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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 15, 2012)
Smoke Signals 5 NOVEMBER 15,2012 Auction, dinner scheduled to benefit area veterans By Ron Karten Smoke Signals staff writer Tribal veterans from across Or egon will be out in force on Friday, Nov. 30, for a special auction and dinner honoring veterans and their families. The event will be held at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Willamina from 5 to 9 p.m. The dinner will feature Jim Wil lis, Oregon Director of Veterans Af fairs, who will attend and address the group. The event stems from an effort made by Tribal Council and the Tribal Veterans Special Event Board to help a warrior from the local area wounded in Afghanistan and flown to Germany for treat ment. Tribal Council donated $1,000 and the Veterans SEB another $500 to help the soldier's family travel to Germany to help him heal. This auction and dinner will help pay back the board's contribution with any extra proceeds reserved for ongoing expenses at the West Valley Veterans Memorial on the Tribal campus. "We thought this would be some thing that all veterans would want . to be associated with," said Wink Soderberg, Elder, Navy veteran, former Tribal Council member and master of ceremonies for the evening, "to contribute to ones who were wounded and came back and to those who were killed and didn't come back." Important contributors to the event include Elder Gene LaBonte, former chair of the Governor's Veterans Advisory Task Force and perennial organizer and volunteer for veteran-oriented activities. If you go What: Auction and dinner hon oring veterans When: 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 30 Where: Veterans of Foreign Wars Hall in Willamina Cost: $10 for dinner (roast " pork) More information: 503-583-5222 There will be a roast pork loin for dinner, with dressing and gravy. Cost is $10 per plate. Items to be auctioned off during the evening include Tribal logo blankets, gift baskets and even a high-end hearing aid. The event is being organized by the Veterans' Special Event Board, which includes Gene LaBonte, Wayne Chulik, Soderberg, Reina Nelson, Bob Duncan, Michelle Coo per and Mike Lane. Other volunteers include Kathy Soderberg, Julie Duncan, Jess (Pee Wee) Robertson and his brother, Ken Robertson. Siobhan Taylor, Tribal Public Af fairs director, is serving as Tribal Council liaison for the event. In ad dition, Public Affairs staff members Kristen Ravia and Chelsea Clark are also assisting at the event. "When somebody's got to rest," said Gene LaBonte, "another guy stands up and takes over. ... The thing is going to escalate as it goes along," added LaBonte, who en couraged people to "get there early. We'll have lots of silent auction and door prizes. "Every veteran there is going to be very important." 0 Cultural Resources seeking Restoration-era photos Cultural Resources Department Interpretive Designer Julie Brown is seeking photos related to the Tribe's Restoration, especially fundraising efforts that occurred around 1982-84. The photos will be used in a two-month exhibit next April at Willamette Heritage Center regarding Termination and Restoration. If you have any photos, contact Brown at 503-879-2186 or Julie.brown grandronde.org. D FT Dr. Ashley Nunley Chiropractor at the CTGR-PorHand Office 4445 SW Baibur Blvd. Suite 101 Portland, Or 97239 Tuesdays only 9 a.m. - Noon 1 - 3:40 p.m. ; ' Call Mon-Fri Wellness Center 503-879-2002 or at the Portland office 503-2354230 Tribal members with Skookum health plan make your appointment now -r i ZJ Ad created by George Valdez Frequently asked questions regarding requirement of application of Medicaid Many Tribal members read the article in Smoke Signals regarding an administrative change that will be occurring on the Skookum Health Program. As a result, many questions have come up and we would like to provide you with answers. Q: What is the point of making members apply for Oregon Health Plan, Medicaid or other state coverage? A: To save Tribal dollars; if you are eligible for a state plan, this would become primary and pay claims before Skookum, which saves Tribal funds. Q: I have Contract Health Services (CHS); do I still need to ap ply? A: Yes, if you do not have a primary insurance coverage. Skookum is not insurance and is not considered primary coverage. Q: If I have a primary insurance, do I have to apply? A: No, not at this time. It will only affect Tribal members using Skoo kum as their only coverage. Q: If I am an Elder receiving the Tribal Elder pension, do I have to apply? A: No, not if your income is over the Medicaid-eligible income (133 percent of federal poverty level). Please check with your state to see if the Tribal Elder pension is counted as income, as this may be different in each state. Q: How do I apply for Medicaid? A: Many states have an online application and eligibility information or you can call the Department of Human Services in your state. We will be able to assist Tribal members in this process of applying. Q: Am I required to pay for insurance through my employer? A: We encourage Tribal members with alternate resources, such as employer-sponsored insurance, to enroll in those plans and use Skookum as a secondary coverage to pay for any balances that are patient respon sibility. But, at this time, you aren't required to enroll in your employer plan if there is an associated premium that you must pay. Q: When will this new policy go into effect? A: We will be implementing this new policy sometime in 2013; we will send more information regarding the change. Q: Will there be Tribal staff available to answer my ques tions? A: Yes, this is what we are working toward. Q: Will Tribal members who are also employees at the Tribe, Spirit Mountain Casino or Grand Ronde Station be required to apply for Medicaid? A: Yes, unless they are enrolled in the employee health plan. Q: When I apply for my state's Medicaid or other health cover age, will it have an effect on our current benefits? A: If you are not accepted after applying, your Skookum benefits will remain the same. If you are accepted after applying, you are enhancing your benefits. The state Medicaid will be primary and Skookum secondary. Skookum will pick up balances if and when there are any from covered Medicaid services, thus leaving you with little to no out of pocket. If it's not a Medicaid-covered service, nothing changes. Skookum pays like it always has. Less out of pocket is a big deal for members outside the six county service area. Q: What information can be submitted to the Skookum Health Program if I don't qualify for the state coverage? A: We are working on this process, but some type of income verification, such as a pay stub or tax information showing you are over the income limits, would be acceptable and a denial from Medicaid will always be accepted. Q: Has there been an audit letter sent out to Tribal members, and if so, when? A: No, there has not been any letter or questionnaire sent to Tribal members. Q: Isn't my Skookum Health Program benefits an insurance? A: No, Skookum is not an insurance plan; therefore, it is not considered to be insurance by definition. You should not reference Skookum as insur ance; it is not. It is a benefit you receive from the Tribe because you are an enrolled Tribal member. Q: What happens if I do not comply? A: Your claims will be held in "pending" status at Shasta and not paid until you fulfill your obligation. Once it is confirmed that you have fulfilled your obligation, we will instruct Shasta to process and pay your claims. Q: How do I contact my state Medicaid office? A: We will have a comprehensive list of contact information for all states made available. Q: What if one of my doctors is not part of the Oregon Health Plan or other state Medicaid plan? A: You should still sign up and use the Medicaid plan whenever possible. Your Skookum program will still be in place and can cover your visits with the nonparticipating provider or anything not covered by Medicaid with pre-authorization from Skookum. Q: Does Tribal Council know you're doing this to the member ship? A: This action was authorized by Tribal Council. Q: I might be getting a job soon; if I do, should I drop my Med icaid? A: Keep your Medicaid until you have new coverage in effect and notify Medicaid of your change in status.
