Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.

This is our second issue of the OHA Behavioral Health Services Partners and Providers Monthly Update – a monthly digest of progress and outcomes of OHA’s work that directly affects the services and care you provide in your communities.

As we look forward to 2024, we look back at the past year with gratitude for your partnership and collaboration. A recent example includes our collaboration with Community Mental Health Programs (CMHPs) for updates to the County Financial Assistance Agreement (CFAA) for equity and responsiveness in providing critical safety net care in communities. 

In the past year, we’ve also consolidated our contracts with Tribal Health Directors to better align reporting requirements and timelines and have continued to improve external engagement to guide our policy and program development. And, with your support we’ve identified more ways to reduce administrative burden and look forward to continued progress.  

Moving forward, we’re committed to continued transparency, strengthening partnerships and fostering engagement that leads to actionable change in an effort to improve Oregon’s behavioral health continuum of care.

On behalf of the entire OHA Behavioral Health Services team, thank you for the work you do in your communities, and we extend our wishes for a healthy and restorative new year.

Ebony S. Clarke, OHA Behavioral Health Services Director

Jackie Fabrick, OHA Behavioral Health Services Deputy Director 

New OHA director starts Jan. 16

Incoming OHA director, Dr. Sejal Hathi has started meeting with agency leaders ahead of her Jan. 16 start. Dr. Hathi plans to continue these meet-and-greet sessions throughout the agency and has shared she looks forward to listening to and learning from OHA partners and providers. Dr. Hathi’s appointment was announced last month by Gov. Tina Kotek and is pending Senate approval. Dr. Hathi brings her experience as a board-certified attending physician, as well as expertise in health policy and education and nonprofit development. She most recently was New Jersey’s deputy health commissioner and previously served as a White House senior policy advisor for public health where she led various administration priorities for the Domestic Policy Council. Learn more about Dr. Hathi:  Hathi’s media availability recording following Gov. Kotek’s announcement Kotek’s announcement

Administrative burden updates

Team continues TAB work

The Behavioral Health team kicked off its project plan this month to make progress on the implementation of recommendations identified by the Tackling Administrative Burden (TAB) workgroup. The project includes assessment of OHA’s approach to outcome-based reporting for current initiatives, strategic goals and implications for administrative burden.

Collaboration leads to CFAA changes

Thanks to County Mental Health Providers (CMHPs) for their collaborative partnership to address changes in the County Financial Assistance Agreement (CFAA). These changes will help ensure continuity and support for community safety net services. As part of the new CFAA, OHA will help cover the cost of CMHPs indemnity insurance. We also agree to work together to develop a better system to cost out and track services so OHA may better advocate for appropriate funding levels. This new CFAA takes effect on Jan. 1 for an 18-month period.

BH workforce advisory group members selected

The advisory group tasked with identifying recommendations to improve the retention and recruitment of the state’s behavioral health workforce will meet for the first time in January for an orientation. The group’s first business meeting is planned in February. Behavioral Health staff will receive support from the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices for this work as part of its acceptance into the Next Generation of the Healthcare Workforce Policy Academy. Staff will receive help facilitating the group’s work as it studies major barriers to workforce recruitment and retention. Their findings will be reported to the Legislature. Based on requirements outlined in House Bill 2235, an initial report is due Jan. 15, 2025, and a final report is due Dec. 15, 2025.

Rules, resources and engagement

Temporary rule notice

Effective Dec. 15, OHA’s Health Systems Division issued a temporary rule to provide clarification the Notice of Mental Illness (NMI) process initiated by a Tribal court or member. The temporary rule is in effect through June 11, 2024, with the intention to make the rule permanent.

View all recent temporary rulemaking notices at:

• Addiction Services Rules (Division 415)
• Mental Health Rules (Division 309)
• Measure 110 Rules (Division 944)

Ongoing RAC updates: Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) updates and meeting information is now more easily available on the RAC webpage.

Dashboards offer status updates on OHA progress

Our Behavioral Health team recently launched several dashboards and more are under development as part of our commitment to transparency about our progress on initiatives.

A few recent dashboards include:

• Behavioral Health housing and residential treatment housing: details of actual and anticipated investments, broken down by county and by program, along with an estimated occupancy timeline.  
• Measure 110: Updated frequently to capture Measure 110 services and expenditures of 42 Behavioral Health Resource Networks across state
• 2002 CCO metrics performance dashboard (updated Nov. 2003) – Accompanies CCO metrics annual report on CCOs progress on quality measures

Dashboards for our team’s work related to substance use disorders and child and family behavioral health are currently under development. 

Explore other OHA dashboards.

Measure 110 Oversight and Accountability Council special meeting Dec. 20

The Drug Treatment and Recovery Act (Measure 110) Oversight and Accountability Council will hold a special meeting from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 20 to discuss grant extension approvals.

The final agenda is posted on the Oversight and Accountability Council web page. View the virtual meeting at https://youtube.com/live/lYoKjZzQUUs.

Questions? Contact OHA.Measure110@dhsoha.state.or.us

Legislative Days recap

Our teams are preparing for the upcoming Legislative Days in January and the short session in February. During November Legislative Days, Behavioral Health staff presented the following updates:

988 Crisis Line: Successes and Challenges

Presented Nov. 6 to Senate Interim Committee on Health Care

Oregon State Hospital Discharge and Community Transition Process 

Presented Nov. 8 to House Interim Committee on Behavioral Health and Health Care, Aid and Assist

Gambling Regulation, Problem Gambling 

Presented Nov. 6 to House Interim Committee on Gambling Regulation, Problem Gambling