[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6629801,"mediaKeyId","2702599-0976efe7c11044c3137dfed54c465dfd","parentId",2702599,"title","Lawmakers hear testimony urging state action to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder","audioSeconds",744,"startMs",3658000,"endMs",4402000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702599-0976efe7c11044c3137dfed54c465dfd&start=3658&end=4402","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702599-0976efe7c11044c3137dfed54c465dfd/thumbnail_3658000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6629801/Oregon/Lawmakers-hear-testimony-urging-state-action-to-expand-access-to-medications-for-opioid-use-disorder","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629801-cf61a1c879d345be0d9027790f52c7f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162174&Signature=AD1JaBwVDTuUg9oabaJis2vMzR3NVHVpg9R1XU7~ySM2cIU5iNuhinr7xts5Elddy-Sm7Q6D~Ufy6wUlYTKCB100DoDL9EtaRdG3g4uJCkb06E9THWvuBBDInVKoS5sxqVO1nPH2~ufzqNvgzSEne0scalk-XKnoDxQ3wPSNv~C0WRkJHi1q6j7xJUaiGXn6IJ51vABLBGoNvfcdHU6uPI~ZkMAZ4ioKETsg9UyGK32cIeKAg-eUZmW3is~kNYn4HKbOaZNy9MxCR7hHs0whgeer9XMLTobF5ONq6-JeKOZ6UXR2nANLcuvazFTk7a7DV0wrjdDmgJoCeLHE-GJapw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Oregon State Legislature","date","2025-03-19T00:00:00Z","article","The Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response heard extensive testimony March 19 in favor of House Bill 2506, a committee bill directing the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission and Oregon Health Authority to develop policies and supports to increase access to medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) in hospitals, emergency departments and other physical health-care settings, and to improve transitions to community-based treatment.

Annalise Stolf, ADPC director, told the committee the commission studied barriers after language in House Bill 4002 directed such work and that the ADPC prioritized emergency-department initiation of MOUD and warm handoffs to community care. Mitch Doig, senior policy analyst for ADPC, summarized the work group's findings: MOUD reduces cravings and withdrawal, increases treatment engagement and retention, and is associated with lower overdose and mortality — but access is inconsistent. The work group is preparing claims-analysis baseline data and has identified key elements for success: care coordination programs, payment models to support prescribers in community settings, training and technical assistance, and monitoring of incentive programs.

John McElveen, State Opioid Treatment Authority, emphasized evidence showing higher retention and better long-term outcomes when MOUD is initiated and bridged from acute-care settings. Anora Englander of OHSU described a hospital-based consult and linkage program (Impact) that her team developed after seeing patients repeatedly hospitalized for complications of injection drug use; she testified such services reduce mortality, improve patient and staff experience and lower costs.

Emergency and EMS physicians, hospital clinicians and providers from rural and community organizations described barriers to access in their regions. John Treanor, an emergency physician and EMS medical director, asked for care in how the bill uses the phrase “standards of care,” suggesting the committee consider alternatives such as guidelines or best practices to avoid regulatory or liability conflicts with clinicians’ professional obligations. Rural witnesses including Katie Joaquin (EOCCO region) and Allison Noyce (CODA) described long travel distances to opioid treatment programs and the need to expand MOUD availability in local physical-health settings.

Provider organizations and advocates including 4D Recovery, Oregon Recovers, CODA and others urged passage, and multiple witnesses recommended that the legislation include technical assistance, payment and workforce supports so hospitals and community providers can reliably initiate MOUD and connect patients to ongoing care.

