May 1, 2020

When businesses had to close their doors due to COVID-19, people lost their jobs and wages. In health care, we see the impact job loss has on patients who suddenly lose their health insurance, and find that they have difficulty affording prescriptions.

Every day, but especially during the pandemic, CHAS Health’s Patient Services Coordinators help members of our community to gain access to much needed healthcare services.  Here is a story of our team working together at Maple Street Clinic in Spokane to help a patient:

A patient contacted the office to cancel her appointment because her son and daughter-in-law lost their jobs due to COVID-19.  She didn’t want to be a financial burden to her family by keeping her appointment. Her healthcare provider asked her to come in anyway, telling her CHAS would find a way to help with costs. After meeting with a CHAS Patient Services Coordinator, the patient was able to get assistance and a voucher for her prescriptions. The provider had also referred this patient to a specialist, but she didn’t want to go for the reasons previously stated.  The clinic team was able to get this patient full coverage for her specialist visit, allowing her to receive the care she needed without the worry of burdening her family financially during the pandemic.  

If you need help with health insurance or accessing other resources, call to speak with a CHAS Patient Services Coordinator: 509-444-8200.

This blog post is part of a special CHAS Health Foundation series for #GivingTuesdayNow. #GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving and unity that will take place on May 5, 2020 as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.  #GivingTuesdayNow emphasizes opportunities to give back to communities and causes in safe ways that allow for social connection and kindness even while practicing physical distancing. #GivingTuesdayNow is a global day of giving that focuses on the collective power that individuals, communities and organizations use to celebrate generosity and philanthropy worldwide.

This mission of the CHAS Health Foundation is to create health equity by strategically investing in patients, partners, and communities. The CHAS Health Foundation supports CHAS Health, a non-profit community health center serving over 97,000 patients annually regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. You can donate to the CHAS Health Foundation at: https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/CHAS