CareOregon, Columbia Pacific CCO Offers Free Phones to Members

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Tuesday, December 01, 2015

GoLocalPDX News Team

Free mobile phones are now available to tens of thousands of income eligible Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan by CareOregon and Columbia Pacific CCO.

The phones are made available as part of a federal program in partnership with SafeLink Wireless and CareOregon. Those eligible for the program will be sent an application and letter in the coming weeks.

According to Martin Yalor, director of public policy and community relations for CareOregon, said that having reliable communication is essential to many people’s health.

"People need phones to get in touch with our customer service representatives if they need to find a provider or make arrangements for the care they need," Taylor said. "Also we hope it will help us stay in touch with our members, especially if they don't have a permanent residence or reliable telephone number." 

A reliable way to communicate with patients is also crucial for clinician’s, accord ing to Safina Koreishi, medical director for Columbia Pacific CCCO.

“If members choose to share their number with their health providers, it's a lot easier for the clinic to reach people with appointment and care reminders. that will improve access and help achieve better care,” Koreishi said."There is a growing body of research that shows automated messaging, like that possible with a system such as SafeLink, can be effective for helping manage conditions such as diabetes, improving childhood vaccination rates, promoting good prenatal care or advising how best to use emergency and urgent care resources.”

 The mobile phones will include 350 minutes of airtime a month, and there is a limit of one phone per household

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