Northeast Oregon community organizations receive $752,291 to help deliver new Medicaid benefits
By Garrett Christensen on Tuesday, November 5th, 2024 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
NORTHEAST OREGON – The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) recently announced that a total of 37 million dollars’ worth of grants have been awarded to various community organizations across the state to help in the delivery of health-related-social-needs (HRSN) benefits. Part of the Community Capacity Building Funds, the grants will help local organizations and healthcare providers in developing their own plans to support Oregonians. For context, HRSN refers to basic needs that can have a greater impact on a person’s health, such as proper housing and nutrition, and even air quality. A full description, (As provided in a recent OHA Press release) is as follows:
“OHA and coordinated care organizations (CCOs) this month awarded a combined $37 million to community organizations across the state to help support the delivery of health-related social needs (HRSN) benefits to eligible Oregon Health Plan (OHP / Medicaid) members. The grants – called Community Capacity Building Funds (CCBFs) – will support health providers and organizations to develop what they need to be able to participate in the Medicaid delivery system.
Health-related social needs benefits address basic needs, such as housing and nutrition, that affect Oregonians’ health. The state launched climate benefits in March including air conditioners, air filters and other equipment to keep eligible members healthy during extreme weather events. New housing benefits will begin rolling out November 1, 2024, and nutrition benefits will be available starting in January 2025. The CCBF grants will help prepare community-based organizations to deliver these new benefits and improve health outcomes by preventing homelessness, heat-related illnesses and costly urgent care visits.”
As part of this grant funding, several organizations based (or with a presence) in Northeast Oregon have been selected to receive funding. The organizations and the funds awarded are as follows:
- 211 Info – $145,828.00
- Northeast Oregon Network (NEON)- $250,000.00
- Eastern Oregon Center for Independent Living (EOCIL) $227,433.00
- Youth 360- $129,030.00
