Molina Healthcare of Washington (“Molina”) has committed more than $16 million to support communities that have been affected by the pandemic with its COVID-19 Community Response Plan. In Pierce County, Molina has supported more than 30 providers, Tribal Nations, food banks, and community-based organizations over the past six months alone to enhance access to health care 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.”
- Primary Care Provider Stabilization Support - Molina’s commitment of over $10 million in additional financial support to primary care providers focuses on pediatric and safety net (including Federally Qualified Health Centers) providers across the state. In Pierce County, Molina has committed stabilization support to Allenmore Children’s and Young Adult, Community Health Care, Franciscan Medical Group, Harbor Pediatrics, Inc., Kaiser Foundation of Washington, MultiCare Health System, North Tacoma Pediatrics Inc., Northwest Integrated Health, Pacific General Medical Clinic, Pierce Unicare, Rainer Pediatrics, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Sound Integrated Health, University Place Pediatric Clinic, and multiple solo-practitioner primary care clinics.
- Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Donations - Molina is donating 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 3-ply masks, COVID-19 rapid antibody testing kits, face shields, gowns, digital forehead thermometers, nitrile gloves, hand sanitizer, and disinfecting wipes. Molina has donated PPE to the following providers and groups in Pierce County: Community Health Care of Tacoma, Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center, Pierce County AIDS Foundation, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Tacoma Rescue Mission, and University Place Pediatric Clinic.
- Food Insecurity Response - Molina’s ongoing response to food insecurity includes providing temporary emergency in-home meals for Molina Medicaid and Medicare members who have been diagnosed or live with someone who has tested COVID-19 positive. Molina has also committed over $100,000 to more than 100 food banks and organizations throughout the state. In Pierce County, Molina has contributed to Eloise’s Cooking Pot, Emergency Food Network, Islamic Center Food Distribution, Key Peninsula Bischoff Food Bank, Small Tribes of Western Washington, and Tacoma Community House Food Distribution.
-
Behavioral Health Provider Support
- Substance Use Disorder Provider Support - Molina is making an ongoing investment to increase access to substance use disorder (SUD) services. In 2020, Molina committed nearly $5 million in increased payments to SUD providers with an emphasis on inpatient residential SUD services and medication assisted opioid treatment programs. This ongoing investment will yield an increase of over $12 million annually thereafter. In Pierce County, Molina’s investment positively impacts: Metropolitan Development Council, Olalla Recovery Centers, Pioneer Human Services, Prosperity Wellness Center, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Tacoma Treatment Solutions, and Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
- Supporting Access to Care through Telehealth Support -To increase access to telehealth services, Molina is providing behavioral health provider organizations with technological support and financial and supply donations to facilitate access to resources such as computers and cell phones. Molina is also offering cell phones and data plans to its Medicaid members who would not otherwise have the capabilities to contact their provider via virtual visits.
- Wraparound with Intensive Services Provider Donations –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. WISe providers are able to utilize Molina financial support payments to help families with food insecurity. Pierce County WISe provider recipients include: Catholic Community Services – Westside and Community Youth Services.
Molina Healthcare of Washington has been providing government-funded care for low-income individuals for over 20 years. As of September 30, 2020, Molina serves over 947,000 members through Medicaid, Medicare, and the Health Benefit Exchange programs across the state of Washington. Additionally, Molina Healthcare of Washington operates a primary care clinic in Everett (MyHealth Everett) and a mobile health unit (MyHealth Mobile) in the Spokane area. For more information, visit MolinaHealthcare.com and connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.