PA Specialist Corner: Renewing OHP Benefits - Take Steps Early to Avoid Gaps in DD Services

Most customers of Developmental Disability (DD) services rely on Medicaid to pay for their services, which include brokerage support services.  In Oregon, Medicaid is called the Oregon Health Plan (OHP). 

How to Renew Your OHP Benefits

When it is time to renew your OHP benefits, you will get a letter in the mail from the Oregon Eligibility’s ONE Customer Service Center. It is important to respond to the letter by the date listed to make sure your benefits renew. It may take multiple steps to complete a renewal, so it's important to start the process early, as soon as you get your letter.

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1: Check your mail box regularly for a letter from the Oregon Department of Human Services. Here’s an example of what an envelope with a Medical Renewal Notice from ODHS might look like:

Step 2: Read the Medical Renewal envelope and letter closely, checking for important deadlines, like the “Earliest Action Required by” date. Make sure to contact ONE Customer Service Center at ODHS as soon as get you your letter, and before any listed deadlines.

Step 3: If your letter says you need an interview to renew your benefits, call the number for your local office or the number for ONE Customer Service Center listed on the letter to schedule an interview. The interview may be scheduled several weeks out, so call and schedule it as soon as possible. 

Step 4: After an interview, you may be asked to provide more information like bank statements, paystubs, or ID cards. Make sure you have important documents gathered to share with ODHS, if and when asked.

Step 5: If you are not sure what to do, and you’re not able to get in contact with ODHS for help, contact your Personal Agent (PA) or Community Pathways for help. See more information below.

We Are Here to Help

The process of renewing Medicaid benefits can feel complicated, but Community Pathways is here to help you!

If you’re not sure what to do when you get a letter from the ONE Customer Service Center, and you’re not able to get a hold of ODHS to ask questions, your Personal Agent can help you. 

At Community Pathways, we have trained Medicaid Assisters who can work with your PA to help make the process go more smoothly. They can help submit requested documents to make sure they get to DHS quickly and are tracked in the system. They can also help put you in touch with an eligibility specialist if you are unable to get through on your own.

Because Medicaid is so important, both for health insurance and for services, keep your PA updated on your progress with renewals so they can help make sure you continue to receive the benefits you need. 

To get help, contact your PA directly or email Community Pathways at info@communitypath.org

- Christine Xthona, PA Specialist at Community Pathways