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October 2019

In this issue ...

• The time is now for a better vision of behavioral health in Oregon
• Celebrating recovery with Oregon’s youth
• Applicants for System of Care Advisory Council due November 15
• Public comment sought on SUD treatment rates
• OHA signs contracts with 15 coordinated care organizations

The time is now for a better vision of behavioral health in Oregon

by Steve Allen In Oregon, we believe that a fulfilling, dignified life should be attainable for all people of Oregon. For too many individuals who live with mental illness or face substance use disorder challenges, this is not the case. This is especially true for individuals in historically marginalized communities. In addition to the barriers of a complicated behavioral health system, many face additional barriers of racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia and stigma. I believe we can get closer to Oregon’s vision through a statewide, integrated behavioral health system that is simple to access, responsive to individuals’ and families’ unique journeys and helps support meaningful changes in people’s lives. This will require a steady transformation through data-driven policies and decision-making that is grounded in these three driving principles. Oregon needs to reconfigure the statewide behavioral health system and center it on consumers. We need to set strategic goals and require timely and consistent data to drive policy changes and financial investments – all to lead Oregon to a simple, responsive behavioral health system that helps people make meaningful changes in their lives through better health. Ultimately, these reforms will help Oregon fulfill its triple aim of better health, better care and lower costs. As urgent as these changes are, they will not be easy nor quick. Oregon Health Authority cannot do this alone. We invite consumers and advocates, state and local decision-makers and the behavioral health workforce to help us reach the common goal of maximizing each individual’s opportunity to live a full life.

Celebrating recovery with Oregon’s youth

We want to thank 4th Dimension Recovery Center and Elliott Hinkle for helping us keep the conversation and celebration on recovery active by sharing their stories. Recovery is possible. Help is available.

Applicants for System of Care Advisory Council due November 15

The Office of Governor Kate Brown is accepting applications until Nov. 15 to serve on the System of Care Advisory Council. Newly created through Senate Bill 1 in the 2019 legislative session, the purpose of this council is to improve the effectiveness and efficacy of state and local systems of care that provide services to youth by providing a centralized and impartial forum for statewide policy development and planning.

Below are the positions in SB 1 that are needed to complete this council:

• One psychiatrist, one psychologist and one pediatric physician, each of whom must have clinical experience with youth.
• One member who is a representative of an entity that offers commercial insurance.
• Three members who are representatives of agencies that provide different services and supports to youth and families of youth.
• One member who is a representative of organizations that advocate for youth.
• One member who is a representative of organizations that advocate for families of youth.
• Two members of the public, each of whom are family members of:
  • Persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental illness; or
  • Persons who are currently or were previously in the foster care system or the youth criminal justice system.
• Two members of the public who are no more than 25 years of age and who:
  • Are persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities or mental illness; or
  • Are currently or were previously a ward, youth or youth offender, as those terms are defined in ORS 419A.004.
• One member who is a representative of Oregon’s federally mandated disability protection and advocacy agency.

Learn more and apply online.

Public comment sought on SUD treatment rates

The Oregon Legislature recently allocated $13 million for OHA to dedicate to increased substance use disorder (SUD) treatment rates. OHA is seeking public comment on its proposal to amend the Medicaid State Plan to reflect an increase to the fee-for-services SUD treatment rates, effective Oct. 1, 2019. Comments are due by 5 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 24. Learn more by reading the public notice on the OHA website.

OHA signs contracts with 15 coordinated care organizations

The Oregon Health Authority announced it signed contracts with 15 organizations to serve as coordinated care organizations (CCOs) for the Oregon Health Plan’s nearly 1 million members. The contracts set new requirements for CCOs to improve care for OHP members and hold down cost increases in Oregon’s Medicaid program. The contracts represent the largest procurement in state history, totaling more than $6 billion for the 2020 contract year.

Eleven of the organizations received five-year contracts and four organizations received one-year contracts. The new CCO contract services start January 1, 2020. Total costs for the 2020 contract year are within the state’s 3.4 percent growth target.