Molina Healthcare of Washington recently committed more than  $16 million to support communities and organizations that have been affected by the current ongoing pandemic, including in Jefferson County, through its COVID-19 Community Response Plan.

In the Salish region, Molina has supported more than 40 providers, Tribes, food banks, and community-based organizations throughout the past six months to enhance access to healthcare services, and to help stabilize key community providers and services throughout the region.

“This pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the most basic human needs in every community, including access to food, housing, employment, health care, and so much more,” said Peter Adler, plan president of Molina Healthcare of Washington.

“Molina is committed to enhancing our collaboration with providers and community partners to address these needs and to ensuring access to health care services before, during, and beyond this public health crisis,” Adler said.

Molina’s commitment of over $10 million in additional financial support to primary care providers focused on pediatric and safety net (including federally qualified health centers and tribal clinics) providers across the state. 

In the Salish region, they committed support to Bainbridge Pediatrics, Forks Community Hospital, Harrison Medical Center, Jamestown Family Health Clinic, Jefferson Healthcare, Kitsap Children’s Clinic, Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Health Clinic, North Olympic Healthcare Network, Olympic Family Practice, Olympic Medical Physicians, Peninsula Community Health Services, Silverdale Pediatrics, Sound Pediatrics, and solo-practitioner primary care clinics.

They also donated personal protective and other equipment to help protect front-line providers and community-based organizations as they provide care through the pandemic.

Molina’s PPE donations include thousands of N95 and three-ply masks, COVID-19 rapid antibody testing kits, face shields, gowns, digital forehead thermometers, nitrile gloves, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes to the following providers and groups: Bainbridge Pediatrics, Clallam Mosaic, First Step Family Support Center, Fishline, Georgia’s House, Kitsap Children’s Clinic, Kitsap Community Resources, Kitsap Immigrant Assistance Center, North Sound Olympic Healthcare Network, Peninsula Community Health Services, and Sequim Free Clinic.

Molina’s response to food insecurity included providing temporary emergency in-home meals for Molina Medicaid and Medicare members who have been diagnosed with COVID-19, or live with someone who has tested positive. They also committed more than $100,000 to more than 100 food banks and organizations throughout the state, including Bremerton Foodline, Brinnon Food Bank, Central Kitsap Food Bank, First Step Family Support Center, Fishline Food Bank & Comprehensive Services, Forks Food Bank, Makah Indian Tribe, Port Angeles Food Bank, Quilcene Food Bank, Quileute Indian Tribe, Quinault Indian Nation, Sequim Food Bank, and the Tri-Area Food Bank.

In the field of substance use disorder treatment, Molina committed nearly $5 million in increased payments to care providers with an emphasis on inpatient residential services and medication-assisted opioid treatment programs, including at Kitsap Recovery Center, Olalla Recovery Centers and Specialty Services II.

To increase access to telehealth services, Molina provided behavioral health provider organizations, including Beacon of Hope and Olalla Recovery Centers, with technological support and financial and supply donations to facilitate access to resources, such as computers and cell phones.

They are also offering cell phones and data plans to Medicaid members who would not otherwise have the capabilities to contact their provider via virtual visits.

Lastly, Molina is providing additional support to Wraparound with Intense Services (WISe) providers who take care of children with intensive behavioral health needs by offering both PPE and financial contributions.  Providers are able to utilize Molina financial support payments to help families with food insecurity. Recipients included Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, Discovery Behavioral Health, Kitsap Mental Health, and Peninsula Behavioral Health.