Oregon Medicaid To Cover Some Health Crises-Related Housing & Utilities
The Medicaid-funded Oregon Health Plan is set to include housing assistance for low-income residents at risk of losing their homes because of a serious medical event or chronic health condition from November 1.
Backed by federal healthcare funds, the move is an initiative to prevent homelessness during serious medical crises.
Paying Rent And Utilities In Oregon During A Health Crisis
Oregon health officials said that of the 618,000 renting households in the state, around 136,000 (22%) earn incomes under 30% of the area median income. Because a large chunk of their income is used for rent, they are unlikely to have discretionary income or savings.
From November 1, low-income residents could qualify for housing assistance, including utilities. The benefits are not for people currently experiencing homelessness but are for individuals who don’t have the support systems or resources necessary to avoid homelessness.
Renters will have to present a lease or a written agreement with their landlord to access benefits.
To access financial assistance under the Oregon Health Plan, members will have to demonstrate that home modifications are necessary for the prevention, improvement, or management of health conditions. And before modifications are made to homes, those who rent need approval from the landlord.
The eligibility requirements were developed as a collaboration between federal agencies such as Housing and Urban Development and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the cover is funded by $1 billion from federal Medicaid.
Young adults with special needs and people leaving behavioral health facilities will get priority. It covers over 1.4 million individuals currently on the Oregon Health Plan, according to state officials.
Oregon Medicaid Housing Benefits
The new Medicaid benefits are not intended to respond to emergency shelter needs. Steph Jarem, the health policy director who oversees Oregon’s rollout of housing benefits emphasized that the benefits are preventive in nature. She said. “It is about keeping eligible OHP members in their current housing.”
Oregon Health Plan members must meet specific eligibility requirements to access the housing benefits.
Their income must be at or below 30% of the area median income and applicants should have at least one medically-related factor affecting housing stability, for example, complex health conditions, developmental disabilities or repeated emergency department visits.
The Medicaid housing benefits may include home modification costs (such as wheelchair ramps, heavy-duty cleaning or pest control) and up to six months of utility and rent assistance. Medicaid aims to keep eligible residents housed during serious medical events, such as injuries or hospitalization that prevents them from working.
Health officials said that applications are expected to take up to two weeks to review and the Oregon Health Authority’s website has more details about applying for Medicaid housing benefits.