Project Access Now - Annual Report - 2023

Annual Report July 2022 to June 2023

projectaccessnow.org

info@projectaccessnow.org

(503) 345-6553

@PANOWPDX

Table of Contents Welcome......................................................................................................... 3 Our Work in 2023.......................................................................................... 5 FY2023 Financials......................................................................................... 14 Community Partners..................................................................................... 16 Partners and Sponsors................................................................................. 17 Who We Are.................................................................................................... 19 2023 Gala........................................................................................................ 24 Advocacy......................................................................................................... 26 Racial Equity Work........................................................................................ 28 Our Opportunity............................................................................................ 30

Annual Report 2023

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Welcome Partners and Friends of Project Access NOW, As we celebrate the 16th anniversary of Project Access NOW (PANOW), we reflect on the organization’s founding mission: to fill gaps in our health care system. As that system and the needs of our communities have changed, we have adapted to continue to fill gaps in new, innovative ways. ​ This year, we applauded Oregon’s unprecedented expansion of access to health care coverage, but with change comes challenge. Our team helped thousands of individuals navigate a rapidly changing insurance landscape and directly paid the monthly insurance premiums of many more in need. In addition to insurance coverage, we know that equitable access to healthy food, transportation, and housing are also directly tied to health outcomes. Through our partnerships with hospitals and coordinated care organizations (CCOs), we distributed millions of dollars in social support services to thousands of individuals, much of this through local businesses and community-based organizations. ​ In 2024, we look to evolve our strategic plan as a board and staff. As always, our primary focus will remain on meeting community needs and on identifying gaps in our overlapping systems. Thank you for your generosity and support as we continue to fight for affordable health coverage through direct service and advocacy!

Erin Fair Taylor

Erin Fair Taylor, Board Chair

Annual Report 2023

Carly Hood-Ronick, President and CEO

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“Project Access NOW has assisted me in understanding and navigating the intricacies of the U.S. and Oregon health care systems. I have peace of mind knowing that I am supported, and I appreciate the efforts of the PANOW community.”

—LAURA, DONATED CARE CLIENT​

Annual Report 2023

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Our Work in 2023 Despite improvements over the past few decades, many still slip through the cracks of our health system. Our programs step in as a “safety net to the safety net,” partnering with clinics, hospitals, payors, and community-based organizations to pull individuals out of emerging health care gaps.

Our teams operate to ensure everyone has access to health care and related services. This means facilitating the delivery of interventions that improve community health and well-being; supporting health insurance enrollment; helping individuals understand and pay for their plans; and, as needed, finding donated medical resources to keep individuals out of the emergency room.

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Access to Health Care

Access to HealthRelated Services

Our Work in 2023

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

3,512

547

individuals received assistance enrolling in health insurance and understanding their plans.

individuals received a total of $771,000 to ensure their monthly insurance premiums were paid.

“I am a recent immigrant, senior citizen, and retiree. PANOW has provided professional advice on health care and how to go about applying for services. I have had financial assistance for premium payments so that my preventative health care plan has not been compromised.”

—Anika, Payment Support client Annual Report 2023

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Our Work in 2023

ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE

When individuals unable to access insurance can access donated care and low-cost prescriptions, they stay healthier. Avoiding emergency room visits or worsening conditions means better, more affordable, more efficient health care for us all.

2,606 individuals unable to access health insurance received donated specialty and primary health care, valued at $13,738,984.

Annual Report 2023

1,848 individuals filled 12,679 prescriptions with a low copay of $0 or $4.

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Our Work in 2023

ACCESS TO HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES

Health is largely driven by social factors, such as a ride home or a roof over one’s head. To address this, Project Access NOW has developed a network of community resources and partners to connect individuals to the social supports needed to get and stay healthy.

16,961 individuals received $12,390,879 in social support services.

Annual Report 2023

81% of referrals were closed in 30 days or less and

35% of referrals were closed the SAME DAY they were received.

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Our Work in 2023

ACCESS TO HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES

Demand for health-related social resources has increased dramatically since Project Access NOW’s inception and will continue to grow with the implementation of the 1115 Medicaid waiver.

The organization is able to provide partners with a unique, community-based network, connecting resources from across the metro region and state.​

“By bringing a range of parties to the table and equipping them with staff support and technology, PANOW staff make it quick and easy to connect with the folks who need our services.”

