2A
THE DAILY ASTORIAN • FRIDAY, MAY 19, 2017
State says determining Medicaid eligibility complicated
expensive attempt at a health
insurance marketplace.
Oregon decided to expand
Medicaid in 2013 under the
federal Affordable Care Act,
and dramatically widened the
pool of Oregonians who could
receive government health
coverage.
State auditors’ preliminary
fi ndings, fi rst reported by The
Oregonian on Tuesday eve-
ning, brought more visibil-
ity to what has been another
wrinkle in a litany of problems
with the state’s implementa-
tion of the Medicaid expan-
sion, including the Cover Ore-
gon failure, which cost state
and federal taxpayers about
$300 million.
Process
hampered by
old tracking
systems
By CLAIRE
WITHYCOMBE
Capital Bureau
SALEM — More than
three years after Oregon opted
to expand healthcare coverage
under Medicaid, the govern-
ment’s healthcare plan, it’s still
not clear how much the state
may have spent on people who
don’t qualify.
In response to an audit
memo released by the Sec-
retary of State’s Offi ce this
week, the Oregon Health
Authority said that the pro-
cess for determining eligibility
for the program has been ham-
pered by old, disparate sys-
tems for keeping track of Med-
icaid recipients and the failure
of Cover Oregon, the state’s
Still in question
Secretary of State Dennis
Richardson’s memo said that
at a cost of $430 per patient
per month, the state could
have spent millions of dol-
lars providing coverage for
approximately 86,000 people
whose qualifi cations for the
program are still in question.
The health authority and
several Democratic legisla-
tors on healthcare committees
maintained this week that the
Legislature, Gov. Kate Brown
and the Centers for Medicare
and Medicaid Services were
already aware of problems
with enrollment and eligibil-
ity, which are in the process
of being resolved.
As of May 1, there were
more than 1 million Ore-
gonians on the Oregon
Health Plan, representing
about a quarter of the state’s
population.
Most people receiving
Medicaid coverage in the state
— nearly 734,000 recipients
— have been determined eli-
gible and have been enrolled
in a new eligibility system
called ONE. Another 180,000
people are receiving benefi ts
through programs for foster
children, the elderly and peo-
ple with disabilities adminis-
tered by the Oregon Depart-
ment of Human Services.
That leaves about 115,000
people who were previously
determined eligible for Med-
icaid benefi ts, but whose
current qualifi cations for
the program have not been
confi rmed.
Of that 115,000:
• 14,000 are in the pro-
cess of having their benefi ts
terminated because they hav-
en’t responded to the health
authority’s inquiry.
• 17,000 have responded
and are undergoing analy-
sis to determine whether they
are eligible for Medicaid, a
process the health authority
expects to complete today .
• 84,000 people are still
being analyzed to fi nd out
what the agency needs to
do next about them, as they
have previously been eligi-
ble for Medicaid benefi ts, but
have not been “redetermined”
eligible.
“Just because redetermina-
tion is not complete, does not
indicate that they are ineligi-
ble for Medicaid,” an agency
ON THE RECORD
Seaside, was arrested by the
Warrenton Police Depart-
ment on the 600 block of
U.S. Highway 101 for driving
under the infl uence of intox-
icants and recklessly endan-
gering another person. She
allegedly was seen slumped
over a wheel and driving
the wrong way in the Fred
Meyer parking lot. Two chil-
dren were also in the car, and
Menacing
• At 3:33 p.m. Thursday,
Paul Fenimore, 48, of War-
renton, was arrested by the
Clastop County Sheriff’s
Office on Sunset Beach
Lane in Warrenton for
menacing and disorderly
conduct.
DUII
• At 5:37 p.m. Thursday,
Shanon Bella Sabey, 35, of
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
63
49
51
A couple of morning
showers
Mainly cloudy
ALMANAC
Agnar Allen ‘Al’ Straumfjord, M.D.
Sisters
Dec. 1, 1928 — May 7, 2017
78
55
Mostly sunny, pleasant
and warmer
Times of clouds and sun
Sunny to partly cloudy
and very warm
First
June 1
Newport
49/59
Coos Bay
51/62
Last
June 9
June 17
Ontario
47/76
Bend
42/69
June Elizabeth Sellers
Burns
38/70
Astoria
Feb. 6, 1932 — May 14, 2017
Klamath Falls
38/75
Lakeview
38/75
Ashland
48/78
Forecasts and graphics provided by AccuWeather, Inc. ©2017
Source: Jim Todd, OMSI
TOMORROW'S TIDES
Astoria / Port Docks
Time
3:24 a.m.
3:31 p.m.
Low
2.5 ft.
1.0 ft.
REGIONAL CITIES
City
Baker City
Bend
Brookings
Eugene
Ilwaco
Klamath Falls
Medford
Newberg
Newport
North Bend
Hi
68
72
64
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58
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83
74
59
63
Today
Lo
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42
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City
Olympia
Pendleton
Portland
Roseburg
Salem
Seaside
Spokane
Springfi eld
Vancouver
Yakima
Hi
70
73
75
80
75
60
67
76
74
79
Today
Lo
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Sat.
