Local government advisory committees are a mainstay of good government at the federal and state levels. They allow funding and regulatory agencies to get ahead of problems before they start by incorporating local government expertise in planning and policy development for community-based services.
The Local Government Advisory Committee (LGAC) to the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) began in the early 1990s, convening local government partners, the Department of Human Services and the OHA to problem solve and more effectively operationalize state-funded health services.
On October 14, Association of Oregon Counties First Vice President and Klamath County Commissioner Derrick DeGroot chaired the re-inaugural meeting of the LGAC after a five-year hiatus. Gordon Fultz, the retired forty-year veteran AOC staffer responsible for establishing the LGAC, gave opening remarks on the committee’s historic value to the state-county partnership on human services.
OHA hosted the meeting at the Portland State University office building, where OHA Director Pat Allen, Behavioral Health Director Steve Allen, Adult Behavioral Health Director Jesse Benet, and fourteen county commissioners from across the state opened a dialogue on the pressing issues facing the state and county government. Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs Executive Director Cherryl Ramirez, community mental health program directors, county counsels, and others also took part.
The meeting featured an opening discussion of the Mosman order and critical issues around the ‘aid and assist’ system. OHA intends to work out the implementation of Dr. Debra A. Pinals’ report recommendations through the legislative process during the 2023 Legislative Session. OHA Director Steve Allen agreed to share OHA’s relevant legislative concepts ahead of the November LGAC meeting so the committee can provide feedback before the session begins. OHA is also working to set targets for increased capacity and locations for residential treatment facilities and will bring those to the LGAC when they are ready for review.
County counsels note an urgent need to also reconvene the OHA county contracts workgroup to complete the 2023 county financial assistance agreement going into effect in January. OHA Director Steve Allen reported that the agency would be ready to schedule those workgroup meetings at the beginning of the following week.
In addition to the implementation of Dr. Pinals’ report recommendations, items identified for future discussion include operationalizing the six months of housing support allowed in the new Medicaid waiver; creation of support for landlord-tenant relationships for people with mental health challenges; funding the 9-8-8 crisis response system, including the role of CCOs; and system outcome measures for inclusion in the county financial assistance agreement.
The November LGAC meeting is slated for November 18, 2022 in Eugene. Official LGAC membership appointments are scheduled for January.
Contributed by: Jessica Pratt | Legislative Affairs Manager