Pertaining to state and national legislative bodies, policies and proposals
Peer respite has been an ideal in Portland since at least the opening of Outside In in 1968 to help teens who were “tripping” to “mellow out.” But government funders were wary if not in oppositional, so efforts always ended quickly. Peer respite is a fairly simple idea – a residential home designated as a […]
Updated July 29, 2024 During the 2023 Legislative Session, the Oregon Legislative Assembly passed House Bill 3610, which was then signed by the Governor. This bill initiated the creation of the Task Force on Alcohol Pricing and Addiction Services. The House Bill specifies that task force members shall: Study alcohol addiction and alcohol addiction prevention; Distribution of […]
Oregon Health Authority Substance Use Disorder Financial Analysis (PDF – full report) Oregon Health Authority Substance Use Disorder Financial Analysis (PDF – Presentation) SUMMARY – In a budget note in HB 5006 (2021 regular session), the Oregon State Legislature directed the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to analyze the adequacy of behavioral health structures in the […]
By Kevin Sabet, published in the Wall Street Journal March 7, 2024 When Gil Kerlikowske, my then-boss and the Obama administration’s drug czar, announced an end to the war on drugs in May 2009, U.S. drug policy took a more humanitarian, public health-centered approach. Stigmatizing drug users was counterproductive and blocked paths to recovery, we […]
From Willamette Week, February 2024 Data shows Oregon experiences a higher incidence of mental illness than most states but provides less services. Chris Bouneff says that’s because the state painted itself into a corner where only taxpayers foot the bill for mental illness, while private insurers have historically covered little. Bouneff came to National Alliance […]
Oregon hospital systems say they’re saddled with patients who should be in the state hospital, but a federal judge questions the validity of their argument The Lund Report – April 2023 A federal judge on Tuesday cast doubt on arguments by three Oregon health systems that state officials are illegally abandoning civilly committed mental health […]
From the Oregon Capital Chronicle, March 2023 As Kotek seeks more funding, the state also is working on a five-year plan Gov. Tina Kotek is asking lawmakers to put $74.2 million into behavioral health programs in one bill as she begins crafting a five-year plan to address the state’s crisis. Kotek and the state’s new […]
from KTVZ.com, January 26, 2023 Filing disputes recent OHA motion asking judge to dismiss case PORTLAND, Ore. (KTVZ) — St. Charles Health System and three other large Oregon hospital systems — Legacy Health, Providence Health & Services and PeaceHealth — are defending their federal lawsuit, saying they continue to fight for vulnerable patients who are […]
Below are documents shared during the 2023 Oregon Legislative Session. CMHP Role in the Public Behavioral Health System, Cherryl Ramirez Executive Director, Association of Oregon Community Mental Health Programs Oregon Health Authority Health Systems Division Behavioral Health 101, Presented to Behavioral Health and Health Care House Committee on January 18, 2023 by Alfonso Ramirez, Behavioral […]
From the Lund Report – October 2020 Oregon’s treatment and recovery system for people struggling with addiction is about half the size it should be to meet demand, according to a comprehensive state-funded analysis released Friday. READ – OHSU – Oregon Gap Analysis and Inventory Report The report details substantial deficits in services across the […]
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