O4AD End of Session Report
August 5, 2005

The second longest legislative session in Oregon's history adjourned its work in the wee hours Friday, August 5, 2005. After seven months of intense budget negotiations and parliamentary wrangling, the House and Senate concluded their business under an umbrella of civility.

Services to seniors and persons with disabilities receive a legislative reprieve - Some programs do not survive, and budget notes direct fee for service OHP users to managed care.

Oregon Project Independence:

This session, OPI was appropriated $12 million, up from last biennium's $8.7 million. This program serves frail seniors and helps them stay safely in their homes. Along with an appropriation that begins the climb back to adequate funding there is:

1) A dedicated trust fund for OPI, created in order to shelter OPI funds from other uses by DHS.

2) This trust fund will also be the recipient of surplus funds from the Senior and Disabled Property Tax Deferral beginning in 2007.

3) A policy change, in the future, will allow OPI to serve younger people with physical disabilities.

County Veterans Services Officers receive new funding:

New funding will allow CVSO's to help veterans & their dependents in 34 counties access federal benefits and services due them. Two bills addressed CVSO matters.

1) SB 5629 appropriated $2.6 million in new funding to the CVSO offices and will allow for 15 new fte.

2) SB 1100 sets the policy for distribution of those dollars, as well as training and possible new certification standards.

AAA/D offices do the work of providing services to clients throughout the state, and have for years worked under a disparate reimbursement formula. While the State, and the AAAD offices provide identical and mandated state services to seniors and people with disabilities, the state has failed to provide funding to those Transfer offices at the same rate they reimburse themselves. This session, the legislature has given a small amount of funding to relieve some of the nearly

This program, which allows family members to give care to their adult relative in their home, was originally slated for elimination in the Governor's Recommended Budget. Through advocacy by many; including families using this program, it was restored in full by both chambers.

The Governor's Recommended Budget put a cap on the number of people who could utilize long-term care services. However, this cap was lifted in the final budget package that was passed by both chambers.

The legislature reinstated funding for dental services for the categorically eligible in the OHP. They failed, however, to reinstate $2 million in funding for vision services.

And, in the waning days of session, HB 3108 allows DHS to make non-specified cuts to services in the Oregon Health Plan. The Legislature came up $1.5 million short for the health plan, so they abdicated their policy/decision making responsibilities to DHS.

Advocates are already planning an effort to work toward repairing this cut at the November E-Board.

The apparent goal is to move as many people as possible into managed care, (a move noted in a budget note). Cuts could surface most readily in the following areas:

DHS is encouraged to pursue strategies (including fully capitated health plan and dental care organization auto-enrollment) that will increase the percentage of OHP managed care clients (using either fully capitated health plans or physician care organizations) to 80% during the 2005-07 biennium. DHS shall report to the Emergency Board by June 30, 2006 on these strategies and the results achieved.

In its last action of the evening, the Speaker of the House and the Senate President identified the legislators who will serve on the Emergency Board during the interim.

O4AD End of Session Report August 5, 2005

O4AD End of Session Report
August 5, 2005