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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2014)
Portland and SW Washington S P O T L I G H T Foster Care Youth to Remain On Medicaid/OHP Until Age 26 PCRI Honors Five PHOTO BY JERRY FOSTER On January 1, Oregon began providing Medicaid/Oregon Health Plan benefits to former foster care youth under the age of 26. Oregon’s program is called the Former Foster Care Youth Medical Program. It is estimated that there are 3,329 former foster care youth in Oregon eligible for the program. A provision in the Affordable Care Act allows children/dependents under the age of 26 to stay on their par- ent’s health insurance. Recognizing that children who are discharged from the foster care system as an adult (18-20) do not always have that option, the ACA includes a provi- sion allowing former foster care youth to remain on Medicaid until age 26, regardless of income. Youth can request a FFCY application from their DHS caseworker, Independent Living Program provider or Fos- terClub Dedicated Outreach Representative. Or: • Phone: The DHS Children’s Medical Unit can take appli- cations over the phone, please call 503-945-5720 or 503-947-2598. • Email: Applications can be requested or submitted via email 5508.c-med@state.or.us. • Mail: Applications are also available online on the DHS Independent Living Program website; look for FFCY Medical Program Referral Form. To submit application print, complete and mail application to CMED, 500 Sum- mer Street NE, E-69, Salem, Oregon 97301 Portland Community Reinvestment Initiatives Inc. held a luncheon July 10 to honor the lives and accomplishments of five pioneers who have made a difference to Portland’s Black community. The five had their portraits added to the Urban League’s building exterior in its gallery of community leaders. From left are: Dion Jordan, son of Charles Jordan; Natasha Butler, daughter of Harold Brown; Gregory Brown, deputy director of PCRI; Pauline Bradford, John Marshall and Steve Marshall, sons of Dr. John Marshall; and Maxine Fitzpatrick, executive director of PCRI. Refund Money Awaiting Oregon Taxpayers of taxpayers across Oregon have tax refund money await- ing them - all they need to do is cash a check. The Oregon Department of Revenue has mailed letters to taxpayers in possession of refund checks that haven’t been cashed as a reminder to redeem these checks prior to Octo- ber. Checks are considered void after two years and are then sent to the Department of State Lands. If a letter is received, cash the check immediately. If the check has been lost or was never received, the taxpayer should sign the notification letter and return it to Revenue to have the check reissued. Last year, Oregon taxpayers were notified of $1,850,779 C O M M U July 18 Last Day for Public Comments on 2015 Health Rates in refund checks that hadn’t been cashed. This year, 1,000- 2,000 notification letters were mailed. Hunt said the most common reasons for not cashing a refund check are mis- placement of the check or having an incorrect mailing address on file with Revenue. She said taxpayers should notify Revenue of any address changes to ensure receipt of all tax-related correspondence. Visit www.oregon.gov/dor to get tax forms, check the sta- tus of your refund, or make tax payments; or call 1-800-356-4222 toll-free from an Oregon prefix (English or Spanish); 503-378-4988 in Salem and outside Oregon; or email, questions.dor@oregon.gov. For TTY (hearing or speech impaired), call 1-800-886-7204. Affordable Care Act Allows Former N I T Y S C A L Oregon consumers have until Friday, July 18, at midnight, to provide comments on proposed 2015 health insurance rates. The rate requests are available for review and comment at http://www.oregonhealthrates.org/. The proposed rates are for plans for businesses with fewer than 50 employees and individuals who buy their own coverage rather than getting it through an employer, which affects about 10 percent of Oregonians. The Department of Consumer and Business Services, Insurance Division must approve any rates before they can be charged to policyholders. The division’s actuar- ies conduct a thorough review of the rates to ensure they are reasonable and justified. Over the past two weeks, the Insurance Division held public hearings for each company’s rate request. The hear- ings are available to watch online at www.oregonhealthrates.org. E N D A R P ORTLAND 2014 B ULLETIN B OARD If you have an event you want to share with the community, email it two weeks in advance to The Skanner at info@theskanner.com Friday – Saturday July 18 – 19 LIFEWISE OREGON BERRY FESTIVAL. Don’t miss out on an event that is pure summer fun and tastes this good: Oregon’s bountiful berry season will be on full offer at the 4th annual Lifewise Oregon Berry Festival. The Ecotrust is located at NE 10th & NE Johnson St. Admission is free. Friday noon – 6 p.m. Saturday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Saturday July 19 YMCA ARTS & EATS FESTIVAL. Create a day! Sculpture, eat something yummy, listen to music & create your own art. 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Y Arts Center, 6036 SE Foster Rd. GRESHAM ARTS FESTIVAL KEEPS DOWNTOWN HOPPING WITH ART AND FAMILY FUN. From 9 a.m. – 5 p.m, about 125 artists will fill the streets along with 10 musical acts. The beloved family event is free. Arts Plaza, 401 NE Second St. Gresham. CRUISIN’ THE GUT. Celebrate the classic Vancouver tradition of cruising Main Street. The cruise occurs on Main Street in downtown Vancouver between 28th St. and 6th St. All the fun starts at 10 a.m. SISTAHS 4 LIFE. Multnomah Falls Walk supporting breast cancer patients and survivors. Meeting promptly at 7:45 a.m. at American Red Cross Building. 3131 N Vancouver Ave. More info at www.sistahs4life.com. Sunday July 20 A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM IN LAURELHURST PARK. As part of the 3rd annual Laurelhurst Page 4 The Portland and Seattle Skanner July 16, 2014 Shakespeare Festival. Join us for a free and family-friendly performance of this classic comedy. Starting at 7 p.m. Friday – Saturday July 25 – 26 ESTACADA’S 14TH ANNUAL SUMMER CELEBRATION. The summer celebration’s Friday night music crawl (6 p.m. – 10 p.m.) kicks-off the weekend performing in local shops. Saturday begins with the Broadway Street Fair at 10 a.m. So much fun for all ages. Downtown Estacada. Saturday July 26 6TH ANNUAL NW BOOK FESTIVAL. Over 200 critically acclaimed and well known authors from OR and out of state will be attending. This year, at Pioneer Courthouse Square. 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Corner of SW 6th, and SW Morrison. KENTON COMMUNITY GARDEN WORK PARTY & POTLUCK. Get some exercise in the fresh air, learn a new plant fact or two and enjoy a well earned sense of accomplishment as we work to spruce up the garden. 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Kenton Community Garden, 2799 N. Houghton Ave.
