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About The independent. (Vernonia, Or.) 1986-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 7, 1998)
Page 4 The INDEPENDENT, October 7,1998 Changes announced at health center Major changes are under way at the Vernonia Health Clinic. The following informa tion was complete as of last week, but more information will be forthcoming. As of October 1, Providence Health System has started overseeing operation of the health clinic. Some things will remain unchanged, such as the phone number, location (for now), and the scope of ser vices. Our new name is “Provi dence Family Medicine — Ver nonia” and we will remain a full- service family practice, with the ability to take walk-in patients on an urgent care basis. Providence Health System has a strong commitment to pro vide health care to all people. Providence’s mission calls for serving the community “with special concern for those who are poor and vulnerable.” Most importantly, Providence has a strong sense of responsibility for the communities in which it serves. Laura Nichols, PA-C, will re main as health care provider, along with Chris Legler and Randy Randolph from Pacific University, who support the clinic on a part-time basis. Insurance Coverage: Probably the big question in many minds is “How about my insurance; will the change of operation affect my coverage?” The following providers are now in place, or will be very soon: PHP - Providence Health Plan (formerly Good Health Plan) PPO - Providence Preferred Organization (formerly Van tage) HMOO-Application now in progress Blue Cross/Blue Shield Care Oregon - (Application now in progress) Blue Cross/Blue Shield - Ré gence OEA PACC/QualMed Medicare Medicaid If you have insurance cover age with a provider not listed above, please check with the clinic office regarding your cov erage. Billing: During the transition, the clinic will bill all insurances and help patients with adjusting providers in order to continue ; 'i » The INDEPENDENT Action Ads ip ■ a , First 10 w ords... f, M b A 1 S3.5D each additional w ord is ju st I ite Call «9-9410 to place your ad! .(W—WSWWNmwr» cyir-rrT:~rm-r~ - that work will begin in early 1999. More information regard ing expanded services in our new facility will be forthcoming. Please feel free to call the health center with any ques tions regarding these changes. Vernonia Health Center pa tients can look forward with confidence to our affiliation with Providence Health System. Prescriptions: Women's Health Day Wednesday, October 21,1998 State subsidies for health insurance A new program that offers state-sponsored subsidies is helping many uninsured Ore gonians purchase the protec tion of health insurance for the first time. Thousands of Orego nians have already contacted the new Family Health Insur- ance Assistance Program (FHI- AP) to find out if they qualify for subsidy assistance. While in- terest in the program is high, the program is still accepting applications. “More than 30,000 people from all over the state have re quested information about the program since it opened on May 1,” said Howard “Rocky” King, administrator. “However, after receiving an application, some people find out they do not qualify, which means we have plenty of space for others to apply.” FHIAP provides subsidies of 95 percent, 90 percent, and 70 percent of insurance premium costs, depending upon the ap plicant’s income. Those apply ing must: be uninsured for at least six months, be an Oregon resident, and meet certain in come criteria in order to qualify. For example, a family of four earning less than $2,330 a month could qualify for a sub ■Il^— — By A udeen Wagner Women's Health Day, October 21, will be marked with special programs all day at the Vernonia Clinic and at the Pharmacy Building. Hours are 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., and women of all ages are encouraged to attend. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and in conjunc tion with this, the Tuality Mammovan will be in Vernonia on Women’s Health Day (please call the clinic for an appointment). Also available will be Pap smear exams (call for appoint ment); instruction on self-breast exam; bone density screening; An important new policy for information on hormone replacement therapy/menopause; non- Vernonia patients: Pharmacy Estrogens; calcium; birth control; Aids; sexually transmitted dis services are now provided by eases; stop smoking programs, and more. Providence St. Vincent Medical For women over 40 years of age who have no insurance, Center. They will deliver pre- Paps, breast exams and mammograms can be paid for in full scriptions on a daily basis to through funding from a grant administered by Columbia County Vernonia, so patients can ex- Public Health. These services are available at the clinic, pect a 24-hour (or less) turn- Working women are encouraged to stop by during their lunch around for delivery. There will hour on October 21 for Women’s Health Day. We hope that be no charge for the courier employers will allow ladies to have some time off to “take care of service, and insurances will be themselves.” See you on Women’s Health Day, or at any time billed directly. Co-pays and you may need wellness information or health care. C.O.D. payments will be col For information or to make appointments, call Providence lected at the clinic at the time of Family Medicine — Vernonia, (previously known as Vernonia pickup. Health Center), phone 429-9191. sidy. Applicants must first request a place on the reservation list. After a short wait, they receive an application to determine their eligibility for subsidy as sistance. If they qualify for a subsidy, they must then enroll in their employer’s health insur ance plan, or if no employer coverage is available, pur chase an individual insurance plan. “If you are without health in surance and have had difficulty affording coverage, the biggest mistake you could make is to assume you will not qualify," said Timothy Ayles of Medford, one of more than 200 insur ance agents working with the program. “Calling the toll-free number to get more informa tion and request a place on the reservation list is an easy first step.” To learn more about FHIAP or request a place on the reser vation list, call 1 -888-564-9669 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. Care home residents need friends Oct. 4-10, 1998, has been designated Residents’ Rights Week by the National Citizens Coalition for Nursing Home Re form. In 1981, the Nursing Home Reform Act was passed, guaranteeing fair and equal treatment and residents rights to nearly two-million nursing home residents nationwide. This observance is intended to increase awareness of nurs ing home residents’ rights. It is designed to promote aware ness of issues such as the quality of care and the quality of life, that are related to resi dents’ rights. Re-elect Elizabeth “Betty” HUSER nCIIBIh,, tW Viìi St w , tifa coverage here in Vernonia. All services rendered prior to Oc tober 1 will be billed by Tuality; all services after this date will be billed by Providence. Vernonia Health Clinic and its Board of Directors are work ing closely with Providence to bring about a smooth transi tion; anyone with questions about insurance or other is sues should call the clinic, 429- 9191. Referrals: Referrals will be made if the provider feels the patient needs a more specialized opin ion regarding a medical condi tion. As always, your insurance may determine which specialist and where you will be referred, and the clinic will make every effort to coordinate your bene fits. Remodeling of Pharmacy Building: Providence has active plans to remodel the Pharmacy Building, and they anticipate Health Notes for Residents’ Rights Week fo cuses on resident involvement in community activities as one way for residents to express and ensure their rights. An in formational packet provided by Please see page 5 Cbutb Bullitia Bloopers Evening massage - 6 p.m. YES! WE HAVE LOCAL CALL INTERNET ACCESS! NO LONG DISTANCE CHARGES!! Pick up your FREE copy of C o m p u te r B its at The INDEPENDENT, 725 Bridge St 4 2 9 -4 0 4 5 507 Rose Ave., Vernonia Write-in JOEL YARBOR County C om m issioner Keep my common sense principles hard at work for you! COLUMBIA COUNTY COMMISSIONER Position 2________________ Vote tor One _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ COLLEEN DESHAZER RITA BERNHARDT wme r, «Any COLUMBIA COUNTY CLERK Authorized & Paid for by Elizabeth “Betty” Huser Committee, P. O. Box 549, Scappoose, OR 97056 My name will not be on the ballot. For your vote to count you will need to write my name in, and complete the arrow next to it. Thank you, Paid for by the Committee to Re-elect Joel Yarbor <>• V -'
