Apart from health care, it still means a lot!  Here are a few key points:

The federal “match rate” – As long as Oregon commits to spending its own resources on certain programs, and in some cases demonstrates specific outcomes, the federal government will “match” our contribution.  Sometimes the match rate is 1:1 – for every dollar we spend, the federal government sends another dollar.  The match rate for some human services is better than 1:1, for example basic child welfare services is matched 1:2.8 (the federal government pays 74 percent of the cost). To pay for health care for adult Oregonians with income below 133 percent of the federal poverty level, the state contributes about 6 percent and the federal government 94 percent.

More than $21 billion is sent to Oregon in the current biennium for ongoing programs, grants for special projects, and other payments.

This is a very short list of some specific federal funds in the current (2015-17) budget, to illustrate the broad range:

Federal funds will be helping pay for the Child Support Enforcement Automated System, for administering the Unemployment Insurance program, and for job placement and training. The state passes through federal funds to cities and counties to combat drug trafficking. Energy assistance and weatherization, multifamily housing development, rental subsidies, and remodeling the veterans home in The Dalles – all receive federal money. The Pacific Coastal Recovery Fund for improving habitat for salmon, and state airport improvements in Condon, McDermitt, and Aurora will get federal money.

Human Services special agreement with the federal government, called the K Plan, to help pay for services to seniors and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities – services like help with home care, etc. etc. to help those individuals with their daily needs with an emphasis on people remaining in the least restrictive setting or in their own home. supports to enable … at home if they can, or in other settings such as group homes.

By: State Representative Nancy Nathanson | Click here to view original source