Client Contract and Resources

Thurston County Project Access (TCPA) is a non-profit, charitable organization. Our services are based on the participation of health care providers who are not paid for treating you. TCPA IS NEITHER A HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN NOR A GOVERNMENT ENTITLEMENT PROGRAM. Therefore, we do not control the extent or length of time that services are donated to you by a TCPA provider, nor can we guarantee that resources are available at any time to meet all of your acute medical needs.

NOTE: Any person currently involved in any type of lawsuit against a health care provider is not eligible for enrollment in TCPA at this time.

Coverage: you will receive a 6-month patient ID card which confirms your TCPA coverage. This card is valid until the expiration date shown or until you become insured, whichever happens first. TCPA is not designed to provide long-term coverage; we therefore encourage all our clients to explore insurance options as soon as possible after enrollment. Extended coverage is possible under certain circumstances.

Medical Services: all services require a current medical referral and are available for treatment of acute conditions according to the guidelines set forth by the participating doctor’s office. Not available: certain routine screenings and long-term treatment for the management of chronic diseases.

Pharmacy Coverage: not available through TCPA

Billing: TCPA does not pay your medical bills; however, we can assist you with bills from TCPA network providers, as long as the date(s)of service fall within your enrollment period. You are financially responsible for bills received from any non-network providers including-but not limited to: Olympia Emergency Physicians, South Sound Radiology, and Labcorp/Dynacare.

Client Responsibilities:

Medical Appointments

Arrive on time for all appointments and check in with your TCPA ID card (or the coverage confirmation letter you were given at enrollment). You are expected to keep all scheduled appointments with TCPA providers. We strongly recommend that you avoid cancelling and rescheduling of appointments, as this would delay your treatment and may cause you to lose access to treatment altogether. Be aware that your TCPA coverage may be terminated as a result of no-showing to appointments, or for any other reason that would cause you to be discharged from the practice.
Prepare to make the most of your visits: take along your pharmacy discount list and a list of all medications you may be taking. Share any information you think may help the provider, including information from previous medical records, test results, imaging films, family history, etc.
Cooperate with your providers and be willing to follow the recommended treatment plan; call them, not TCPA, with any concerns you may have relating to your treatment; remember to thank them for seeing you free of charge and mail the thank-you card included in your packet.

When to call TCPA:

You have been notified with the date & time of each first appointment
Your provider is referring you to another facility for testing or a consultation
You have been scheduled for an in-or outpatient hospital procedure
You are still in treatment with a specialist at the time your TCPA card expires. Call our office at (360) 493-4550.
You become covered by health insurance during your TCPA enrollment
You have changes to your income or contact information (you must reside in Thurston County for the length of time you are enrolled)
You have received a bill and need to find out whether you are responsible for payment or whether TCPA can arrange for a write-off (donation)

Walk-in Hours

In the event that you must have questions answered in person, TCPA Walk-in Hours are:

Tuesdays and Wednesdays 10am - 11am and Wednesdays and Thursdays 2pm - 3pm

Extension/Reenrollment Requirements:

Extension: an extension of your current coverage is usually necessary when treatment with a specialist has not been completed within the first 6 months of enrollment and you still have at least 1 follow-up appointment.
Reenrollment: you may need to reenroll if your TCPA coverage has lapsed and you have a new medical referral for treatment
For both extensions and reenrollments, TCPA program guidelines require us to ask you to document your current address in Thurston County and any types of income you may have received within the last 30 days. If you are unemployed, we also require you to have applied for medical coverage through the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) and prove your ineligibility, if denied, by showing us the DSHS denial letter.

Thurston County Project Access Commitment:

Provide our clients with access to available services from our network
Connect you with staff at Choice Regional Health Network to screen for additional programs or services you may be eligible for.
Provide guidance to help you navigate the healthcare system
Help ensure that your medical records are available to your providers
Facilitate communication between parties involved in your care
Protect your privacy by keeping your health information secured
Assist you with the transition to health insurance coverage
Extend your coverage if you meet the requirements

Resources

These resources are not covered by Project Access, but we understand that you may need additional services to get/stay health! Please see below for some low-cost or free options in the community.

Prescriptions:

Many local pharmacies have discount generic medications available at a low-cost (under $10).

If you have a specific drug need that isn't available in generic form, Project Access staff can connect you to a Health Resources Coordinator who will assess whether your prescription is available for free or low-cost through a Prescription Drug Program.

Vision care:

Olympia Union Gospel Mission Vision Clinic
Phone: (360) 709-9725 | www.ougm.org'

Lion's Club Vision Care
Bob Pinson, (360) 493-2020

Other Resources:

Dial 2-1-1 to find social services like...

Rent assistance
Counseling & support groups
Food & clothing
Donations
Transportation
Emergency shelter
and more....