—Suzanne Washington, CEO, Meals on Wheels People

Annual Report 2023

“The diverse team at Project Access​ NOW has shown deep commitment to​ culturally-specific organizations like​IRCO . . . Our referrals are always answered, and we work in true partnership and respect for all in the community.”

—Lee Po Cha, Executive Director of the ​Immigrant and Refugee Community​Organization (IRCO)

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Our Work in 2023

ACCESS TO HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES

Total Health-Related Services Requested and Costs Over Time $16,000,000

50,000 45,000

$14,000,000 $12,000,000

35,000

$10,000,000

30,000

$8,000,000

25,000 20,000

$6,000,000

15,000

SERVICE COSTS

NUMBER OF REQUESTS

40,000

$4,000,000

10,000

$2,000,000

5,000 0 2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

YEAR # of requests

Annual Report 2023

sum of combined costs

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Our Work in 2023

720 individuals completed PANOW’s social needs screening form, resulting in 390 referrals for navigation from our Community Health Worker (CHW) team.

47,864 individuals were reached through community events and media.

IN THE COMMUNITY

78 events were attended by the organization’s CHWs.

“The role of the CHW has become increasingly important . . . we utilize PANOW’s team regularly. They are perfectly positioned to support clinical care teams, community resources, and health systems in working efficiently to accomplish our collective goals.”

—Erin De Armond-Reid, MPH, ​ Former Primary Care Operations Manager, Clackamas County Health Centers

Annual Report 2023

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Our Work in 2023

IN THE COMMUNITY

What does it take to support our clients? Our team of health and social service system navigators works to approach each client with humility and respect in a variety of ways.

Client Engagement

Care Coordination

• Client screenings and orientations

• Help establish primary care provider

• Notify and educate clients about legislative changes

• Schedule appointments with interpreters

• Support individuals who are undocumented (fear, distrust)

• Internal Referrals to CHWs

Program Benefits

• Culturally-responsive support

• Provide premium payments

Insurance Enrollment

• Low-cost prescriptions via Pharmacy Bridge

• Navigation of redetermination

Community Outreach

• Identify and transition to Marketplace plan

• Advertise on radio, tv, and social media

• Understand complex insurance benefits

• Community Events

• Move clients from donated care to OHP

• Partner Outreach

• Re-enroll those denied by OHP Annual Report 2023

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“I requested rental assistance to support a patient in not becoming houseless as this would have exacerbated their symptoms and led to harm.

Project Access NOW paid back rent and current month’s rent.

The patient is now able to afford rent moving forward thanks to the mental health services they received that will allow them to continue to work.”

—KAI, EMERGENCY ROOM SOCIAL WORKER UTILIZING HEALTH-RELATED SERVICES VIA PROJECT ACCESS NOW

Annual Report 2023

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FY 2023 Financials Operating Revenue

TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE

$4,820,905

AMOUNT

% OF TOTAL

Grants

$3,629,000

75.27%

Fees for Service

$1,031,000

21.38%

Individual Contributions

$66,000

1.37%

Special Events

$59,000

1.21%

Miscellaneous Other Revenue

$26,000

0.55%

In-Kind Donations

$11,000

0.22%

AMOUNT

% OF TOTAL

Insurance Enrollment and Payment Support

$1,496,000

40.87%

Management and General

$815,000

22.25%

Donated Care

$722,000

19.72%

Community Assistance Program

$559,000

15.28%

Fundraising

$69,000

1.89%

Operating Expenditures

TOTAL OPERATING EXPENDITURES

$3,660,580

Annual Report 2023

OVERVIEW

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FY 2023 Financials

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TAKEAWAYS

PANOW’s financial health has grown significantly over the past three years and provides a strong foundation that will allow us to evolve to meet the changing needs in our community.

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Overhead accounted for just 5.2% of total expenditures in our 2023 fiscal year.

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PANOW also raised an additional $13 million in funds for the procurement of health-related services and payment of Marketplace insurance premiums for PANOW’s clients. 100% of these funds will be spent on the costs of goods and services for community members in need, and 92% has already been distributed.

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Annual Report 2023

Community Partners Project Access NOW always has been and is increasingly becoming the hub of a wheel of organizations that connect diverse communities. Below are just some of the organizations and community clinics we work with to overcome complex challenges.

