Molina Healthcare of Washington’s $16 Million COVID-19 Community Response Enhances Access to Care and Resources in the North Sound Region

12/08/2020

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 the North Sound region, Molina has supported more than 40 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 ensure 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 and tribal clinics) providers across the state. In the North Sound, Molina has committed stabilization support to Adult and Child Medicine, Anacortes Family Medicine, Associates in Family Medicine, Bellingham Natural Family Medicine, Community Health Center of Snohomish County, Edmonds Family Care, Family Care Network, Fidalgo Medical Associates, Kaiser Foundation of Washington, North Sound Pediatrics, Orcas Family Health Center, PeaceHealth, Pediatric Associates of Whidbey Island, Providence Health, San Juan Healthcare, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Skagit Natural Family Medicine, Skagit Pediatrics, Skagit Regional Health, Unity Care Network, Western Washington Medical Group, and solo-practitioner primary care clinics.

  • Personal Protective Equipment 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 includes 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 the North Sound: Community Health Center of Snohomish County, Family Care Network, Hand in Hand, Liberty Elementary School, Mercy Housing, North Sound Pediatrics, Pediatrics Associates of Whidbey Island, Sea Mar Community Health Centers, Skagit Pediatrics, and Unity Care NW.

  • 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 the North Sound, Molina has contributed to Arlington Community Food Bank, Blaine Food Bank, Casino Road Food Pantry, Concrete Food Bank, Everett Salvation Army Food Bank, Ferndale Food Bank, Foothills Food Bank, Friday Harbor Food Bank, La Conner Sunrise Food Bank, Lummi Indian Tribe Commodity Food Program, Lynnwood Food Bank, Marysville Community Food Bank, Skagit Valley Neighbors in Need, Snohomish Community Food Bank, St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, and Stanwood Camano Food Bank.

  • 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 and opioid treatment programs. This investment will yield an increase of over $12 million annually thereafter. In the North Sound, Molina’s investment positively impacts: American Behavioral Health Systems, Canyon Park Treatment Solutions, Evergreen Recovery Centers, Lifeline Connections, Pioneer Human Services, and Therapeutic Health Services.

    • Supporting Access to Care through Telehealth Support -To increase access to telehealth services, Molina is providing behavioral health provider organizations, including Center for Human Services, 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. North Sound WISe provider recipients include: Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, Center for Human Services, Compass Health, and Therapeutic Health Services.

About Molina Healthcare of Washington
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.