No formal vote occurred during the hearing; committee members asked witnesses to provide additional written material and indicated a window for submitting supplemental testimony.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Joint Committee On Addiction and Community Safety Response 03/19/2025 5:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Witnesses at a March 19 public hearing urged passage of HB 2506, which directs the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission and OHA to develop policies to expand availability of medications for opioid use disorder in physical health settings and improve transitions to community care.","taxTitle","Safety Response, Joint, Committees, Legislative, Oregon","taxId",79612,"location","Oregon","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629804,"House Bill 2929 would expand and strengthen Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, supporters say",1225,2158000,3383000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702599-0976efe7c11044c3137dfed54c465dfd&start=2158&end=3383","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702599-0976efe7c11044c3137dfed54c465dfd/thumbnail_2158000.jpg","/articles/6629804/Oregon/House-Bill-2929-would-expand-and-strengthen-Alcohol-and-Drug-Policy-Commission-supporters-say","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629804-632475141c78d760fe268e17f15d9de5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162174&Signature=b~poCAtznM~~5Rc2BHgQEkZUz-zwOJqmKNOWdduGlT5aSPyFG0tytph6VuPFz2UD70fgdAzv9vBgDN~oA290lWJbNx5-po9PTBZGIIo-H7~sMSZmeB0git5-qDBkgAOX5l6XLpcUpUUrTlDWqUk5GB03DIQBVmW~8jyJNyiutbW401Fu9TERg5R6EBsZ4p06ipTQPOX~fawpOkG-AreWg4kkBsI1CrI-u9ZrHs~9ERrvEETM-SVFkrlwmCHwPNyRLQGwq9~he8b67okA~sO7NaW79~pJc0XGmYMPrEHgwo0NcevKvJ54mDyw6a35xQASrJJTZZo3pMAIuDEi30Tw1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response opened a public hearing March 19 on House Bill 2929, which would change the structure, membership and responsibilities of the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission (ADPC).

Annalise Stolf, director of the ADPC, said the bill — and its dash-1 amendment — would expand commission membership to 21 voting members and add seats for local mental health programs, county juvenile departments, local public health, school districts, cities, law enforcement and a separate attorney seat. The bill would also allow the governor to appoint the commission chair (dash-1), clarify the ADPC’s scope to include substance use prevention and explicitly require every ADPC plan to address youth and families.

Stolf told the committee the dash-1 also formalizes a requirement that participating state agencies provide notice of rulemaking on issues related to substance use prevention, treatment and recovery support services, and strengthens the commission’s role in creating and holding agencies accountable to state policy. She said the ADPC should be accountable not only for drafting plans but for driving implementation.

Testimony in support came from a range of providers and public-health representatives. Fernando Peña, an ADPC commissioner and executive director of El Jaldin Recovery Services, described the commission as “an underutilized resource” and said the bill would allow the ADPC to act as a system planner, using data to target services such as opioid treatment program expansion. Sarah Lochner of the Oregon Coalition of Local Health Officials said adding a local public health seat is appropriate because local public health administers prevention programs and school health surveys and addresses communicable-disease impacts tied to substance use.

Advocates from Oregon Recovers, 4D Recovery and other provider groups said the bill would bring more diverse voices and lived experience into statewide planning and provide the staff capacity needed for long-term system change. Testimony also said the ADPC has begun emphasizing primary prevention and youth, and that statutory changes would lock that emphasis into the commission’s work.

Speakers asked the committee to pass HB 2929 alongside related legislation to ensure planning includes youth prevention and that ADPC’s plans are reported to the Legislature regularly. No formal vote on the measure was taken during the hearing.