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TOMORROW'S NATIONAL WEATHER
NATIONAL CITIES
Hi
89
86
53
41
53
62
82
62
84
77
74
82
83
87
90
89
87
90
75
92
80
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Baker
38/65
John Day
45/69
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Hi
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63
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59
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84
62
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89
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70
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72
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Sat.
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Agnar Allen Straumfjord, M.D., died peace- Marianne Sawin Sanders married, and he added
fully in his sleep May 7, 2017, at his home in his son, Peter, to his family. In 1975, they moved
Sisters, Oregon.
to a large farm in Albany, Oregon, followed by
“Al” was born Dec. 1, 1928, to Jon Vid- many years in Camp Sherman and Sisters, Ore-
alin Straumfjord, M.D., and Thorey
gon. He loved the farm but eventually
Thorderson Straumfjord, and was
retired to his beloved c entral Oregon.
raised in Astoria, Oregon, the middle
“Doctor Al” was known for his
child of three brothers.
vast range of knowledge in a multi-
A graduate of Astoria High
tude of areas, his special love for his
School, he attended Willamette Uni-
Icelandic heritage, and anything to do
with railroads. His support of his chil-
versity and the University of Oregon
dren and wife was never-ending.
Medical School, now OHSU, earning
He was preceded in death by his
his medical degree and completing
parents; his son, Agnar Allen Jr.; and
residencies there in internal medicine
his brother, Robert. He is survived
and psychiatry. He served in the U.S.
Agnar “Al”
by his wife, Marianne; his children,
Navy as a fl ight surgeon, and readily
admitted he only spent one day at sea. Straumfjord, M.D. Karen (John) Timmers and Peter
Straumfjord; his brother, Jon Straum-
He had special interest in provid-
ing student health care, both at Oregon State fjord, M.D.; his grandchildren, Kristjana, Jens,
University and at OHSU, where he was a pro- Steen, Johann and Kaisa; a great grandchild,
fessor in the Department of Psychiatry. Later he Ezra; and many special nieces and nephews.
An open house to celebrate his life will be
practiced psychiatry in Corvallis, Oregon, for
many years, followed by work at Oregon State held June 3, 2017, from 1 to 4 p.m. at the fam-
Hospital and the Benton County Mental Health ily home. Donations in his honor may be made
to the Marianne and Al Straumfjord Family
Clinic.
Al had Agnar Allen Jr. and Karen Lee with Scholarship Trust at Oregon Health Sciences
his fi rst wife, Louise Ulvin. In 1973, he and University.
Roseburg
52/74
Brookings
50/69
Tonight's Sky: Vega will climb into view in the north-
east with Arcturus in the east-southeast.
Today
Lo
69
53
50
31
48
49
55
41
72
65
56
64
61
72
80
71
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56
52
59
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46
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54
64
Prineville
43/72
Lebanon
49/71
Medford
51/81
UNDER THE SKY
High
6.8 ft.
7.8 ft.
La Grande
45/66
Salem
51/72
Eugene
48/70
Full
Pendleton
51/71
The Dalles
57/77
Portland
54/71
Sunset tonight ........................... 8:46 p.m.
Sunrise Saturday ........................ 5:37 a.m.
Moonrise today ........................... 2:33 a.m.
Moonset today ........................... 1:29 p.m.
City
Atlanta
Boston
Chicago
Denver
Des Moines
Detroit
El Paso
Fairbanks
Honolulu
Indianapolis
Kansas City
Las Vegas
Los Angeles
Memphis
Miami
Nashville
New Orleans
New York
Oklahoma City
Philadelphia
St. Louis
Salt Lake City
San Francisco
Seattle
Washington, DC
79
58
Tillamook
48/62
SUN AND MOON
Time
9:02 a.m.
10:07 p.m.
69
54
Shown is tomorrow's weather. Temperatures are tonight's lows and tomorrow's highs.
ASTORIA
51/63
Precipitation
Thursday .......................................... 0.00"
Month to date ................................... 5.76"
Normal month to date ....................... 2.04"
Year to date .................................... 47.00"
Normal year to date ........................ 32.08"
May 25
TUESDAY
REGIONAL WEATHER
Astoria through Thursday.
Temperatures
High/low ....................................... 62°/43°
Normal high/low ........................... 61°/46°
Record high ............................ 79° in 1997
Record low ............................. 36° in 2003
New
MONDAY
‘Poor data quality’
According to the health
authority , “poor data qual-
ity” in Cover Oregon and
the state’s older data systems
meant that the agency had to
contact each person receiving
benefi ts to complete a paper
application.
It took more than two years
to fi nish that process on fairly
straightforward cases. What’s
left, the agency said, are cases
“more complex in nature.” The
health authority says it will
know what to do next with the
group of about 84,000 people
by the end of the month.
