With things slowing down significantly after the bill filing deadline, there has been little movement on Health & Human Services bills. Some significant discussions have taken place.

SB 754-A – Tobacco 21 had a public hearing in House Health Care Committee on April 24. It was a relatively quick hearing as they had a full agenda. Only a few proponents testified, and AOC submitted written testimony. Sen. Steiner-Hayward continues to use AOC support as an example of how this is an issue that has bipartisan support at the local level and transcends the urban/rural divide. The bill is scheduled for a work session on May 1.

HB 2122 – CCO 2.0 was voted out of the House Health Care Committee on April 19 with the referral to Joint Ways & Means Committee rescinded. Key elements of the bill for Coordinated Care Organizations (CCOs) include a requirement for public meetings law to apply to their board meetings, for them to spend down their reserves, and for any future CCOs – including transfers of ownership or expansion of service area for current CCOs – would need to be nonprofit organizations. The version of the bill passed out of committee had great CCO opposition and was sent to the House Rules Committee from the House Floor on April 24.

Community Mental Health and the behavioral health system were key topics of the Joint Ways & Means Subcommittee on Education this week. On Wednesday, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) provided an overview of the system and how money is allocated to CCOs and to Community Mental Health Programs (CMHPs). There was lots of discussion and interest among the Subcommittee members and a desire to better understand how CMHPs and CCOs work together and how they differ. It is clear that there is still further education to be done to explain the relationship between counties and their CCOs and how clients are served, particularly around the distinctions between Oregon Health Plan (OHP), or Medicaid, clients, those commercially insured, and those without any insurance coverage. You can view materials or watch the hearing here.

The following day, there were presentations from two CMHPs, Marion County and Klamath County, as well as two CCOs, HealthShare from the metro area and Pacific Source from the Gorge. There were fewer questions from the Subcommittee during these presentations as they were tight on time, but the presentations were well-done and highlighted a variety of components of the crisis service system and the partnership between counties and CCOs. You can see the presentations and watch the hearing from Thursday, April 27, here.

Contributed by: Stacy Michaelson | AOC Health & Human Services Policy Manager