Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Street roots. (Portland, OR) 1998-current | View Entire Issue (March 14, 2014)
Street roots March 14, 2014 City Club to study medicaid expansion, homeless impact BY KATHY BLACK Kathy B lack is Research Board C hair fo r the City Club o f Portland. She is also an in-house attorney fo r the Bonneville Power Adm inistration $ (BPA). Prior to BPA, Ms. B lack was employed by N C R Corporation fo r 25. years, in various roles including Vice 1 President o f Database Engineering a n d Vice President o f Customer Services. launch a research committee to study how the homeless population in Multnomah ealth care reform at the federal level County can optimize the benefit from health and expansion of the Oregon Health care reform and expansion of the OHP. City Plan (OHP) provide an opportunity Club of Portland is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, to increase access to health care and member-based organization that brings civic- improve health outcomes for thousands of minded people together through forums, Oregonians, especially those experiencing research and advocacy, to make Portland homelessness. and Oregon better places to live, work and More than half of those counted as play for everyone. During the yearloiig homeless in Multnomah County suffer from, study, the committee will review literature one or more serious physical, mental or and data, and interview people who are substance abuse-related conditions. Prior to experiencing homelessness, health care reform, the vast majority of individuals on professionals, consumers of health care the street or in shelters had no health services arid other experts in order to reach insurance. Only disabled individuals and conclusions and recommend improvements. parents with dependent children qualified In Oregon, the health coverage and < for Medicaid. Individuals without insurance delivery of care for Medicaid-eligible had to rely on emergency rooms and social individuals is now the responsibility of a service clinics for their health care or they network of 16-Coordinated Care simply received no care at all. Organizations (CCOs) throughout the state. A potentially game-changing expansion of, These CCOs are expected to eliminate health care is now underway in Oregon. As health disparities, improve health outcomes of January 2014, the Affordable Care Act , and reduce costs. Working with a fixed expands health coverage to low income dollar allotment per client, CCOs assume Oregonians, including those defined as accountability for health outcomes'of the homeless. The new criteria extend Medicaid populations they serve. This more holistic to all adults under 65 with incomes under and integrated approach to care delivery will 138 percent of the federal poverty line — focus on preventative care and effective regardless of health status or gender. For management of chronic conditions. Multnomah County, estimates predict a As part of this new approach, a minimum increase of 55,000 Oregon Health combination of CCOs and patient-centered Plan enrollees over the next two years. This primary rare homes will use community is an opportunity for thousands of health Workers and flexible services to meet individuals to access health care for the first the needs of patients. Early intervention, time. treatment of mental health and substance This spring, City Club of Portland will abuse disorders» and dental care will now be C O N T R IB U T IN G C O L U M N IS T H , to ^member anti to <B(ess... PAID TRAINING PHr FOR PEOPLE with N orthwest l ia b il it ie s . an interfaith memorial service for Portland's fallen sponsored by Operation Nightwatch Beyond Limitations" REQUIREMENTS: With special music, shared reflections, sacred space and $ong.~. - JIFtfre wetcome! Jotting at: St. Andre' Bessette Church &rtknd'sdirwnWivnclmpeistni£l919 601 W. Burnside Street, Portland Wednesday * April 16, 2014 * 2:00 PM Please forn-artinetnoriai Lia nomato: considered essential health benefits. For an often-underserved homeless population, where mental health, substance abuse and other chronic conditions are prevalent, this change represents a significant opportunity. The question City Club of Portland will consider is how to ensure better and more equitable access to care by homeless individuals. City Club will investigate, among other topics: (1) The dynamics of the Medicaid expansion in Oregon, and its implementation through the Oregon Health Plan and CCOs; (2) The impact on our homeless population’s access to and use of providers, and the resulting health outcomes; (3) The changes in access, delivery and use throughout the transformation; (4) The unique medical and social challenges of serving and encouraging use of services among this population<and (5) Racial, ethnic, or gender disparities. In coordination with the launch of this hew research study, City Club of Portland, Citizens Crime Commission, Oregon ' Opportunity Network, and Street Roots, will welcome Nan Roman, President & CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, to the Friday Forum stage on April 4. This event will be held at the Sentinel Hotel, 614 SW 11th Avenue in Downtown Portland, from 12:15-l:15pm. To learn more and purchase tickets, go to this website: pdxcityclub.org/homelessness. I 5312 NE 148th Ave. Portland, OR 97230 ✓ Pass a drug test Z Must be at least 18 z Must be able to provide documentation of a disability Z Fluency in English Z Clean background check QUESTIONS? Please call (503) 261 -1266 or (800)874-7917 email: dcherry@phcnw.com or Sisters O f The Road a non-profit cafe in Old Town since 1979 T keT ait H om e R e s id e n tia l C a r e C o m m u n ifij J Where senior and disabled adults receive the care and respect they deserve. "I will bare my testimony; Sisters Of The Road Cafe is the most cosmicaliy correct restaurant in the - Sisters Supporter Call us for more information (503)223-2144 1337 S.W. Washington, Portland, OR 97205 www.tafthome.org I B NW Sixth Ave. Portland, OR 97209 All are welcome. M o nd ay - F rid ay 10am -2:30p m . — main: 503 222 5694 www.sistersoftheroad.org
