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January 24, 2020
OHA is proposing to apply for the Substance Use Disorder 1115 Waiver, and you’ll have many opportunities to weigh in.
If approved, the waiver would allow OHA to bring in more Medicaid dollars to pay for residential treatment for more Oregonians and provide the supports needed to prevent substance use disorder and sustain long-term recovery. Examples of these services include crisis intervention, peer support services, outreach and education to help individuals in recovery find and keep housing. There also would be a corresponding State Plan submission.
Currently Medicaid funds cannot pay for residential treatment provided in facilities with more than 16 beds. A majority of Oregon’s residential treatment facilities have more than 16 beds. Oregon pays for these services out of the General Fund.
Substance use disorder requires prevention and outreach, treatment, and ongoing maintenance and support. However, only treatment is eligible for Medicaid funding.
If approved, the waiver would allow OHA to improve Oregon’s SUD treatment system in three ways:
- Increase access to SUD residential services.
- Expand recovery support services.
- Provide access to transitional housing support services.
OHA welcomes public review and input on the draft application and implemen-tation plan. Please send written comments by 5 p.m. Friday, February 21, to sud.waiver@dhsoha.state.or.us or fax 503-947-1119.
For more information on the waiver and meeting times, visit the SUD 1115 Waiver page.
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By Steve Allen
Oregon Health Authority behavioral health director
I’m writing to update you on OHA’s ongoing efforts to help people receive competency restoration services at the right level of care to meet their needs. Last week Oregon State Hospital (OSH) Superintendent Dolly Matteucci and I presented on this topic, as well as the recent substantial increase in the hospital’s Guilty Except for Insanity (GEI) population, to the Behavioral Health Subcommittee of the House Interim Committee on Health.
As you are aware, OHA is working to alleviate patient population pressure at Oregon State Hospital due to the ongoing demand for Aid and Assist services. OHA has expanded competency restoration services in the community; however, we need additional capacity at the community level to meet the increased need.
Oregon has traditionally looked to OSH to be the primary resource for Oregonians who need restoration services. While OSH plays an important role for those who need hospital-level care, many people are best served in their own communities. Community based services offer the most effective care and are least expensive when delivered proactively. Oregon has started the transition to a community based approach but needs significant investments to achieve that goal.
In his letter to the Interim Joint Committee on Ways and Means, OHA Director Patrick Allen is requesting funding for four different initiatives that would help us meet the immediate need and set the stage for meeting the long-term needs of the Aid and Assist population.
To learn more, please read Director Patrick Allen’s letter. You can also view Superintendent Matteucci’s and my presentation to the Behavioral Health Subcommittee. I will share more information with you as the 2020 legislative session progresses.
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 Dolly Matteucci and Steve Allen present to Behavioral Health Subcommittee Jan. 13.
We also want to acknowledge that as we work to solve the Aid and Assist issue, other parts of the system are affected. Thank you to all of the stakeholders who have come together to help work through these capacity challenges.
The Aid and Assist issue can be resolved only through robust collaboration with all stakeholders including counties and community providers, advocates, peers and families, as well as law enforcement and local courts. I look forward to continued partnership with you to ensure every person in Oregon who needs mental health care has timely access to treatment.
Thank you for all that you do for the people of Oregon.
On January 15, OHA hosted a webinar with AllCare CCO and Jackson Care Connect for local providers to:
- Learn more about working with their CCOs to coordinate care for Oregon Health Plan members moving to new CCOs in 2020.
- Participate in a Q&A session with OHA and the CCOs.
You can now view the webinar recording and webinar slides, which also are posted on OHA’s CCO 2.0 provider resources page.
Know someone who would benefit from this information? Please share it!
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Oregon’s School Based Mental Health program got its start thanks to funding from 2013-2015 legislation that made significant investments in behavioral health.
In 2014 Oregon Health Authority (OHA) received more than $1.2 million General Fund new investment and tobacco tax funds for school based mental health services. Nine counties with high poverty rates and limited access to mental health services were awarded funding to hire qualified mental health clinicians to provide therapy to students in schools.
In 2018, six of the nine counties were provided with additional funding (another $950,000 total) to expand services.
Now, for 2019-2021, an additional eight counties are funded. The school based mental health budget has increased to over $4.8 million and 17 counties are receiving funding: Benton, Clatsop, Columbia, Coos, Gilliam, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, Lake, Linn, Malheur, Morrow, Sherman, Tillamook, Union, Wallowa and Wasco.
Between Public Health and Health Systems divisions, OHA provides mental health funding to every county in the state. Hundreds of schools have been able to provide mental health services and are having a positive impact on mental health and stigma for students statewide.
