There is a perfect storm of intersecting crises including substance use disorder, psychosis, and housing insecurity happening in our region. Health Share of Oregon is conducting an ongoing retrospective analysis of the Medicaid claims database to understand the size, scope and scale of the substance use disorders and severe behavioral health challenges impacting the Medicaid population and our broader community.

This data provides perspective on population cohort growth, cost, service utilization and engagement which is compelling and provides an historically unique perspective for our region and state. This work has spurred Health Share and partners to think about opportunities to expand and scale effective models of care for this population. Exploring opportunities for improving outcomes through existing housing programs and infrastructure, aligning efforts between housing and health care sectors in service to this population, and better navigation between housing and health care is important work that lies ahead.

This session involves sharing the data, current plans for model expansion in the region, and a conversation about opportunities to align across the health and housing sectors.

This session is divided into two parts:

1) A description of the legal services available to JOHS service users to increase housing opportunities (including things like landlord debt settlement, eviction expungement, criminal record expungement, felony reductions etc…)

2) Solicits feedback from JOHS providers on what additional legal barriers exist for JOHS service users, what additional legal services are needed to open up housing, how to reach all partner organizations and more.

While all providers are welcome, providers of the Youth, Domestic Violence and Family systems are particularly invited to attend since referral rates are lower among those systems. The session ideally results in improved collaboration between MPD and providers, increased referrals from the Youth, Domestic Violence and Family systems, as well as feedback from all systems on how to make this a more productive partnership, so that we get homeless service users housed.

This session will share some high level information on the 1115 Medicaid Waiver Health Related Social Needs (HRSN) Benefits (https://www.oregon.gov/oha/hsd/medicaid-policy/pages/waiver-renewal.aspx), in particular the Housing Benefits. We’ll review timelines, benefit packages and other crucial details, including the opportunities and risks with utilizing these funds.

The session will also touch on some strategies to coordinate Housing and Healthcare needs, such as medical case conferencing, with one provider sharing how it has approached this issue. The second half of the session will include time for brainstorming and Q&A.