august 15, 2014
FAQs regarding the Affordable
Care Act (ACA)and Skookum
Health Assistance Program
Question: What if I already have insurance through my job or am
already on Medicaid?
Answer: If you have health insurance through your employer or have
health care through a government-sponsored program, such as Medi-
care, Medicaid, CHIP, Veterans Affairs or TRICARE, there is nothing
you need to do – you are covered.
Question: I have Contract Health Services. Do I still need to apply?
Answer: Yes, if you do not have primary insurance coverage, you will
need to apply.
Question: Isn’t my Skookum Health Assistance Program an insur-
ance?
Answer: No, Skookum is not an insurance plan. Therefore, it is not
considered to be insurance by definition. You should not reference
Skookum as insurance, as it is not. It is assistance you receive from
the Tribe because you are an enrolled Tribal member.
Question: Am I required to pay for insurance through my employer?
Answer: 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 responsibility.
Question: I’m an American Indian/Alaska Native. What do I need to
know about the Health Insurance Marketplace?
Answer: The Health Insurance Marketplace will benefit American
Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) by providing opportunities for
enrolling in affordable health coverage. You might be eligible to enroll
in a private health plan in the new Health Insurance Marketplace, or
you might be eligible for Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance
Program (CHIP). There will be one application to determine whether
you are eligible for a marketplace health plan, Medicaid or CHIP.
Question: What are the special protections for AI/ANs who enroll in
the Health Insurance Marketplace?
Answer: Members of federally recognized Tribes with a household
income at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty level (roughly
$70,650 for a family of 4 in 2013 or $88,320 for the same family in
Alaska) who are also eligible for the tax credit won’t have any out-of-
pocket costs like co-pays, co-insurance or deductibles for services
covered by their Marketplace health plan.
Question: How can I apply for an exemption from the shared respon-
sibility payment?
Answer: To get an exemption, members of federally recognized Tribes
may apply through the Marketplace or provide the appropriate informa-
tion when they file their federal income tax return. AI/ANs who aren’t
members of federally recognized Tribes, but who are eligible for or get
services from an I/T/U, (Indian Health Service, Tribal clinic or urban
Indian clinic) must apply through the Marketplace and will need to verify
their AI/AN status or eligibility for services through an I/T/U.
Question: Will I be able to get assistance with paying the cost of my
premium if I enroll in a Marketplace health plan?
Answer: While AI/ANs are NOT exempt from paying premiums, they
may be able to get lower costs on monthly premiums through a new tax
credit that is paid to insurance plans each month to reduce an individ-
ual’s premium. Eligibility for the tax credit depends on income, family
size and access to other coverage. Members of federally recognized
Tribes can use tax credits to pay for premiums on certain plans and
still receive cost-sharing reductions as well. The type of cost-sharing
reduction depends on income and whether an individual is enrolled in
a zero cost-sharing plan or limited cost-sharing plan.
Question: Are there special protections for AI/ANs who enroll in
Medicaid?
Answer: AI/ANs who are eligible for or get services from an I/T/U,
including Contract Health Services, are exempt from Medicaid pre-
miums and enrollment fees and, if they have ever used one of these
programs, they are also exempt from other cost sharing, such as co-
payments, co-insurance, and deductibles. Certain Indian resources and
payments are not counted for Medicaid eligibility. AI/ANs can continue
to get services through an I/T/U even if the I/T/U is not a provider in a
managed care network.
Links to assist you in learning more about
the ACA and Marketplace products:
• www.healthcare.gov: Click on see plans now;
• www.coveroregon.com: Go to learn more and click on the link.
If you have questions, please contact
• Tresa Mercier, tresa.mercier@grandronde.org
• Loretta Meneley, loretta.meneley@grandronde.org
• Melody Baker, melody.baker@grandronde.or
• Barbara Steere, barbara.steere@grandronde.org
Or call 800-775-0095 to speak to anyone listed above.
S moke S ignals
15
Bids wanted for project
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde (the Owner) hereby extends
an Invitation to General Contractors to bid on the Ackerson Road Pump
Station Project, Grand Ronde, Oregon.
PROJECT DESCRiPTiON
The Ackerson Road Pump Station project located in Grand Ronde, Or-
egon, includes the construction of a 6’ diameter concrete wet well along
Ackerson Road and 4,330-feet of 4” diameter PVC force main in Grand
Ronde, Oregon.
Construction proposed by CTGR will include:
● Construction and installation of a new sanitary sewer lift station includ-
ing a wet well, valve vault and control panel;
● Installation of 2,491-feet x 4” force main and all required fittings from
the pump station to the Family Housing WWTP;
● Installation of 1,840-feet x 4” force main and all required from the Fam-
ily Housing WWTP to existing GRR SS MH#16;
● Construction of a new paved vehicle access pad around the pump sta-
tion;
● Pipe boring crossings at three (3) locations;
● Abandon 18 existing septic tanks and install bypass pipes.
All associated information required to complete the buildings are describe
in the Construction Drawings and Project Manual.
BiD SUBMiTTAL
Sealed bids for the construction of the Ackerson Road Pump Station
project must be received by Jesse White, Engineering & Public Works
Manager, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde, OR 97347, by or before 2 p.m. local time Thursday, Aug.
28, 2014.
Bids (including all required documentation) shall be submitted in a
sealed envelope with bidder’s identification plainly marked on the outside
including name, project name, bid date and time. Bids shall be submitted
on the form provided in the Bid Booklet. Bids submitted via fax or by other
electronic means shall be rejected as nonresponsive.
TRiBAL EMPLOYMENT RiGHTS ORDiNANCE (TERO) APPLi-
CABiLiTY
The Tribe has adopted a TERO Ordinance which applies to this project.
A copy of the ordinance is available on the Tribe’s website at the follow-
ing link: www.grandronde.org/archives/ or will be provided by the Tribe’s
TERO office by calling 503-879-2251. The selected contractor will be a
Covered Employer and subject to TERO requirements. (See TERO Notice
included in Section VII). As part of these requirements, Contractor will
be subject to a Compliance Plan setting forth preferences in employment
and contracting, as well as an apprenticeship program requirement. The
contract will also be subject to a 2.5% TERO fee.
The selected contractor must attend a contractor certification training
prior to commencement of construction. (See Training Notice included in
the Project Manual)
BiDDiNG DOCUMENTS
Bid documents, including contract terms, conditions and specifications
will be available for review and purchase beginning Aug. 8, 2014. The
plan holders list will be managed by the Project Manager, Dave Reece,
PE, Phone: 541-926-2428, Fax: 541-926-2456, E-mail: dave@r-aengineer-
ing.com. All bidders wishing to be notified of addenda shall register their
name, mailing address and fax number with Mr. Reece.
Copies of the bid documents and full size drawings may be obtained from
Reece & Associates Inc, 321 First Avenue East, Suite 3a, Albany, OR 97321
upon receipt of a non-refundable check in the amount of $100 for each set
of documents made payable to Reece & Associates, Inc. Electronic copies
of the RFP documents are available by e-mailing: dave@r-aengineering.
com at Reece & Associates, Inc.
Questions or requests for clarification shall be directed in writing to the
Project Engineer, Dave Reece, via e-mail at: dave@r-aengineering.com, or by
regular mail at: Reece & Associates Inc., 321 First Avenue East, Suite 3a,
Albany OR 97321. All written questions must be received by the Engineer by
2 p.m., prevailing local time Thursday, Aug. 21, 2014, seven (7) calendar days
prior to the Bid Due date. Every attempt will be made to answer questions
and correspondence in a timely manner. All questions and correspondence
will be shared with all interested contractors for the project.
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