|
Over the last several weeks, I’ve had the privilege of travelling throughout Oregon to attend behavioral health-focused events and conferences. Being out in community, connecting with many of you and the people we serve, fills my cup. I leave every event, meeting, and conference with a deeper knowledge, fresh ideas, and a renewed sense of possibility. Thank you for everything you do, from sharing the expertise of lived and living experience to the persistence of efforts to fill gaps in our behavioral health system.
Below we share updates on rulemaking activities and other recent developments like a newly released analysis of Oregon’s behavioral health system. This analysis is one of several anticipated over the next few months, that will be an important step toward having a more comprehensive and up to date set of data to inform our understanding of the foundation of Oregon’s behavioral health system.
With appreciation,
Ebony Clarke, OHA Behavioral Health Director
|
In this issue:
|
|
HB 4092 requires that OHA, in consultation with counties and community mental health programs, conduct a cost study to determine the funding needed to perform the functions required by law to serve Oregonians with behavioral health disorders.
OHA’s Behavioral Health team is working with the Office of Actuarial and Financial Analytics to develop and implement the first cost study results and the report will be published by Jan.1, 2025, and every five years thereafter.
HB 4092 also required OHA to partner with Oregon Council on Behavioral Health (OCBH) to evaluate provisions and make recommendations for revisions on administrative rule, statutes and state contracts. The preliminary results are due by Dec.15, 2024, with the final report due by Dec.15, 2025. OHA is finalizing the contract with the OCBH to get this work started.
|
|
|
|
This month, OHA released a “Substance Use Disorder Financial Analysis,” on behavioral health costs and financing in Oregon. This analysis is one of several studies that stem from HB 5006, passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2021, which directed OHA to analyze the adequacy of behavioral health structures in the state, including conducting an analysis of behavioral health costs and financing.
To meet this request, OHA contracted with Public Consulting Group LLC (PCG) for a financial study of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) services in Oregon, comprised of three components: a financial inventory of public spending on SUD services and supports, cost estimates to address unmet need across the care continuum, and a review of revenue options to address unmet SUD needs.
The analysis inventories $1B of publicly-funded SUD services and supports funded in Oregon during the 2021–23 biennium, including a summary of SUD spending by agency, service category, county, and fund category and type. Based on the analysis of spending, PCG also generated cost estimates to address unmet needs based on workforce and program gaps identified in external reports and through state agency analysis.
The full report is available for review on OHA’s website, here.
Earlier this month, Oregon Health Authority kicked off a five-week social media campaign – Fentanyl Aware – to teach people about fentanyl risks, harm reduction strategies and Oregon’s Good Samaritan law.
The campaign amplifies messaging created by our partners at Lane County Public Health. More information about the campaign is shared in this OHA press release and campaign posts on OHA’s English and Spanish Facebook pages.
|
|
Temporary rule notices
The following temporary rules are in effect May 1 through Oct. 27, 2024. Both are related to revisions to allow for rapid access and flexibility during behavioral health intake, assessment and planning:
Permanent rule notice
Permanent rule amendment and changes to Civil Commitment Proceedings (309-033) take effect May 28, 2024.
These changes were to clarify processes related to tribal jurisdiction, courts, community-based options, quality assurance and roles/responsibilities. View rule change.
View all recent temporary rulemaking notices at:
Ongoing RAC updates: Rules Advisory Committee (RAC) updates and meeting information is now more easily available on the RAC webpage.
|
|
|
Did someone forward or share this with you? You can subscribe here and also sign up to receive Holding Hope, the OHA Child and Family Behavioral Health newsletter, and other updates for Oregon behavioral health providers and partners.
|
|
|
|
|
