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After a thorough review, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced the authorization of a shelf-life extension for the Pfizer antiviral therapy, Paxlovid, which is currently authorized for emergency use for the treatment of mild-to-moderate COVID-19. Paxlovid is now authorized for use for up to 24 months and issued a list of new expiration dates for Paxlovid by batch number.

Questions? Call (360) 752-7406 to speak to our pharmacy staff.

“As the United States neared the green light for the Pfizer pediatric COVID-19 vaccine, many families were eager to start the vaccination series and others were more hesitant—and families across the board may have questions regarding the vaccine. The medical staff at Unity Care NW would like to help parents and guardians work through these questions to help make the right choice for their children.

Lisa Nelson, Pharmacy Director, and Rachel Herman, Medical Operations Manager, both of Unity Care NW, say there are a few things all parents and guardians should be aware of as they consider the COVID vaccine for their children.

“From my perspective, there’s a lot of concerns about whether the vaccine is safe, and I think it’s important to know that we have data to support that the vaccine is safe,” Nelson says. “Children aren’t at as much risk as adults, but the risk for children for a negative outcome from actually getting COVID is far more significant than any small risk [from the vaccine]…”

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Molina Healthcare was founded in 1980 by an emergency room physician with a mission to provide quality health care to those who needed it, no matter their circumstances. Molina Healthcare of Washington has been caring for individuals and families across the state of Washington for over 20 years.

Today, Molina Healthcare of Washington serves over 1 million members through government sponsored programs Apple Health (Medicaid), Medicare D-SNP, and the Health Benefit Exchange in every county across Washington state.  In Washington’s North Sound region, Molina serves over 130k members, including nearly 40k members in Whatcom County. They collaborate with community partners to eliminate access barriers and tackle health disparities to improve the health and lives of their members and communities.

Every day, Molina works to earn the continued trust of their members, providers, and community partners. Molina Healthcare of Washington has supported Unity Care NW through charitable giving. Most recently, Molina provided a contribution to support our collaborative Way Station project, which will provide a variety of services under one roof for individuals experiencing homelessness. The Company also participates in our Healthcare Champions Sponsorship program. Unity Care NW is thankful for their support and appreciative of their commitment to provide health care to all.

For nearly 30 years, Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) has been providing health care to Washington families. As Washington’s first not-for-profit to serve Apple Health members, their mission is to support individuals in making the best health care decisions for themselves and their families. Today they offer Apple Health (Medicaid) and Medicare Advantage plans in the Whatcom area.

 CHPW’s background and focus

In 1992, Washington’s community and migrant health centers (CHCs), created Community Health Plan of Washington to provide health insurance to people who were not being served by traditional insurance companies. They remain governed by community organizations (Community Health Centers) which, in turn, are governed by community members. Their work is motivated by the best interests of their members, providers and communities. They promote managed care as a way to control costs. CHPW works hand-in-hand with local community resources and community organizations to support all aspects of their members’ lives. For them, health care means putting together a whole team to support their members with their whole health at every stage of their health journey and working to remove the barriers that stand between them and their best health.

The CHPW network includes:

• 21 Community Health Centers operating more than 140 clinics
• More than 2,700 primary care providers
• More than 14,900 medical specialists
• More than 7,500 behavioral health specialists
• More than 100 hospitals

Giving back to their communities

In the last two years, CHPW has provided funding to community-based organizations on the front lines of pandemic response, while also providing funding to CHCs like ours across the state to support initiatives addressing health disparities. As a further part of CHPW’s commitment to Washington’s communities, every full-time CHPW employee has 40 hours of paid volunteer time that they use to serve meals at local food banks, work on Washington’s hiking trails, and clean up public spaces.

CHPW is a longtime supporter of Unity Care NW. They have partnered with us on several health care expansions, including our recent North Whatcom Health Center project. And they are participants in our Health Care Champions Sponsorship Program.

 Just like Unity Care NW, Community Health Plan of Washington believes in the power of community. Because they know when we stand together, we stand stronger. Thank you, CHPW, for all that you do to ensure health care access for all and for supporting our work in so many ways.

