PRESS RELEASES
PRESS RELEASES
Here’s the latest from our agency.
Oregon Legislature Awards $4 Million to Prism Health
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Salem, OR – Lawmakers in Salem have passed a funding package that includes $4 million for the purchase of the property where a new Prism Health clinic will be located. (Prism Health is a program of Cascade AIDS Project.)
The funds for Prism are part of a sweeping $211 million investment by legislators in tackling Oregon’s addiction and mental-health crisis. This omnibus spending bill (House Bill 5204) puts tens of millions of dollars towards building capacity at facilities that provide behavioral-health and substance-use services. The new Prism facility will allow the LGBTQ+ health center to deliver addiction and mental-health services for more than 250 additional patients.
“These shovel-ready projects will benefit communities in every corner of Oregon,” said Rep. Tawna Sanchez, who represents a district in North/Northeast Portland and co-chairs the Legislature’s budget committee. “This is a great thing for my Portland community and the next right step towards ensuring Oregonians of all backgrounds can get high quality, affordable care when they need it.”
The Legislature’s appropriation to Prism addresses the disproportionate impact of addiction on the LGBTQ+ community and the lack of LGBTQ-affirming addiction services in Oregon. Transgender and queer people are almost twice as likely as their straight counterparts to suffer from opioid addiction, but a 2022 survey of addiction-treatment providers in Oregon found fewer than 20% of respondents offered services for LGBTQ+ people, veterans, or people with disabilities. Prism Health helps fill this gap by providing Medication Assisted Treatment, counseling, and peer-support services for LGBTQ+ people experiencing addiction.
Prism’s request for funding got support from the Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus, which includes Sen. Kate Lieber and Reps. Ben Bowman, Farrah Chaichi, Dacia Grayber, Travis Nelson, and Rob Nosse. “LGBTQ+ Oregonians often struggle to find and receive treatment and services that address their unique experiences,” said the Caucus in a statement. “LGBTQ+ folks deserve the same access to care as every other person. We are grateful to Prism Health for providing critical services to our community and are excited to see its expansion with this funding.”
Paul Lumley is the Chief Executive Officer of Cascade AIDS Project, Prism’s parent organization. “Research has found that when LGBTQ+ people receive culturally responsive addiction treatment, they have better outcomes,” he said. "With this investment, the Legislature is helping ensure that trans and queer Oregonians have access to addiction and mental-health services that will work for them.”
Prism Health’s new clinic is located at 15 N Morris St. in Portland. The clinic will begin providing behavioral-health services later this spring, followed by primary care this summer.
For more information, please contact Jonathan Frochtzwajg at jfrochtzwajg@capnw.org or (503) 278-3852.
About Cascade AIDS Project
Founded in 1983 and incorporated in 1985 as the Cascade AIDS Project, CAP is the oldest and largest community-based provider of HIV services, housing, education and advocacy in Oregon and Southwest Washington. We promote well-being and advance equity by providing inclusive health and wellness services for LGBTQ+ people, people affected by HIV, and all those seeking compassionate care. When the need for affordable, accessible, and culturally affirming primary care services was identified as a community need, we responded by opening Prism Health in 2017. And in 2022, Our House of Portland joined the CAP family to further expand our service offerings and allow us to offer a full lifecycle of care to our community. To learn more about CAP, please visit www.capnw.org
Affirming our Commitment to Safe, Compassionate, And High-Quality care for the BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ Community
Historically, during times of great unrest, it is often our most diverse communities that experience compounded hardship. From the stress of overloaded systems rife with inequity to blatant and targeted harassment of people in our community.
Sadly, we’ve seen that Portland is not immune. As a local nonprofit healthcare provider , Prism Health stands firm in our commitment to offer a safe, affirming, and non-judgmental space…
Historically, during times of great unrest, it is often our most diverse communities that experience compounded hardship. From the stress of overloaded systems rife with inequity to blatant and targeted harassment of people in our community.
Sadly, we’ve seen that Portland is not immune. As a local nonprofit healthcare provider , Prism Health stands firm in our commitment to offer a safe, affirming, and non-judgmental space where all members of the all members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community can obtain the compassionate and culturally effective health care they need and deserve.
