The Association of Oregon Counties’ (AOC) 2021 legislative priorities in health and human services included strengthening Oregon’s county-based human services systems and enhancing funding for domestic violence advocacy strategies. 

More specifically, AOC sought to increase and preserve investments in behavioral health, intellectual and developmental disabilities, public health including public health modernization, housing, and the State’s health plan, with the goal of working toward proactive prevention measures and innovative approaches to fund ongoing county-based service needs.

Further exacerbated by the economic, health, and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the overarching focus of the Legislative Session zoomed in on the budget and ensuring delivery of these critical services to Oregonians. At the start of the Session, there was a great deal of uncertainty as to whether there would be enough money to go around for all the crises Oregonians have experienced and that continue to endure. 

Additional federal funding was also unclear at the start of the Legislative Session, though in order to sustain long-term results for health and human services priorities, one-time funding was likely not going to be the solution for many of the problems that needed to be addressed. 

Thankfully, the budget came into focus following the infusion of resources from the American Rescue Plan Act with funds delivered directly to counties, local government, and the State, and the somewhat unexpected, but increasingly positive revenue forecasts in March and May. Now, with just a week left until the legislative clock runs out, positive impacts are on the horizon for health and human services budgets that intersect with the critical body of work of counties in this policy arena. At a high level, the health and human service agency budgets this session contained the following critical resources: 

    • The Oregon Health Authority 
      • Public Health Modernization– $45 million in new investments for the 21-23 biennium, in addition to the current on-going $15 million. 
      • Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics– $121 million total funds to bolster the ongoing federal demonstration projects, in 12 Oregon counties ($25 million General Fund and $96 million Federal Funds). 
      • Oregon Health Plan– $2.1 billion to support the existing caseload of the Oregon Health Plan, maintaining stability and access to healthcare for counties providing care and for the approximately one in four Oregonians utilizing the state’s health plan.  
  • Aid and Assist Community Restoration- $21.5 million for “aid and assist” community restoration and clinical services, rental assistance, and wraparound support, the majority of which will be allocated to Community Mental Health Programs (CMHPs).
    • Regional Development and Innovation Grants– $130 million for the Regional Development and Innovation special purpose appropriation for capital, start-up, and operational costs related to increasing statewide capacity of licensed residential facilities and housing for people with behavioral health needs.
  • Oregon Department of Human Services
    • Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) Workload Model– The I/DD case management system received a total funds budget of $295.7 million, with approximately $87.6 million in new investments this Session. This is 93 percent of full funding for the workload model, a 42 percent increase from the last legislative session. 

A more thorough summary will be provided in the AOC 2021 Legislative Summary.

Contributed by: Lizzy Atwood Wills | Legislative Affairs Manager