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.