Our facility was designed in strategic partnership with members from our Black Trans community to ensure a level of cultural competence, comfort and functionality that benefits everyone, especially those who the current systems consistently and repeatedly underserve.
We prioritize inclusivity to insure that all members of the BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ community can access affirming and high-quality health care. Patients do not have to be lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or queer to receive care, but services will focus on addressing the sensitive issues of sexual and gender minorities and their families and friends.
Our clinic serves all patients regardless of ability to pay. No one will be denied services based on gender identity, sexual orientation, race, nationality, or religious affiliation. We offer a sliding fee for all based on family size and income. Please ask at the reception desk.
Our doors are open. We are committed to your health and safety. We are committed to accountability. We are committed to continuing to build a medical community that is trustworthy, reliable and accessible. And we are committed to you, our community!
It is with these commitments that we move forward into this time of great social and political change with gratitude and intention to be at your service.
About Prism Health
Prism Health is a nonprofit LGBTQIA+ health center in the Pacific Northwest providing comprehensive primary care. As a division of Cascade AIDS Project, Prism Health leverages CAP’s decades of LGBTQIA+ health experience to address the wide range of health issues disproportionately impacting our community. The southeast Portland clinic features primary care, mental health, and pharmacy services—all in a space where queer people can be sure they will feel safe, welcome, and understood from the moment they walk in the door. For more information, please visit www.prismhealth.org.
Prism Health Earns Federal Health Center Status
Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) is very pleased to announce that Prism Health has earned Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike status from the United States Health Resource & Services Administration. In order to achieve this designation, health centers must demonstrate that they serve an underserved area or population, offer a sliding fee scale discount, and provide comprehensive services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
Portland, OR | March 11, 2020 – Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) is very pleased to announce that Prism Health has earned Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike status from the United States Health Resource & Services Administration. In order to achieve this designation, health centers must demonstrate that they serve an underserved area or population, offer a sliding fee scale discount, and provide comprehensive services regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
“The board and staff of CAP and Prism Health are delighted to achieve FQHC Look-Alike status! The region deserves a high quality and innovative healthcare option that recognizes the unique needs of the LGBTQ+ community. We are honored by this designation and will continue to challenge ourselves to provide culturally relevant care for all members of our community regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation,” said Tyler TerMeer, CEO of Cascade AIDS Project and Prism Health.
Prism Health provides high quality, culturally relevant care through a comprehensive patient-centered approach that integrates primary care with behavioral health, pharmacy, and social services. Everything about Prism Health, from the team of providers and support staff and services offered, to intake forms, policies, and even the physical design of the building have been informed by members of the LGBTQ+ community and aim to create a safe welcoming environment. As an FQHC Look-Alike, Prism Health is poised to increase primary health accessibility to the LBGTQ+ community and beyond.
“This is an important achievement for our community, further demonstrating our commitment to welcoming, safe, and non-judgmental healthcare experience for everyone” said Mandy McKimmy, Prism Health Medical Director, “This integrated model along with our designation as an FQHC Look-Alike will allow us to better serve those patients who are in most need of our services.”
Prism Health provides complete primary and preventative care to anyone, including those who are uninsured or who have commercial insurance, Medicaid, or Medicare. Services include primary care, behavioral health, chronic disease management, specialized LGBTQ+ care, supportive services, specialized HIV and STD care & treatment, referrals to specialists, laboratory services, insurance enrollment, and pharmacy services.
About Cascade AIDS Project
Founded in 1985 as a grassroots response to the AIDS crisis, Cascade AIDS Project (CAP) is now the oldest and largest HIV-services and LGBTQ+ health provider in Oregon and southwest Washington, with more than 100 employees working across four locations. Our organization seeks to prevents new HIV infections; support low-income people living with HIV; and provide safe, welcoming, and knowledgeable healthcare for the LGBTQ+ community. Through our vital health, housing, and other social services, we help ensure the well-being of more than 15,000 people each year. More information can be found at www.capnw.org
About Prism Health
Prism Health provides compassionate healthcare to the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. More information can be found at www.prismhealth.org.
About FQHCs
Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) lookalikes, also known as Community Health Centers, are in every state across the nation. FQHCs are authorized under Section 330(A) of the Public Health Services Act to provide healthcare to the medically underserved. More information about the Health Center Program can be found at: bphc.hrsa.gov/about/index.html.