JANUARY 15, 2017
Health & Wellness Center closures
• Monday, Jan. 16 – All day
Cervical Health Awareness month
January is Cervical Health Awareness Month and the Grand Ronde
Health & Wellness Center wants you to know that there’s a lot you
can do to prevent cervical cancer.
HPV (human papillomavirus) is a very common infection that
spreads through sexual activity. About 79 million Americans currently
have HPV, but many people with HPV don’t know they are infected.
HPV is also a major cause of cervical cancer. Each year, more than
11,000 women in the United States get cervical cancer.
The good news?
• The HPV vaccine (shot) can prevent HPV.
• Cervical cancer can often be prevented with regular screening
tests (called Pap tests) and follow-up care.
In honor of National Cervical Health Awareness Month, the Grand
Ronde Health & Wellness Center encourages:
• Women to start getting regular Pap tests at age 21.
• Parents to make sure pre-teens get the HPV vaccine at age 11 or 12.
Teens and young adults also need to get the HPV vaccine if they
didn’t get it as pre-teens. Women up to age 26 and men up to age 21
can still get the vaccine.
Discontinuing IBH Services for Skookum
Health Assistance Program
Please remember that if you are in need of mental health or alcohol and
drug treatment, you need to call Shasta Customer Service for an in-network
provider before receiving services.
Do not call IBH. This information was recently published in Smoke Sig-
nals and provided in a letter from Shasta Administrative Services with
your new Skookum Health Assistance Program cards mailed in December.
If you did not receive your new card, please contact Shasta Customer
Service at 800-880-5877.
If you have questions, call Tresa Mercier at 503-879-2008 or Barbara
Steere at 503-879-2487.
** If you are a Tribal member and employee of the Confederated Tribes
of Grand Ronde, with the Grand Ronde Employee Plan, please continue
to call IBH for mental health or alcohol and drug treatment assistance.
S moke S ignals
13
Safety first!
For the safety of our Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center patients
and staff during inclement weather, please call before traveling to your
appointments. We don’t want you travelling if we are not open.
Please call 503-879-5211 for up-to-date, weather-related closures
or delays.
You can sign up and receive emergency alerts and severe weather
warnings that could affect you or your family.
Just go to www.grandronde.org to sign up.
2017 Skookum Health
Assistance Program changes
We have made a few changes to the Skookum Health Assistance Program
starting January 2017. We will be sending new cards soon. Please replace
the old card with your new card. If you do not receive a new card shortly,
please contact Barbara Steere.
Changes in eligible services:
• The network used for mental health and substance abuse services will
be changing from IBH, Integrated Behavioral Health, to your Partici-
pating Provider Organization (PPO) network. You will be receiving a
letter in the mail with your network information.
• Physical therapy and naturopathic care services will no longer have a
visit limitation. However, a review for medical necessity and compliance
will be conducted every 15 visits.
• Chiropractic and massage therapy services will now have a 30 visit per
calendar year combined limitation.
If you have any questions, we encourage you to call.
• Barbara Steere: 503-879-2487
• Tresa Mercier: 503-879-2008
• Melody Baker: 503-879-2011
Mental Health and Substance Abuse Treatment
Starting January 2017, Tribal members will no longer call IBH to prior
authorize these services. Instead, you will call 1-800-880-5950, Shasta
Administration Services Customer Service. You will be directed to your
Participating Provider Organization (PPO) network for an in-network
provider or facility.
To avoid out-of-pocket costs, you will need to have preauthorization
from Shasta Administrative Services and go to an in-network provider
for in-patient substance abuse treatment.
It is very important to preauthorize any in-patient treatment. We do not
want members to end up with large bills for these services.
Dental health awareness
for the new year
What is Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)?
• SDF is an antibiotic liquid approved by Food and Drug Admin-
istration in January 2016 for use on cavities to stop tooth decay
and reduce sensitivity for patients who are not candidates for
restoration dentistry due to age or medical history.
• Pain-free; no need to anesthetize the mouth to apply.
• It is applied every six to 12 months.
• Treatment with SDF does not eliminate the need for dental fill-
ings or crowns to repair function or aesthetics.
• Should not be used if (1) you are allergic to silver or (2) there are
painful sores, raw areas on your gums (i.e. ulcerative gingivitis)
or anywhere in your mouth (i.e. stomatitis).
• Risks include staining of the affected area; it leaves a permanent
“little black scar.”
• After four to six weeks, it is possible to place a tooth-colored filling
without the need for local anesthesia.
Sources: Dr. Jeremy Horst (UC San Francisco Dental Center)