Umpqua Bank – Committed to Community Since 1953

It all started in Canyonville, Oregon, a timber town nestled along the South Umpqua River. A group of pioneers who were part of this tight-knit community came together to build what they needed: a school, a church, a grocery store, a diner, an auto shop. And when the citizens of Canyonville needed a better place than the local watering hole to cash their checks, they came together and built a bank.

Milt Herbert, one of Umpqua Bank’s founding fathers (second from left), and crew.

Since South Umpqua State Bank opened their doors back in 1953, they’ve grown a lot (with multiple locations now), but their values have stayed as strong as their roots. They believe in the power of community. They believe in giving back.

Umpqua Bank supports all of the communities where they have branches. They give to charities, provide volunteer hours, and have a matching gift program for employees. They focus on boosting financial health and engaging with their communities through nonprofit partnerships. Here are some amazing stats from their 2020 Giving and Community Benefit Highlights:

• $3.5 Million – Total charitable giving and sponsorships
• 843 – Number of community organizations those grants supported
• 100% – Percent of counties where Umpqua operates that received grants
• 21,513 – Volunteer hours completed

November 15^th is National Philanthropy Day, a great time to take a moment to acknowledge the amazing supporters that make Unity Care NW’s work possible. Umpqua Bank is a longtime supporter of Unity Care NW, sponsoring our work and collaborating with us to secure a PPP Loan during this difficult time of pandemic. They are also participants in our Health Care Champions Sponsorship Program. Click here to find out how your organization can participate in this program and be part of ensuring health care access for everyone.

From all of us at Unity Care NW, thank you, Umpqua Bank, for joining us in the journey to create a stronger and healthier community for everyone to thrive.

Left to right: WCF Board Member Mike Bates, WCF President and CEO Mauri Ingram, and WCF Board Chair Aaron Brown.

What if everyone in our community had what they needed to thrive? This is the question and vision that drives Whatcom Community Foundation (WCF).

As one of more than 750 community foundations nationwide, WCF is a charitable organization created through gifts from people who care about a particular place. These funds are pooled for greater impact, and invested in ideas and activities that take a cooperative approach toward making Whatcom County better. In other words, WCF transforms generosity into fuel for what matters most to our community.

“The healthier the place, the healthier the people,” says CEO Mauri Ingram. “One of our goals is to address the factors that underpin good health – things like economic and housing stability, access to healthy food and places to exercise, social connections and support networks — to provide everyone in Whatcom County with an equal chance at a full, healthy life.”

Here is the full list of the areas that the Whatcom Community Foundation focuses on:

• Community Building
• Birth to bright future
• Feeding our local food system
• Building an inclusive local economy
• Homes for all
• Health & Wellness
• Environment
• Arts & Culture

Whatcom Community Foundation is a longtime supporter of Unity Care NW. This community anchor has been an integral partner in helping to expand our dental access in Bellingham as well as supporting the creation of our new North Whatcom Health Center. Unity Care NW is also the recipient of donations from individuals who maintain Donor Advised Funds at the Whatcom Community Foundation. In addition to all of this support, they are also participants in our Health Care Champions Sponsorship Program. Click here to find out how your organization can participate in this program and be part of ensuring health care access for everyone.

Recently Whatcom Community Foundation updated and refreshed their website, click here to learn more about the great work they are doing in our community. Thank you, Whatcom Community Foundation, for joining us in the journey to create a stronger and healthier community for everyone to thrive.

The American Rescue Plan, the Affordable Care Act, and Your Local Community Health Center
Kate Wojnicki, ARNP, Unity Care NW

Everyone deserves to live their healthiest life, but health care continues to elude many Americans. For some, the decision to go to the doctor can still mean the difference between affording basics like food or rent. Copays and high deductibles can keep people from seeking care. Before the Affordable Care Act (also known as the ACA or Obamacare) was signed in 2010, more than 60 million American’s were uninsured. Under the law, cost-sharing reductions helped lower the cost of health care coverage for low-income individuals and families.

