Portland and SW Washington
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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
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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
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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.
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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.