S moke S ignals
DECEMBER 15, 2014
Save Our Skookum team
‘We look forward to working with you’
Photo by Michelle Alaimo
From left, Sydney Clark, Certified Applications
assister, Tauni McCammon, Contract Health
specialist, Erica Mercier, Contract Health specialist,
Barbara Steere, Health Benefits specialist, Tresa
Mercier, Health & Wellness Business Office manager,
Loretta Meneley, Certified Application assister, and
Melody Baker, Senior Contract Health specialist, are the Tribe’s Save
Our Skookum team.
Important tax exemption
information for Native Americans
ATTENTION TRIBAL MEMBERS
WITH CONTRACT HEALTH SERVICES
During the last year, there have been many changes in the
health care system across the nation, but one thing remains the
same, the rising cost of health care. The Affordable Health Care
Act has many benefits available to Native Americans, which will
help us stretch Contract Health Services and Tribal dollars spent
on health care. Health care has long been a priority of the Tribe
and to maintain the services we receive, we all have to do our part.
As most of you are aware, CHS is a federally funded program
and a payer of last resort. With all of the health care changes
recently, we would like to take a minute to remind you that ANY
alternate resource you have will need to be utilized correctly.
That means you need to receive care from in-network providers
(INP) with your primary coverage.
If you choose not to use an INP or receive services that are not
covered by your primary insurance, you will be responsible for
patient balances.
A CHS policy has been adopted that CHS-eligible members
must coordinate and receive counseling or in-patient drug and
alcohol services from an INP through Integrated Behavioral
Health (IBH). If you choose not to receive services from an INP,
you will be responsible for any out-of-network costs (30 percent) of
the bill. It is very important that you contact IBH before seeking
counseling or any in-patient drug and alcohol services. Call IBH
at 1-800-395-1616 for a referral to an INP.
Please help us educate Tribal members about this important
policy. If you have a family member or friend needing mental
health or drug and alcohol services, please share this information
and have them contact IBH or CHS staff and we will help guide
them through the process.
CHS also wants to remind you that there are some services that
are not covered by CHS, but are covered by the Skookum Health
Assistance Program. They are as follows: Chiropractic care,
Naturopathic care, Massage, Acupuncture, and outpatient drug
and alcohol treatment. This does not mean that you cannot use
those services; it simply means that CHS will not be responsible
for any patient balances. You can still keep those appointments,
you just need to pay whatever your patient responsibility is.
We understand that this can all be a little confusing, so please
feel free to give us a call if you have ANY questions and we’ll be
happy to help.
Tresa (Teri) Mercier – 503-879-2008
Melody Baker – 503-879-2011
Tauni McCammon – 503-879-1406
Erica Mercier – 503-879-2080
An important announcement was made recently by Health and
Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell that individuals eligible to
receive health care from an Indian Health Service, Tribal or urban
Indian health care provider will be able to claim an exemption from the
shared responsibility payment through the tax filing process starting
with the 2014 tax year.
This benefit gives individuals who are eligible to receive services
from an Indian health care provider, including the IHS and Tribal clin-
ics, the same filing option as members of federally recognized Tribes
(including Alaska Native shareholders). Both groups will continue to
have the option of submitting the exemption application through the
Health Insurance Marketplace.
Before the announcement, exemptions were available both to in-
dividuals who were members of a federally recognized Tribe and to
individuals who are eligible to receive services from an Indian health
care provider. But members of a Tribe were able to claim an exemption
through the federal tax filing process while individuals who are eligible
to receive services from an Indian health care provider were required
to obtain this exemption through the Health Insurance Marketplace
by filing a paper application.
The availability of the tax filing process to apply for the Indian
health care exemption will save time and reduce the duplication of
effort. Individuals intending to claim this exemption through the tax
filing process should retain the same documentation that they would
otherwise submit to the marketplace as part of their exemption appli-
cation. Above is a diagram to illustrate how to meet Affordable Care
Act requirements for all Americans and individuals eligible for IHS.
If you have questions about the exemption, call Loretta Meneley,
Certified Application Assister, at 800-775-0095 or 503-879-1359. n
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