While access has gotten better over the last decade, 26.9 million Americans still don’t have health insurance. Even those that have sought insurance under the ACA’s exchanges can find it difficult to choose whether to pay for insurance or go without coverage and hope for the best. In 2019, 74% of uninsured adults said that they were uninsured because the cost of coverage was too high. Recently, as part of Joe Biden’s American Rescue Plan, subsidies were expanded for health insurance purchased through the ACA marketplace making health benefits much more affordable. This is welcome news, as we know that people without insurance coverage have worse access to care. Three in ten uninsured adults in 2019 went without needed medical care due to cost. Studies repeatedly demonstrate that uninsured people are less likely than those with insurance to receive preventive care and services for major health conditions.

Unfortunately, though, there will still be many Americans who will continue be unable to access needed health benefits due to their own financial realities. While we wait to see how expansion of the ACA will impact the country’s uninsured residents, community health centers are doing all we can to increase the healthy years of life in the communities we serve. The nation’s community health center movement began during the War on Poverty and the facilities were central to advancing racial equity during the civil rights movement. For over 50 years, community health centers have provided whole person health care to underserved populations. In my work at Unity Care NW I’m proud to be a part of this legacy of expanding access to affordable primary medical, dental, behavioral health, and pharmacy services for friends and neighbors of all ages here in Whatcom County.

Unity Care NW is a non-profit health care provider that was started nearly 40 years ago by a coalition of community leaders, health professionals, volunteers, faith-based organizations, and concerned citizens. Wellness programs, mental health counseling, comprehensive dental care and an on-site pharmacy at Unity Care NW makes care for the whole person available in one convenient location. But barriers to care persist outside of our facilities that we must work to address as well.

In 2020, 15% of Unity Care NW patients were unhoused and 51% were living below the poverty line. We know our patients who are unhoused experience higher rates of many chronic illnesses. Through outreach efforts in partnership with social service organizations, Unity Care NW attempts to address the underlying health issues of economically disadvantaged patients. Recently, we announced that $4 Million would be allocated from the Washington State capital budget for a new facility called The Way Station. This unique project, in partnership with Whatcom County, Opportunity Council and PeaceHealth, will provide primary medical, behavioral health, showers and laundry, case management, respite beds and other wrap around services to individuals and families experiencing homelessness to support their journey to permanent housing and a healthier life.

And then there’s COVID. Over the last year I have been truly inspired by the efforts from my co-workers to keep our community safe. We had to move quickly to make changes and update policies. This began with figuring out screening procedures, developing curbside pick-up and delivery programs for our pharmacies, offering telehealth appointments, then respiratory clinics were set up so we could care for our patients who exhibited COVID symptoms without endangering others. We recruited multi-lingual Community Health Workers to help with contact tracing and later, vaccine outreach in communities that can often face complex barriers to health care access. These efforts paid off. 16 months on, we haven’t had a single transmission of the coronavirus in our health centers. When the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out began, we were eager to become a vaccination site and protect our patients and the community at large from the deadly virus.

We began vaccinating community members in January and at first, we struggled to keep up with demand for the COVID-19 vaccine from early adopters. Eventually, it became clear that there were barriers for many of our patients and that outreach was needed to make sure they were getting good information about the vaccines. We produced video messages to send to patients from their primary care providers and other staff to encourage them to get vaccinated. To date we’ve administered nearly 10,000 vaccine doses at our health centers. The thought that we were able to protect so many community members from the risk of hospitalization, long-term debilitating symptoms, and death from COVID gives me hope. While we work to vaccinate more of our community, we are up against a disheartening amount of misinformation. But we’ll keep listening to our patients, reaching out, and having the hard conversations until this is over. The work of a community health center isn’t done until everyone has the opportunity to live their healthiest life.

Need Affordable Health Coverage?

If you need or have lost health care coverage one of our health insurance navigators can help you find a plan that works for you. A special enrollment period is in effect until August 15^th for anyone who needs health benefits. Call (360) 788-2669 or go online at bit.ly/3bBx8qs to sign up for health insurance.

Data source: Kaiser Family Foundation

I’m a Family Nurse Practitioner and HIV Specialist at Unity Care NW.  I hold a Bachelor of Science from the University of Washington and a Master of Science in Nursing/ Nurse Practitioner degree from Seattle Pacific University.  I joined Unity Care NW in 2014 and earned my HIV credential through the American Academy of HIV Medicine in 2016.