School based mental health providers offer rapid crisis and clinical intervention and services directly to youth and families in their school settings; in some counties, clinicians also provide child and family therapy off-site.
- Services are person centered, trauma informed, and include care coordination, crisis intervention, and family therapy.
- Providers have ongoing therapeutic relationships with students who need more behavioral health support. This support covers concerns such as managing anxiety; depression and suicidal feelings; self-regulation; conflict resolution, and having healthy relationships.
As dedicated mental health professionals employed to specifically address the needs of their local schools, providers also support school personnel by:
- Consulting and training in areas such as wellness, peer support, family support, Mental Health First Aid, and social-emotional learning in the classroom.
- Helping to create activities that promote a climate of psychological safety for children, youth and young adults.
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The Office of Consumer Activities (OCA) will be offering 24 sponsorships to Oregon behavioral health consumers and peers who wish to attend Peerpocalypse 2020. For the purposes of this announcement, a “peer” is someone who:
- Is receiving, or has received services for a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or problem gambling disorder.
- Or identifies as having lived experience with a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or problem gambling disorder.
- Or is the parent or caregiver of a similarly qualifying youth (up to age 25).
Peerpocalypse is organized and presented by Mental Health & Addiction Association of Oregon. It offers participants the chance to connect, learn, and celebrate together. The next conference will be held in Seaside April 20-23. To learn more about the conference, visit http://www.peerpocalypse.com/.
OCA sponsorships will cover costs related to conference attendance including event registration, mileage to and from the conference, hotel, and meals not provided at the conference.
To get help with the application process or to request an application, please contact the OCA by email at OHA.OCA@dhsoha.state.or.us or call 503-945-6190. Applications and information can also be found on the OCA webpage.
Completed applications should be sent to the OCA by 11:59 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 29, using one of the following methods:
- Email: OHA.OCA@dhsoha.state.or.us.
- Fax: 503-947-5546.
- Mail or in person:
Office of Consumer Activities
Attn: Brandy Hemsley
Oregon Health Authority
500 Summer Street NE
Salem OR 97301
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Fran Pearson is filling a new position to oversee School Based Mental Health and policy and liaison work with Oregon Department of Education and public health, effective January 8. Fran is a seasoned master's-level social worker with more than 20 years of administrative and clinical experience. Her previous work includes school based mental health, rural community mental health, and early childhood health and wellness. Her clinical background includes solution focused, strengths based, and trauma informed approaches. She is a passionate advocate for children and adolescents. Fran is committed to building strong collaborative relationships across programs.
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Shanda Hochstetler is OHA's new suicide prevention and intervention specialist. This is an additional position to support the child and family work that is happening throughout Oregon. Shanda has spent the past 13 years as a social worker and school counselor, creating community, advocating for change, and growing her understanding of human resilience. Shanda studied social work at Hesston College, Goshen College, and the University of North Dakota, where she earned her Master of Social Work degree. Shanda has worked in high schools and small nonprofits, and in health care. Most recently she worked as a school counselor at South Albany High School. Before that, she worked in Canada as a social worker in health care, advocating for people grappling with the complex grief of death and disability. When she’s not championing for kids at work, you can find Shanda running, hiking, and laughing with her own two small ones, Oliver and Ruthie, and her partner, Peter, in and around Albany. Shanda is eager to dive into this opportunity with OHA and our community partners to work together toward an Oregon where everyone can thrive. Shanda started part time January 8 and moves to fulltime January 27.
The CFBH Unit welcomes back Jean Lasater as a policy and program specialist to support the Governor’s Behavioral Health Workgroup and support the on-boarding of two new staff. Jean will be back with OHA until March 31 to do a knowledge transfer and policy visioning for young adults in Oregon.
Beth Holliman joins the team January 22 to fill the new Crisis and Transition Services (CATS) position. Beth is a licensed professional counselor with more than 20 years of experience working with children and families in Oregon. Beth has worked with children and families in a variety of settings including outpatient, residential treatment and foster care. Beth played an integral role in developing, implementing and overseeing the first subacute program in the state of Oregon. She is passionate about working with parents, families and providers to create effective strategies to support children and youth to be healthy and successful. Beth is a certified trainer in Think Kids Collaborative Problem Solving, and for the past several years has overseen the Oregon Collaborative Problem Solving Coordination and Training at Oregon Health & Science University.
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Lev Schneidman is moving to a new role as Young Adult Service Coordinator. Lev has worked with young people in direct service roles for more than 10 years in many different capacities, including at a walk-in crisis center, as a community mental health worker, in wilderness therapy and in schools. Lev is passionate about working toward a more equitable and just world for young people, specifically LGBTQIA transitional-aged youth.
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