CareOregon Awards $60,000 to Neighborhood Health Center for OHP Enrollment Services
PORTLAND, Ore., September 14, 2023 - Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) announced today a $60,000 grant from CareOregon to support the organization’s Oregon Health Plan (OHP) enrollment assistance and outreach program. This grant will help fund the Membership and Engagement Services department to expand its services and accommodate the influx of care needed during Medicare Redetermination.
“These services are significant and important for our patients and the community,” says Shalane Ballenger, Membership and Engagement Services Manager. “The Community Health Workers that provide these services take the time to have meaningful conversations with patients and community members to understand their knowledge of the healthcare system and then educate them.”
The Membership and Engagement Services team provides OHP assistance and redetermination services for anyone needing support, including those who are not patients of NHC and those who do not have a primary care home. The team also provides outreach services to patients identified as having gaps in care or recent hospitalizations, assistance with transportation, and resource navigation.
“Healthcare is constantly evolving, and the system can be confusing for many people. The goal is to help our patients and community members increase their independence and confidence when it comes to engaging in the healthcare system,” adds Ballenger.
Nearly 75% of NHC’s 20,000 patients receive public insurance through programs such as OHP. NHC serves patients regardless of insurance status. This grant will provide support to community members who are currently uninsured and need assistance enrolling in a public insurance program.
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ABOUT NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER:
Founded in 2010, Neighborhood Health Center (NHC) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) which provides accessible, affordable, culturally, and linguistically appropriate care, offering patients primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services at locations in Washington and Clackamas counties in Oregon. NHC’s 10 clinics and 215+ employees serve over 20,000 patients annually. NHC’s mission is to build healthy communities – one neighbor at a time – through patient-centered healthcare, regardless of income or current state of wellness. NHC’s patient-centered approach to healthcare honors the unique needs and circumstances of each individual patient. NHC sees people, not problems, and recognizes that the time spent as a patient in a clinician’s office is only one factor in a person’s overall health. Our patient-centered, integrated clinical teams work in partnership with patients, their families, and the communities we serve to provide whole-person care, prevention, and ongoing support.
Learn more: http://nhcoregon.org/
ABOUT CAREOREGON:
For more than 25 years, CareOregon has offered health services and community benefit programs to Oregon Health Plan members. Today, CareOregon supports the needs of more than 500,000 Oregonians through three coordinated care organizations, a Medicare Advantage plan, a Tribal Care Coordination program, a dental care organization, and in-home medical care with Housecall Providers. CareOregon members have access to integrated physical, dental and mental health care, and substance use treatment. We believe that good health requires more than clinics and hospitals, so we also connect members to housing, fresh food, education and transportation services. CareOregon is a mission-driven, community-based nonprofit with offices in Portland, Medford and Seaside, Oregon.
Media Contact:
Penny L. Moore
Tel: 503.941.3054
Email: moorep@NHCOregon.org