Adelante Mujeres

Familias en Acción

Asian Family Services

Good News Community Health Center​

Asian Health and Service Center Beaverton Resource Center Black Parent Initiative ​ Borland Free Clinic ​ Central City Concern​ City Team Ministries Clackamas County Health and Human Services Clackamas Volunteers in Medicine

Immigrant & Refugee Community Organization (IRCO)​

National University of Natural Medicine​

Rockwood Community Development Corporation

Native American Rehabilitation Association ​ (NARA)

Rose Haven

Neighborhood Health Center

Salud! Tuality Health Center ​

Impact NW

Northwest Family Services​

Juntos NW ​

Northwest Somali Community Organization

La Voz​ Latino Network Lutheran Community Services Northwest ​ Meals on Wheels People

NUNM Health Centers

Old Town Clinic

Virginia Garcia Memorial Health Center

Oregon Community Health Workers Association ​

Comagine Health

Mom’s Meals

Community Health Workers Association of Oregon

Mosaic Medical

Community Services Network ​

Multnomah County Health Department

Oregon Wellness Network

Muslim Education Trust

Pink Lemonade Project​

Community Warehouse Ethiopian & Eritrean Cultural & Resource Center Annual Report 2023

Somali Oregon Service Center The Rosewood Initiative

Medical Teams International ​

Mudbone Grown​

Slavic Community Center of NW

NxNE Community Health Center

Coalition of Community Health Clinics

Miss’ipi Chef

Rosewood Family Health Center

Oregon Free and Charitable Clinic Consortium Oregon Latino Health Coalition Outside In ​ Raíces de Bienestar

Urban League of Portland ​

Wallace Medical Concern Washco Bikes Washington County Public Health Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic ​ Zenger Farm

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Partners and Sponsors Primary Contributing Entities

• CareOregon • Health Resources and Services Administration • Marie Lamfrom Foundation • Neil and Roslyn Sheppard Charitable Fund • OnPoint Community Credit Union • Oregon Health Authority • Oregon Health Insurance Marketplace • Pacific West Bank • PacificSource • Portland Bureau of Emergency Management • The Heatherington Foundation for Innovation and Education in Health A special thank you, also, to our generous donors who make personal financial contributions and donations of their services to Project Access NOW and our programs.

Annual Report 2023

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“When I was younger, I worked alongside my mother in the agricultural fields and developed chronic respiratory issues. Even though it’s been years, the exposure to pesticides unfortunately doesn’t go away. Without health insurance, I would not be able to afford the medicine I need to live a normal life. Project Access NOW provides a light at the end of the tunnel for disfranchised communities to have hope.”

—PAULO, INSURANCE ENROLLMENT CLIENT

Annual Report 2023

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Who We Are

OUR STAFF

Project Access NOW is focused on providing culturally-responsive services and support for communities underserved by health and social care systems. A key value and imperative factor has been the organization’s success in hiring and retaining staff who are representative of those served.

In 2023, our staff grew by leaps and bounds with three individuals promoted internally and 14 outside hires made during the year.

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Annual Report 2023

Who We Are

OUR STAFF

The diversity of our staff continues to increase as we make efforts to reach all communities.

We invest in our staff and create pathways for development within the organization, prioritizing promoting our community-based workforce from within. 28% identify as a person of color in the City of Portland (2022 US Census) while 63% of our staff does. ​

70% 60% 50%

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40% 30% 20% 10% 0

Person of color

Non-binary, gender queer, etc.

Sexual orientation other than “straight”

Disability or chronic condition

2022

58%

15%

27%

8%

2023

63%

30%

37%

38%

Annual Report 2023

Who We Are

OUR BOARD

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Executive Committee Erin Fair Taylor, JD, Chair | Vice President of Medicaid Programs, PacificSource Health Plans Jenny Robinson, Vice Chair | Executive Director, Legacy Health Partners Meredith Roberts, Secretary | Executive Director, Comagine Health Daniel Valliere, Treasurer | Community Leader Lauren Foote Christensen, Outgoing Chair | Community Leader Annual Report 2023

Who We Are

OUR BOARD

At Large Members Ann Tseng, MD, MBA Chief Medical Officer​, Neighborhood Health Center

James Harker Chief Population Health Officer—Oregon, Providence Health & Services

Anna L. Riedel, MPH, CPHQ ​Continuum of Care Operations Director​, Kaiser Permanente

Liberty Pertiwi Director of Primary Care Services, Samaritan Health Services

​ ara Biddlecom C Deputy Public Health Director, Oregon Health Authority

Rosalind Lindsay Senior Director of Application Technology, Optum Care

Emily Barclay Director of Population Health, Oregon Health & Science University

Ruth Zúñiga, PhD Executive Director & Co-Founder, Raíces de Bienestar

Gina Westhoff, MD Medical Director, Gynecologic Oncology, Legacy Health

Steve Conklin, JD General Counsel, Tuality Healthcare

Ifeoma Muoto, PhD Director, Community Health Partnerships, CareOregon

Annual Report 2023

Welcome new board members James, Liberty, and Steve!