“At that time we will be
abl e to clearly understand
the number of Oregonians
that still need to go through
the redetermination process
to ensure they remain eligi-
ble for Medicaid benefi ts,”
the health authority said in a
statement.
The Capital Bureau is a
collaboration between EO
Media Group and Pamplin
Media Group.
OBITUARIES
her blood alcohol content was
0.34 percent.
Assault
• A 10:45 p.m. Thurs-
day, Jonathan Lawrence Pre-
uss, 32, of Warrenton, was
arrested by the Warrenton
Police Department on the
1300 block of Southwest
Ridge Road for fourth-degree
assault. His girlfriend’s wrist
was allegedly injured.
FIVE-DAY FORECAST FOR ASTORIA
TONIGHT
spokeswoman said in an email.
Eligibility is an offi cial
term that denotes whether or
not someone has met the gov-
ernment’s criteria for health
coverage. Eligibility deter-
mination is a formal process
that is supposed to take place
annually; the state got several
passes on performing those
annual determinations from
the federal government until
mid-2016.
According to the Oregon
Health Authority, federal law
says that once someone has
been determined eligible for
Medicaid coverage, eligibil-
ity cannot be revoked until
the case has been reviewed,
and he or she has been noti-
fi ed and given a chance to
respond.
Someone would no longer
meet the criteria if he or she
started earning more than the
maximum income, for exam-
ple, but offi cial eligibility
isn’t up until the formal deter-
mination and revocation pro-
cesses are complete.
Shown are noon positions of weather systems and precipitation. Temperature bands are highs for the day.
W
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June Elizabeth Sellers, age 85, passed away in-law, Joseph and Teresita Sellers of Knappa,
peacefully at home on May 14, 2017, in Asto- Oregon; fi ve grandchildren, Eric and his wife
Stefanie, Amy, Sarah, Hillary and Shawn; and
ria, Oregon.
She was born on Feb. 6, 1932, in Afton, Ten- six great-grandchildren, Tristan, Lucas, Aiden,
Elise, Kaelyse and Shamus. She is
nessee, to Joseph F. and Nancy Grace
also survived by an uncle, Harry
Childress, the youngest of seven chil-
Childress of West Virginia and chil-
dren. She was raised in West Virginia
dren; a sister-in-law, Clarice Sellers
until the age of 12, and then her fam-
of Orlando, Florida; and numerous
ily moved west to Oregon. She grad-
nieces and nephews whom she loved
uated from high school in Vernonia,
dearly. She was preceded in death by
Oregon, and then trained as a nurse at
her husband of 60 years, Bobby.
Good Samaritan in Portland, Oregon.
A memorial service will be held
She married Bobby Elton Sellers
at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 27, 2017,
on Aug. 5, 1950. June devoted her
at Grace Community Baptist Church,
life to taking care of people, whether
June Sellers
1195 Irving Ave., in Astoria, Oregon.
it was her family, or as a caregiver to
A reception will follow.
the elderly and ill. She attended Grace
Her interment will be with her
Community Bible Church in Astoria.
June will be remembered for her quiet husband at Willamette National Cemetery in
strength and selfl ess love for her family. Her Portland, Oregon.
The family would like to extend their gratitude
generous, sweet and kind nature made every-
one feel special. She could make you laugh with to Mr. and Mrs. Croos and family for providing
her quick wit and sense of humor. She loved attentive care and comfort over the past few years.
Remembrances may be made to Lower
cooking and telling stories, so you never left her
Columbia Hospice in Astoria.
home without a full stomach and a full heart.
Hughes-Ransom Mortuary in Astoria, Ore-
She is survived by her three children, a
daughter and son-in-law, Barbara and Barry gon, is handling the funeral arrangements. Visit
Craft of Long Beach, a son, John Sellers of www.hughes-ransom.com to leave a message
Warrenton, Oregon, and a son and daughter- and/or sign the online guest book.
LOTTERIES
CORRECTION
Location incorrect — The location of the fi nal Get Lit at the Beach
event — a moderated Q& A with several authors Sunday — was incor-
rectly reported in the Coast Weekend calendar Thursday. It will take
place at the Coaster Theatre, 108 N. Hemlock St., in Cannon Beach.
Weather (W): s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy,
sh-showers, t-thunderstorms, r-rain, sf-snow fl urries,
sn-snow, i-ice.
MEMORIAL
I NSERTS
R ELIEF FOR B UNIONS , F ALLEN A RCHES ,
P LANTAR F ASCIITIS AND M ORE !
20
%
OFF
Now thru May 31, 2017
60 D AY
C OMFORT G UARANTEE !
Sunday, May 21
SODERBERG, Leanne — Memorial at 1 p.m., Pine Grove
Community House, 225 Laneda Ave. in Manzanita.
PUBLIC MEETINGS
MONDAY
Seaside City Council, 7 p.m., City Hall, 989 Broadway.
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