","Supporters told the committee HB 2929 would expand the Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission's membership, clarify its scope to include prevention and youth, and add accountability powers to align state agencies on substance use policy.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6629809,"Oversight council says it prioritized existing Measure 110 grantees; three denied awards approved on appeal",1964,134000,2098000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2702599-0976efe7c11044c3137dfed54c465dfd&start=134&end=2098","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2702599-0976efe7c11044c3137dfed54c465dfd/thumbnail_134000.jpg","/articles/6629809/Oregon/Oversight-council-says-it-prioritized-existing-Measure-110-grantees-three-denied-awards-approved-on-appeal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6629809-e5c7522ed030aaada67a5a24158bd57d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771162174&Signature=FqhilKaQuEY2Vd1RzSnQxUK-ajAr7s-scCc-~~vxDTmHvjX-wey5kwwUp8TCvRYQwl8IA-dHRd~75fruqWDlVxokPplbpAPAGOpDKJkeqJlODGnJiUbVsxh6nYYr3kF9w~NnZY-5JF3L1slKotXc99~tvljI1nm-Z253zGxdX9M1ztHDgbjiiiRPCMhO8fky1ASAEFnjxRprJeDSCoWguuc3gM6u5gYTPUJC21GgpTlCpqBJnf5gGFrCdW7DyrHAQau12ac49MpKyz-e~HDNoHFe9YDABUFoWpwa9HOof1hawXUPeLyIekIKLLHfY-W0hUVwGeddYXH9ZOHq4tJT6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Joint Committee on Addiction and Community Safety Response held an informational hearing March 19 to hear representatives of the Oversight and Accountability Council and Oregon Health Authority staff explain recent grant decisions under Measure 110 and the appeals process.

The Oversight and Accountability Council (OAC) member Leticia Welch said the council faced a large funding gap and therefore prioritized continuity for existing grantees and culturally specific services when allocating funds. Welch said $427,305,000 was available for the current grant cycle and that applicants requested more than $1.1 billion, making it impossible to fund all applicants at requested levels.

That context framed questions about whether OAC decisions excluded programs that participate in law-enforcement-led “deflection” efforts. Zebulai Payne, an OAC tri-chair, told the committee the OAC did not vote to exclude applications because they were part of deflection programs and that many funded providers do participate in deflection. Payne said some OAC members expressed concerns about particular applications but did not successfully move a motion to bar funding for deflection-related programs.

Abby Stamp of the Oregon Health Authority, who said the OAC delegated appeals decision-making to OHA, told the committee that existing grantees who appealed received approval of their appeals. Stamp specifically identified Washington County Health and Human Services and Lifeworks Northwest (a Washington County grantee) among those whose appeals were approved; committee testimony also named Josephine County’s Options for Southern Oregon as an appealed, previously funded entity. Stamp said most providers who received intent-to-award letters are entering contract negotiations and that OHA is reviewing cases where a significantly reduced award would impair an organization’s ability to deliver continuity of care.

Committee members pressed OAC and OHA witnesses for documentation about which counties or grantees had appealed, and for copies or links to the grant application materials, rubrics and intent-to-award letters that informed decisions. OAC and OHA witnesses said application materials and the scoring rubrics were posted on the state procurement page and that appeals were being reviewed under established timetables. The committee asked OAC and OHA to follow up with a list of appealed applicants and with clearer website links to the application parameters.

Committee members also questioned how the OAC defined “culturally specific” providers. Tri-chair Zebulai Payne and other OAC members said the behavioral health division’s certification for culturally and linguistically specific services sets a high bar and that the OAC used a different operational definition for this grant cycle; OAC members said they intend to define that term more clearly in future rounds to avoid ambiguity.

Members of the legislature emphasized concerns that limiting Measure 110 funds used by providers who partner with law enforcement could close pathways that keep people out of the criminal justice system. OAC members reiterated that preserving continuity of care and prioritizing culturally specific services drove their decisions, and that the council’s deliberations are public under Oregon’s public meeting laws.

The committee closed the informational hearing after asking OAC and OHA to provide follow-up materials, including the list of appealed applicants and clearer links to posted application documents.

","Members of the Oversight and Accountability Council told a legislative committee that the council prioritized continuity of services and culturally specific providers when distributing Measure 110 drug treatment and recovery funds, and OHA staff have approved three appeals from previously funded providers.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Lawmakers hear testimony urging state action to expand access to medications for opioid use disorder

House Bill 2929 would expand and strengthen Alcohol and Drug Policy Commission, supporters say

Oversight council says it prioritized existing Measure 110 grantees; three denied awards approved on appeal