacy benefits effective Oct. 1,2000.
The Siletz Tribe contracted with the
tribally
owned
business
Pequot
Pharmaceutical Network in 1996 to provide
pharmacy benefits to tribal members
nationwide. Tribal members living outside the
11 -county service area have a $400 annual
pharmacy benefit.
Distribution of drugs from the Pequot
pharmacy in Mashantucket, Conn., allows
them to dispense to other tribes or tribal
members at the federal supply schedule
price. This reduces the cost to CHS by 40
percent. Restricting pharmacy to mail-out
distribution will reduce costs to the tribe.
We currently allow dispensing from the
retail market - Fred Meyer, Rite Aid - and
other providers in the pharmacy business.
CHS will allow you to continue doing so in
cases of emergencies or acute conditions.
But you should ask your doctor to write two
prescriptions, one for now and the other for
mail-in because using the mail-in for
continued use will stretch your benefit
amount. If you have private insurance that
requires a co-payment, you can pay it and
mail your receipt to CHS for reimbursement.
Continuing to use the Chemawa, Grand
Ronde, or Siletz pharmacies reduces costs
to CHS and you should use these clinics
when possible.
If you feel more comfortable picking up
your prescriptions at the Siletz Clinic and
would like to use them for your pharmacy
needs, please call 72 hours in advance
before pick up, 1-800-648-0449 or
541.444.1030. This will allow time to fill
your prescriptions.
You can receive the mail-in envelopes
and information by calling Pequot directly at
1 -888-779-6638. You also may contact the
CHS Department or your nearest
community health advocate in the area
12
ICW Lunch Videos for September
In the lunchroom of the Siletz Tribal administration building, videos are being offered
to Siletz employees and interested community members. A short questionnaire should be
filled out after the video. This will help us develop our new parenting group that begins
this month.
Sept. 14
Someplace You Don’t Want To Be
12:00-12:30
A view of the community, both young and old, relating
to the culture to remain a healthy community
Sept. 21
Poundmaker’s Lodge
Finding yourself in your culture
12:00-12:30
Sept. 28
Sobriety/Talking Circle
Using tradition to keep the community strong,
away from using drugs and alcohol
12:00-1:00
Oct. 5
Kectu, Words to Live By
AIDS is on the rise in Indian Country; words
of a young woman affected by AIDS
12:00-12:30
Parenting Program
The Indian Child Welfare Program has developed a program to meet the needs of
parents in the Siletz community. We have been planning with the Siletz Valley Partnership,
Siletz School, Parent Partnerships, community members, and Siletz employees and tribal
members to develop a weekly evening program.
Every Thursday evening at the Siletz Grange from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., all interested
people in the Siletz community are invited to participate in a presentation and work toward
building a community honoring the children for generations.
The event will be a potluck. We are trying to get donations for door prizes for individuals
who attend the weekly groups. Bring some food and your parenting knowledge and come
share with each other.
If you have questions, want to donate door prizes, or have specific knowledge you
feel will benefit the community and want to present, call Gloria Brooks at 541-444-8338.
Sept. 14
Nutrition
For adults only. Janice Gregg of Oregon State University will make a
presentation.
Sept. 21
Video - Native American Myths and Realities
Talking Circle format to share your view of the concepts in the video.
Sept. 28
Monitoring TV, Video, and Computers
Evelyn Brookhauser will help you find other activities. This presentation
is interactive and intergenerational for adults and children.
Oct. 5
Video - Protecting Our Children, It’s Up To Us
Talking Circle for discussion
offices for envelopes or with any other
questions you may have.
Your new Pequot cards will be adjusted
for acute and emergency use and will
mandate dispensing of generic drugs; a
dollar limit will be set. A review and
adjustment of the limit will be done on a yearly
basis, so please use your pharmacy benefit
wisely. If you spend your limit before the
yearly review is complete, you may have
no recourse but to use mail-in from Pequot
or go to an IHS or tribal pharmacy. New
pharmacy cards should be mailed by
Sept 8,2000.