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“I just finished treatment and plan to return to work as an independent contractor.

This type of work entails heavy labor and, due to my recovery, I am not able to resume working for six more months. Project Access NOW has been able to help my wife and I keep our housing and make ends meet while I wait to return to work.”

—DARRELL, COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM CLIENT​

Annual Report 2023

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2023 Gala In May 2023, Project Access NOW held its annual gala at Ecotrust in Portland. This celebration, which drew 250 attendees, was a celebration of Oregon’s health care and charitable communities and the people who make our work possible.

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The BIPOC Access and Equity Award recognized Mudbone Grown for its significant contributions to ensuring equity in access to health services for underserved populations.

Annual Report 2023

The Health Advocate of the Year Award recognized Dr. Tony Germann for activating on behalf of the communities served by Project Access NOW and for working to drive change toward increased health access.

2023 Gala

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Annual Report 2023

Advocacy In addition to providing direct services, Project Access NOW also advocates for upstream policy changes and investments that impact the people we serve. We seek to uplift the voices of our community to address systemic inequities in health and social care.

Over the past year, Project Access NOW has: • Hired a full-time Public Affairs Manager to lead the organization’s strategy; • Submitted 15 written/oral testimonies to the legislature and signed on to six additional letters; • Shared our work via media outlets; • Attended and presented at numerous regional and national conferences; • Participated in active planning of the roll out of the 1115 Waiver; and • Contributed to efforts with regard to redetermination and Healthier Oregon roll out.

Annual Report 2023

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Advocacy HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

Access to Equitable Care ACCESS TO MEDICAL CARE AND SERVICES

POLICY FOCUS

HEALTH INFORMATION AND DATA

HEALTHRELATED SERVICES

Social Determinants of Wellbeing HOUSING

“We have a vision for a future Oregon where there are no cracks in the system and all individuals can have their health needs met equitably and efficiently in a centralized capacity.” —Project Access NOW’s Letter to Governor Kotek on SB 1089

Annual Report 2023

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Racial Equity Work The Racial Equity Committee provides an opportunity for staff to participate in advising Project Access NOW leadership on matters related to achieving racial equity in the culture, operations, and programming of our organization. Over the last year, the committee’s growing membership has made a number of accomplishments, including: • Starting a partnership with consultant Dr. Clarice Bailey to work towards our goal of becoming a more anti-racist organization; • Hosting a bi-monthly Lunch & Learn on various equity-related topics for staff to discuss and learn together; • Revising our charter and by-laws with approval from all committee members; and • Revising our organization-wide job interview and internal performance review questions.

Additionally, the Project Access NOW board of directors formally adopted the organization’s Racial Equity North Star document and will use it to guide their work in the coming year. From finance to marketing, all six working committees of the board have integrated these goals and set benchmarks for the next year.

The organization’s North Star document,​developed by staff, is available at projectaccessnow.org/about-us/our-mission.

Annual Report 2023

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“I go in every six months for cancer screening and periodically need to have tumors removed.

Project Access NOW has covered what my insurance does not cover and that has been a lifesaver. We are on Social Security and health care is not in the budget. I also recently had to go to the emergency room and Project Access helped me pay.”

—BARBARA, PAYMENT SUPPORT CLIENT

Annual Report 2023

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Our Opportunity How We Started

Where We Are Going

Network of Medical Providers

Network of Social Care and Medical Providers

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PANOW

Annual Report 2023

Clients

Provider Network

Social Care Network

Connect with us!

Join our mailing list at www.projectaccessnow.org.

Wish to make a donation to Project Access NOW? Visit us at www.projectaccessnow.org/donate.

Project Access NOW is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (EIN 20-892 8388).

projectaccessnow.org

info@projectaccessnow.org

(503) 345-6553

@PANOWPDX