LOCAL SPOTLIGHT
Wildfire Response Brings Kudos By Vickie Aldous | December 10, 2022 | Mail Tribune W hen people fled the fast-moving Almeda Fire in 2020, many left behind their prescriptions, dentures, wheelchairs and other medical essentials. “You’ve left your home, and it either burned down or you can’t get back in for several days,” Dr. Richard Williams said. “Most people need a toothbrush and basic supplies, but if you’re a patient with diabetes who needs insulin, or you don’t have your high blood pressure medication or you lost your oxygen, you aren’t just concerned about your home. It becomes an issue of basic health and survival.” Two local organizations that manage Oregon Health Plan benefits for about 80,000 Jackson County residents quickly stepped in to help. AllCare Health and Jackson Care Connect were able to overlay fire evacuation maps with information they had about OHP recipients’ addresses. The resulting data showed who had likely fled the fire and needed help. Both organizations authorized prescription refills and helped replace medical equipment. OHP, like most private insurance plans, doesn’t usually let people refill prescriptions early. “Normally, it would be too early to get a refill. But if your medications burn up, you need a refill. We could predict they would need it, and it was obviously important,” said Williams, a practicing physician and executive vice president of AllCare Health. With the Rogue Valley now in the recovery phase from the Almeda Fire that burned 2,600 homes and businesses and killed three people, Williams interviewed people from throughout AllCare Health to chronicle the organization’s efforts that ranged from getting people new medicine to sheltering survivors in hotels. His resulting article — “ Wildfire Response and Recovery: The Importance of Coordinated Care and Social Support” — was recently published in Catalyst, a journal from the publishers of the
prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. Catalyst highlights innovative approaches in health care. While his article focused on AllCare Health’s efforts, Jackson Care Connect followed a similar track to help its OHP members. Both AllCare Health and Jackson Care Connect are quick to point out they were able to aid so many people because of partnerships they forged over the years with other community groups. They manage physical, mental and dental health benefits and also connect patients to social services and other support that can improve people’s health while controlling health care spending. It’s part of Oregon’s unique strategy of coordinated care Top: AllCare Health’s efforts to help Almeda Fire evacuees in 2020 included setting up a temporary food bank. Bottom: AllCare Health consoled kids who escaped from the 2020 Almeda Fire with toys distributed through a pop-up food bank. [Photo by Justin Briggs courtesy of AllCare Health]
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The Business Review | December 2022
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