S moke S ignals
APRIL 1, 2017
Skookum seeks help with
myriad bad addresses
In mid-December, the Skookum Health Assistance Program mailed
new cards to all Tribal members on the program. These cards need
to replace older Skookum cards. The new card has important infor-
mation regarding program changes. Skookum has received a lot of
returned mail with the new cards.
If you did not receive a new Skookum card in December, please
contact Barbara Steere at 503-879-2487 or Tresa Mercier at 503-
879-2008 to update your address.
We need to send you your new Skookum Health Assistance Pro-
gram card as soon as possible.
Thank you!
Patient Satisfaction
Survey available now
The Health & Wellness Center is conducting a patient satisfaction sur-
vey. The survey is available at the health clinic and on the Tribal website
through Survey Monkey.
We look forward to hearing from you.
Skookum denials
If you have received a denial from the Skookum Health Assistance
Program for payment of health services and you feel that your ser-
vices should not have been denied, please contact one of the Save
Our Skookum team members:
• Barbara Steere – 503-879-2487
• Melody Baker – 503-879-2011
• Tresa Mercier – 504-879-2008
• Tauni McCammon – 503-879-1406
• Erica Mercier – 503-879-2080
It is important that you call as soon as you receive a denial. The
older bills are, the better chance of them being turned in to collec-
tions. You are always welcome to call with questions.
We look forward to hearing from you!
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Skookum suspension letters
Suspension letters are being sent to Tribal members who have not re-
sponded to the Save Our Skookum request for information of application
to alternate resources for primary health coverage.
The first request was sent in December 2016 with a deadline of Feb.
28, 2017. We have received many calls from frustrated Tribal members
and apologize for the inconvenience of this request. In order to make the
Skookum Health Assistance Program sustainable for years to come, we
need to ensure Skookum is a payer of last resort — a safety net for Tribal
member health care.
In 2011, Tribal Council gave the Save Our Skookum team the directive
to return the program to payer of last resort to ensure sustainability. We
are hoping to get Tribal members who do not have primary health coverage
on a cycle of applying every year by the end of February.
If you have questions or need assistance applying for primary health
coverage, go to www.healthcare.gov or contact Loretta Meneley, 503-879-
1359, or Leah Bailey, 503-879-2197.
If you received a suspension letter, please contact one of the Save Our
Skookum team members listed on the letter you received.
Thank you for your patience with this request.
Tresa Mercier
Skookum Health Assistance Program manager
Tribal Pharmacy
now on the Web
Web refill requests for prescriptions through the Tribal Pharmacy are
now available! Go to www.GrandRonde.org/departments/health-and-
wellness/pharmacy and click on the link provided.
You can bookmark this page for future use.
Applications Assister
sets Portland dates
Certified Applications Assister Loretta Meneley will be at the Portland
area office, 4445 S.W. Barbur Blvd., from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday,
April 12, and Tuesday, April 25, to help Tribal members with medical
information and applications.
For more information, contact Tribal Services Representative Lisa
Archuleta at 503-879-1881 or lisa.archuleta@grandronde.org.
Health & Wellness Center Entrance
Reminder: The drive-through entrance at the Health &
Wellness Center is for loading and unloading only.
The entrance was built with our Elders and those with mobility issues
and their ease of access in mind. If you are coming to the center to pick
up prescriptions, please park in
one of our regular parking spaces.
Thank you,
Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Center Administration
Pharmacy in transition
The Grand Ronde Health & Wellness Pharmacy is currently in a staff and
process improvement transition. We are working hard to improve service
delivery to our patients.
Please have patience if wait times are slightly longer than usual.
Optometry hours
• 7:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday,
Wednesday and Friday
• 9:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Thursday
Please call to schedule your appointment
at 503-879-2079 or 800-775-0095.
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