by independencenw | Sep 13, 2010 | advocacy, caregivers, customers, health care, multnomah county, resource
The Downtown Compassion Connect Clinic invites you to a FREE CLINIC providing Medical, Dental, Vision, Social Services and more on September 18th from 9am – 3pm at the Portland Memorial Coliseum. Other services offered include bicycle repair, haircuts, chiropractic and a clothing bank.
Doors open at 9am
The Downtown Compassion Connect Clinic is focused on providing basic medical, dental, vision exams to meet the needs of the residents in the Central City and downtown Portland neighborhoods. They focus on people who do not have insurance or have enough insurance to cover needed services.
Free parking at the Garden Garage courtesy the Portland Trail Blazers.
by independencenw | Feb 19, 2010 | advocacy, health care, healthcare, resource
211 info has published a great article on local insurance options:
In a recent Wall Street Journal article, “Yes, the Uninsured Can Get Care,” Kristen Gerencher outlined health care options for the uninsured:
Lack of insurance doesn’t have to mean going without needed health care.
If you’re uninsured and seeking stop-gap care until you find coverage, you can triage your way to better health by understanding the tradeoffs of several care options.
With hundreds of thousands of people in Oregon and Southwest Washington left uninsured, we provide solutions to people seeking health care every day. It is a problem that is affecting everyone in our communities, not just those with extremely-low income. So, we thought we’d be proactive and suggest some local solutions to the issue the WSJ addressed — getting health care without having insurance. For phone numbers, addresses and more information about these services you can visit 211info.org a search your zip code and services under the “CLINIC” and “HEALTH” keywords or call 2-1-1.
The Oregon Health Plan is available for children, and some adults are being added through a lottery system. To apply, visit a DHS office or call 1-800-359-9517. Call 1-800-SAFENET to find out the address of the nearest DHS office.
Here’s a look at the types of health care available for uninsured people in Oregon and Southwest Washington.
- Community health clinics: Sometimes called “free clinics,” these typically operate on a sliding-scale fee system based on patients’ income. Some will treat patients who are unable to pay even the sliding-scale fee. These nonprofits serve low-income uninsured people with chronic conditions such as diabetes and frequently offer other services such as immunizations. Some are specialized for specific populations, such as women or members of federally recognized Native American tribes. Many clinics have very limited hours and long wait lists for appointments. Some have walk-in services.
- Retail clinics: These clinics, often operated by hospitals or pharmacy chains, offer walk-in visits with nurse practitioners or physician’s assistants. Prices for a visit are posted and generally are less than $100. The clinics often are open on nights and weekends. Providers can diagnose routine ailments such as flu or strep throat and prescribe medications as needed. The clinics generally don’t have doctors, diagnostic equipment such as X-rays or labs on site.
- Urgent care centers: Doctors provide treatment for infections, injuries, back aches and simple fractures. Prices are generally higher than those at retail clinics but may be less than $200. For example, the 211info database shows one urgent care clinic that posts its price as $55, with prescriptions and lab work costing extra. The centers often are open on nights and weekends. Doctors can stitch wounds, set broken bones, prescribe medicine for infections and treat other mid-level conditions.
- Emergency rooms: The most expensive option often requires long wait times for people with non-emergency conditions. Doctors have access to extensive diagnostic equipment, and people with serious conditions are often admitted to hospitals. Emergency rooms are open 24/7. People who are uninsured and low income can often request financial assistance or charity care if they need to be hospitalized.
If someone you know does not have access to the internet they can call 2-1-1 Monday-Friday 8am-6pm for answers to their health care questions.
Contributing Author: Deborah Willoughby, Call Center Specialist
by independencenw | Aug 6, 2009 | caregivers, customers, health care, sexuality, training, Uncategorized
From The Riot!:
The Riot would like to invite you to join them for another teleconference series titled: A National Conversation on Healthy Relationships!
There will be a total of three calls with real talk between self-advocates, family members and healthcare providers about intimate relationships, personal safety and advice from peers. We’ll be tackling the tough questions that are on a lot of people’s minds but many are afraid to talk about. Let’s break down those barriers and open the lines of communication!
At the end of each call, we will have a Question and Answer session from the audience. The calls will last 90 minutes each. This will be one teleconference series you won’t want to miss!
The registration fee will be $25 per teleconference for ONE phone line. If you use a speaker phone you can gather people around and listen together! Additional lines will be $25 each.
If you register for all three teleconferences, you will pay only $20 per teleconference or $60 total! Additional lines will also be $20 each. So, it pays to register for all three!
To register for these teleconferences you can go to our website at www.theriotrocks.org and click on our ad.
Or, you can download our agenda and registration form directly from this link
Come join us for a National Conversation on Healthy Relationships! Register Now!!
The topics we will cover during each session are described below. For more detailed questions during each teleconference, please click on the link above.
Teleconference #1: Do individuals with developmental disabilities have the right to someone special in their life, such as an intimate relationship? September 1, 2009 – 90 minutes (3pm ET)
Teleconference #2: What are the dynamics of a healthy, intimate relationship? Issues of sexuality, personal safety and safe sex/birth control will be discussed. October 5, 2009 – 90 minutes (3pm ET)
Teleconference #3: Self-advocates give their peers advice, “Dear Abby” style. November 2, 2009 – 90 minutes (3pm ET)
by independencenw | Jul 27, 2009 | caregivers, customers, health care, homelessness, independent contractors, providers, resource
The Rose City Resource is a publication of Street Roots and is the most comprehensive, updated list of services for people experiencing homelessness and poverty in Multnomah, Washington, and Clackamas counties. There’s tons of information on food boxes, clothing, counseling services, legal services and more.
by independencenw | Jul 27, 2009 | caregivers, customers, health care
The Caregivers Marketplace is the nation’s first cash back program for anyone who gives, gets or needs care. Caregivers can receive cash back on eligible products that are not typically covered by insurance or Medicare – no matter where those products are purchased. The program is free with sponsorships from dozens of companies like Depend Products, Aspercreme, Cirucel, Cottonelle, Ensure, Gold Bond, Nature Made, Os-Cal, Kaopectate and IcyHot. It works a lot like rebate programs do and could save your household some cash.
The company also has a helpful newsletter – check out the latest issue here.
by independencenw | Jul 27, 2009 | customers, health care
Kaiser Permanente, in partnership with schools and the Multnomah Education Service District, is offering free health insurance to grade K-6 children attending Multnomah County public schools. The insurance is free – there is no premium – but families must pay a small co-pay for office visits and prescriptions. Once enrolled, children are covered through age 19 if they remain in school.
To qualify, children must meet three main requirements:
* Attend school – Children must attend a public school in Multnomah County. Charter schools and publicly funded alternative programs also qualify.
* Grades K-6 – To enroll, children must be in grades K-6. Siblings can also be covered if they are age 3 or older (through 12th grade).
* Income – Families must earn 250 percent or less of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, this is about $4,600 per month, or $53,000 per year.
Kaiser offers the insurance as part of its community benefit program, which, among other goals, seeks to expand access to medical care for the uninsured. About 4,000 children already are covered through this no-premium plan; Kaiser and MESD want to double enrollment by the end of the year. In addition to the Kaiser insurance, the Oregon Health Plan offers low-cost health insurance to children from families that earn up to 185 percent of the federal poverty level. According to the latest census data, 107,000 Oregon children – about one in nine – lacked health insurance in 2005-07, the latest period for which data are available. For questions about the Kaiser program or the Oregon Health Plan, or to enroll, contact MESD: 503-257-1732, speterso@mesd.k12.or.us.
via ORPTI Blog
